Hostility or Obedience?
“…speaking the truth in love,” (Ephesians 4:15)
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published a report, “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Discrimination, eeoc.gov” about a Supreme Court decision on a case of discrimination based on sexual orientation and transgender status: Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, No. 17-1618 (S. Ct. June 15, 2020) According to the report, the Court ruled that firing an individual based on sexual orientation or transgender status violated Title VII prohibitions against discrimination based on sex.
The EEOC also recognized transgender people’s right to a non-hostile work environment. By way of clarification, the EEOC also said, Although accidental misuse of a transgender employee’s name and pronouns does not violate Title VII, intentionally and repeatedly using the wrong name and pronouns to refer to a transgender employee could contribute to an unlawful hostile work environment.
In so many words, transgender people are entitled to be addressed by their chosen names and pronouns, regardless of their biological sex. Here is a possible dilemma for Bible believers. Scripture says in many places that “…he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,” (Matthew 19:4) So if John is biologically male but identifies as a female and prefers female pronouns, a co-worker or boss who addresses him otherwise could be disciplined or fired for generating a hostile work environment.
Yet John’s biological sex does not change, nor does the truth of God’s word, no matter what he does or calls himself. Thus a Christian who accommodates John, whether to be kind or just to keep his job, does John a disservice by indicating that the Bible is not to be taken seriously. He also endangers John’s soul. If John cannot trust God’s word about his sexual identity, why should he, or anyone else for that matter, trust God’s word about their need as sinners to receive the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour?
Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” A friend cares about you and tells the truth you need to hear, even when it’s not pleasant. An enemy will say pleasant, deceitful words if they help destroy you. God’s word isn’t always pleasant, but it’s always true: “…thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) The devil deceives: “…Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:” (Revelation 12:9) When people reject God’s truth, they will be more likely to believe the devil’s lies.
So how to deal with a transgender person? Do what our verse says: speak the truth in love, but speak the truth. They’ve already been deceived into thinking God’s word is wrong and they are something God says they are not. They don’t need a Bible believer reinforcing the deception. Tell the person you have nothing against them, but you cannot in good conscience call God a liar by calling them what God says they are not. If the person is hostile, you may need to avoid talking with them at all unless absolutely necessary.
Whatever you do, be kind when you can. Kindness never fails. “Charity never faileth:” (1 Corinthians 13:8) No doubt many “trans” people may not know that inclinations toward “trans” behaviors are forms of temptation; just as the inclinations to drink, smoke, and gamble are forms of temptation. They may think they were born this way, cannot change, and should just live with being “trans,” and the more they engage in these behaviors, the harder it is to stop them; again, just like liquor, tobacco, and gambling.
Most importantly, seek for them to be saved. No matter who they are or what they do, Jesus loves them. He died for them, was buried, and rose again. The first priority for a Christian is to bring people to Jesus. To see how to have your sins forgiven and eternal life by receiving the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 1/21/2025
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822