I can’t help but think that as we are called to view all of life through the lens of Scripture, that there are several ongoing “reclamation projects” in which we need to engage for the sake of helping our kids see, hear, and live the Truth. What’s become known as “Pride Month” (June) affords us several opportunities to contrast the cultural narrative on life with the biblical narrative on life. In so many ways, that’s what Christian parenting and ministry are all about.
As I listen to and see how the cultural narrative shifts our perspective on pride and our understanding of male and female, I realize that there are corrective conversations which need to be had. To that end, we put together a short resource in our series of CPYU Family TableTalk devotionals on the topic of “God On Gender” We offer it up to you as a tool to spark a look at God’s Word along with some discussion questions you can use with your kids during this “Pride Month”.
You will see the text for this Family TableTalk devotional below, or you can download a free pdf copy here.
READ: Genesis 1:27-31; Matthew 19:4-6
THINK: While the world around us can get the gender message right from time to time, the culture is sliding quickly into accepting and teaching a ender message that gets it wrong. More and more people are choosing to believe that its ok and normal to adopt a gender identity based on how they feel inside. You could feel like you are male, female, some combination of both, or actually neither. For some, gender falls on a spectrum that can even change from time to time. People now believe that your gender identity has nothing to do with the sexual organs with which you were born. Your gender is not biologically determined. But is this really true?
As followers of Jesus, we must go to and trust God’s Word as the spotlight that shines truth on our understanding of gender. God, the Creator of all things, pronounced everything He created as “good!” But when He finished creating humans He said “very good!’ And what He pronounced as “very good!” was male and female. . . the binary genders He designed and assigned. . . male and female only, that are both fully human and equal in dignity and value. This is the way things are supposed to be. Jesus affirms this in Matthew 19:4 when He says, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?”
God desires that we never allow our feelings to dictate and misshape our understanding of truth. Rather, we need to submit our feelings and desires to God’s Word. Satan, the wrecker of this world, is on a mission to derail us from hearing God’s Word and living God’s way. Just like he did with our first parents (see Genesis 3:1-7), he whispers continually in our ears the doubt-inducing question, “Did God really say. . . ?” Don’t ever forget, God in His goodness has created and given us each our gender, which is indicated by our anatomy, either male or female.
APPLY:
• What beliefs do you hold regarding gender? Are your beliefs more reflective of the culture’s message on gender, or God’s message on gender? How have you come to your conclusions?
• What movies, music, advertising, books, and TV have you encountered that shape people’s views on gender these days?
• How would you communicate God’s message on gender to a friend who believes differently, or who is questioning their own gender identity?
PRAY: Almighty God, loving Creator of all things, thank you for caring enough for me to make me who you’ve made me to be. Help me to hear and live into your will and way for gender. Give me the ability to discern truth from error and to trust your plan for my gender. Enable me to live boldly to your glory. Amen.