I must say I'm a bit disappointed tonight. The video recording of this morning's message didn't work at all, it was a complete tech meltdown. I know each time I stand in the pulpit the message is important for many reasons, but today's message entitled, "Created Male and Female", Genesis 1:26-27 would have been an important resource for the church and others who look to this blog, my Vimeo, and the church's sermon video archive for biblical encouragement. The following are my notes from today's message, I trust they are helpful and encouraging.
Male and Female
Genesis 1:27
In Genesis we read about the creation of two people: Adam and Eve.
Male and female...We didn’t invent gender, God did.
To have any Christian conversation about sex, sexuality or gender the speaker or author is labeled as unloving and bigoted. These topics are all significant topics throughout Scripture.
We no longer live in or believe in a God-centered society.
No moral law
No natural law
We think and act upon our own desires and preferences regardless of what others think.
The problem: A (Christian) and B (other viewpoint) have different views. Will others allow God’s viewpoint to be compassionately spoken?
Now, in our sin-cursed world, some people do struggle with gender.But this doesn’t mean we should encourage people to reject how God created them to be . . . and embrace sinful behavior. We need to direct them to God’s Word and the gospel.
President Obama was trying to make gender a civil rights issue, whereas it is actually a moral issue. You can’t genetically change the shade of one’s skin or the shape of eyes, but a person can change behavior! And we need to judge our behavior against the absolute authority of the Word of God. Regarding sexuality in humans, God states clearly:
. . . male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
He created them male and female . . . . (Genesis 5:2)
[Jesus said,] “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’” (Mark 10:6)
[Jesus said,] “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female.’” (Matthew 19:4)
From a Christian perspective, because we know the “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Some will use this “new morality” to fulfill there own passion and desires.
This creates a very dangerous situation for our society that says you construct yourself into whatever you want to be.
we recognize that there will be those who will use this new situation to try to fulfill their own sinful lustful desires.
Gender is created by God.
The Bible provides our foundation for our thinking. Sin has affected everything, including gender, and as a result some people have a real struggle with Gender identity.
Matt.19:4 “God made them from the beginning male and female”.
Two sexes: male and female. A person is either XX (female) or XY (male). There are no other genders. This is genetics, physiology, and science. Anything else is a cultural construction and an assault on God.
Gender confusion should not be exploited. Should be treated compassionately and lovingly. Never exploited by social activists who deny God’s created order. Male and female is a God given distinction. Anything else is rebellion against God’s plan.
Gender confusion is:
A SOCIOLOGICAL PROBLEM
Society has an authority problem.
We embrace the absolute power of self to determine right and wrong.
No outside and objective authority has power over you.
Not accepting a moral law and The Moral Law Giver, no allegiance to God.
A THEOLOGICAL PROBLEM
Your race, ethnicity, and sexuality are attribute from God (SACRED), being created in His image.
Taking one’s own sexuality into your own hands and doing “your thing” is a direct violation of God who loves you and has created you for His purpose.
Only in marriage between a man and a woman can you experience the genuine facets of love:
Agape: unconditional love
Phileo: friendship love
Storge: parental love
Eros: sexual love
ONLY MARRIAGE HOLDS ALL THESE TOGETHER.
A RELATIONAL PROBLEM
Christian must be loving with those who disagree with God and His Word.
It’s easier to criticize and trivialize those in sin than it is to engage with the gospel.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH IS TO LOVE AND NEVER HATE.