{"id":3527,"date":"2024-02-21T08:27:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T08:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livingstonesministries.org\/help4families\/?page_id=3527"},"modified":"2024-02-21T09:12:54","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T09:12:54","slug":"god-given-gender","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/livingstonesministries.org\/help4families\/god-given-gender\/","title":{"rendered":"God-Given Gender"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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God-Given Gender<\/strong><\/em><\/em><\/h5><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Help 4 Families was founded in response to the emotional pain we witnessed both in the lives of those who struggle to accept their birth gender and in the families affected by their struggle. This pain is certainly felt\u2014although often denied\u2014by the gender-confused person. But it is also profoundly felt by the family members and friends of the gender-confused person.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Help 4 Families\u2019 Position Is That Help for Transgenders Must Balance Truth and Compassion<\/strong>

Help4Families acknowledges that the struggles gender-confused people endure are more than psychosomatic; they are real and they need to be addressed seriously, with godly compassion. But God\u2019s compassion cannot\u2014must not\u2014be divorced from His perfection and His sovereign, righteous rule. Just as Jesus concurrently displayed God\u2019s compassion and<\/em> righteousness (John 8:2-11), so must His followers (Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:15; Jude 1:22\u201323).

Help 4 Families\u2019 Position Is That God Set Gender Boundaries<\/strong>

Help4Families also acknowledges that God purposely built moral and relational boundaries into His creation. Crossing those boundary lines often appears to be pleasurable and even beneficial, but doing so comes with a heavy price (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23; 1 John 3:4).

Among the boundaries God set in place are those that deal with gender identity (Genesis 1:27; Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9). He created both genders purposely and purposefully\u2014purposely in that He was guided by a deliberate aim and purposefully in that each gender has special distinctions. He designated both genders as \u201cgood,\u201d exactly as He made them (Genesis 1:27-31). Crossing that gender boundary (attempting to switch genders), tempting as it may be for some people, implies that God made a mistake. Help4Families affirms God\u2019s perfection; He does not make mistakes (Deuteronomy 32:3-4; Matthew 5:48; 1 John 1:5).

Help 4 Families\u2019 Position Is That the Goal Is Restoration<\/strong>

Those who believe they were born into the wrong gender are not any more evil or any more deserving of God\u2019s judgment than any other person (Romans 3:23). But they are deceived, and their deception, if acted upon rather than renounced, will have harmful consequences (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). The Bible commands those who have a true relationship with Jesus Christ to warn those whose beliefs and actions place them in peril (Leviticus 19:17-18; Proverbs 27:5; 2 Timothy 4:2). But we must do so humbly, seeking to restore rather than to punish, and we must acknowledge our own vulnerabilities as we seek to guide and restore (Galatians 6:1-2).

Help4Families believes\u2014and has seen\u2014that God truly can restore a gender-confused person (Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; John 10:10; 1 Peter 2:24). We believe, then, that it is our God-mandated duty to reach out in love and truth<\/em><\/strong> to those who struggle with gender confusion, despite the prevailing mood of our culture, which condones gender autonomy and condemns efforts to restore the gender-confused. We will obey God in this matter, regardless of the cost (Acts 5:29; Galatians 5:13-14).<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bible passages cited from the NIV<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, \u201cTeacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?\u201d They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, \u201cLet any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.\u201d Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, \u201cWoman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?\u201d

\u201cNo one, sir,\u201d she said.

\u201cThen neither do I condemn you,\u201d Jesus declared. \u201cGo now and leave your life of sin.\u201d John 8:2-11

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other\u2019s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear\u2014hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22\u201323

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, \u201cBe fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.\u201d Then God said, \u201cI give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground\u2014everything that has the breath of life in it\u2014I give every green plant for food.\u201d And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning\u2014the sixth day. Genesis 1:27-31

A woman must not wear men\u2019s clothing, nor a man wear women\u2019s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this. Deuteronomy 22:5

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  1 Corinthians 6:9-10

I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:3-4

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

\u201cDo not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.\u201d Leviticus 19:17-18

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Proverbs 27:5

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage\u2014with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

Praise the Lord \u2026 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:2-3

But he [Jesus] was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

\u201cHe himself bore our sins\u201d in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; \u201cby his wounds you have been healed.\u201d 1 Peter 2:24

Peter and the other apostles replied: \u201cWe must obey God rather than human beings!\u201d Acts 5:29

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: \u201cLove your neighbor as yourself.\u201d Galatians 5:13-14

Note: All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version\u00ae NIV\u00ae Copyright \u00a9 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.\u00ae Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n