In navigating the morass of Gender Identity, what resources are recommended for further study and a biblical perspective on this subject? The following authors and titles are submitted; courtesy of Ligonier Ministries.
Rewriting Gender? You, Your Family, Transgenderism and the Gospel by David Martin. The world today claims that your identity is entirely defined by you. As parents raising children in this world, how do we teach children the gospel and explain how it impacts gender identity?
This book of letters written to the author’s children follows the overarching story line of the Bible, making it clear that transgenderism is a symptom of a far deeper problem that only Jesus can heal. Written with biblical clarity, sensitivity, and an awareness that people affected by these issues are people who need Jesus, just like everyone else, this book will help parents who are looking for guidance on how to explain gender issues to their children.
Gender Ideology: What Christians Need to Know by Sharon James. The secular culture has embraced the idea that gender is something that can be decided by individuals. As Christians encounter colleagues, friends and family members who identify as a gender other than the one they were born, we need to be informed and equipped with knowledge about what the issues are, what different terms mean and what the Bible has to say about the subject.
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl R. Trueman. The subtitle is Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism and the Road to Sexual Revolution. Dr. Trueman (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College.
Dr. Trueman examines modern culture obsession with identity. Since the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision in 2015, sexual identity has dominated both public discourse and cultural trends—yet no historical phenomenon is its own cause. From Augustine to Karl Marx, various views and perspectives have contributed to the modern understanding of the self.
Trueman analyzes the development of the sexual revolution as a symptom—rather than the cause—of the human search for identity. Trueman surveys the past, brings clarity to the present, and gives guidance for the future as Christians navigate the culture in humanity’s ever-changing quest for identity.
Does God Care about Gender Identity? A Biblical Vision of Gender Identity by Samuel D. Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is rector of The Falls Church Anglican in Metro Washington, DC, and author of The Spirit and Relational Anthropology in Paul.
Since the beginning of humanity, people have recognized the distinct creation of the male and female gender in God’s design. But with today’s gender revolution, people are increasingly questioning who they are designed to be. In our society, gender identity has been divorced from biology and rerouted in psychology. Do the core teachings of the Bible uphold these modern ideas?
Dr. Ferguson carefully and compassionately compares the core beliefs and practices of the transgender movement with fundamental truths expressed in Scripture. Ferguson argues human identity is not determined by the individual but is given to us by our Creator, who designed our bodies and minds with purpose and encourages us to live in Christlikeness—choosing the path of God-given transformation over man-made transition.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 