The Truth Will Set You Free
A Christian Take on Gender Pronouns
As followers of Christ, our commitment to truth, respect, and love is paramount. This is why the conversation surrounding pronouns can pose challenges for Christians. While we deeply respect individuals who choose pronouns that don't align with their gender, our dedication to truth may lead us to make the difficult decision not to use them.
In John 8, we find Jesus verbally tangling with the pharisees. It was a conversation about light versus darkness. According to Jesus, the pharisees were living their lives in a darkened state of confusion and chaos. Jesus proclaimed himself to be the “light of the world.” He made this claim during the Festival of Lights, a time when the Jews fully illuminated the temple to commemorate God’s guidance away from slavery through a pillar of fire. What was Jesus saying? Follow me and I will lead you away from deception into the light of truth.
According to Jesus, the source of darkness for the pharisees was Satan, the “father of lies.” The solution? Jesus told them plainly, “the truth will set you free.”
Today, we find ourselves in a situation much like those lost Pharisees. We are bombarded with layers of lies that distort reality and the very essence of who we are. And the Evil One, the father of lies (Jesus’ words), is particularly crafty, aiming his arrows of deception towards the younger generation, especially when it comes to their perception of gender. His goal is to muddy the waters of gender within the already malleable mind of a young person until they don’t know their own biological sex.
However, by quoting Genesis 1:27, Jesus confirmed God’s biological blueprint for gender when he reaffirmed the divine creativity of God who formed us in His image, splitting the human race into two distinct types–male and female.
And this is where I find myself in a bind. When asked to use pronouns that don't line up with one's God-given, biological gender, I feel compelled to politely refuse. It's not out of spite or dislike, far from it. It's because I care. It’s because I love.
Jesus was a beacon of truth, and true love isn't afraid of speaking the truth. As a follower of his, I must be speak the truth in kind.
1 John 1:5 tells us that "God is sheer light, with not a trace of darkness in him." Jesus embodies this light, this truth. Following him means facing the truth, walking in its brilliant light, even when the world wants to pull us into the dark. It isn't about hurling stones of judgment or hate, but about standing firm on the solid rock of truth because we love deeply, just like Jesus.
Lastly, adhering to the truth doesn't grant us permission to pass judgment or harbor hate towards others. The Bible is crystal clear on this. Instead, it encourages us to follow the teachings of Jesus: to display love, to uphold the truth, and to stand up for what is just and righteous.
Our mission is to interact with others with genuine compassion, to provide understanding when confusion abounds, and to seek clarity amidst the complexity that so often characterizes our world. By walking this path, we become the echo of Jesus' teachings, reaffirming our unwavering dedication to the truth.