Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
We are now living at a time in earth’s history where much confusion concerning one’s identity has been introduced. Questions about one’s gender, which in times past were never questioned, have now been permanently inserted into the national conversation and because of the trickle-down effects many of the young and old alike are not sure anymore of who they really are.
The identity crisis is being fueled by several factors, including, but not limited to education in alternative lifestyle philosophies, legislation, precedent coming from stars and persons that are held in high esteem, advertisements, and support from certain members of the clergy, in an effort to foster inclusion.
And whereas, freedom of choice is to be respected, yet the issue is now at a tipping point where it has been introduced in some of the curriculums across the land. In some places children are being forced to study, learn and engage issue.
Thus, when the young, whose minds have not yet been fully developed to discern between right and wrong, and are taught by teachers, who are forced to present these issues, we will be looking at a new generation on the horizon, who would be pregnant with fluid concepts of identity, and society will be adversely affected, to the point of no return.
Gender neutral bathrooms and gender-neutral lines of clothing are now becoming the norm, and it does not stop here because the crisis deepens even more when certain prominent members of society adopt lifestyles and practices that are contrary to what the scriptures teach.
Nothing can be more destabilizing to society if folks are not sure about who they are, for if folks are not certain about their identity, such uncertainty would keep a person in a continuously fluid state, and that sets up them up to try to become whosoever they may choose to be.
As it stands currently, the choices on the menu are endless, for persons can now choose from a wide variety of designations, and some even choose to remain undesignated, so that every day can bring new and different identities, as persons may, or may not choose.
Thus, it is a solemn statement that is made, that we indeed have an identity crisis on our hands which must needs be addressed.
The purpose of the Bible study today is to help folks who have been affected, or who are struggling with their identity, to be certain about who they are, and it will clear up some of the associated issues, since some children are being adversely affected more, and more.
In the spiritual realm, actions are always preceded by our thoughts, and because of this, questions are often posed to different minds, just to get persons thinking or questioning a sacred truth. Before the legalization of alternative marriage occurred across the land the issue was agitated in the public square, and as individuals thought about it, some began to question their own identity.
The tempter will often set a train of thoughts into motion in our minds by simply making a suggestion contrary to what God has plainly stated. God would have us to understand that these suggestions are made via our five senses, which are referred to as the avenues to the soul.
And that’s why we are instructed to guard vigilantly these avenues, by dwelling upon that which is good and right, for once he succeeds in getting persons to even consider the matter in question, it is usually only a matter of time before the suggestion goes through a gestation period.
And then, if it is not signally repulsed and rejected, it blossoms into actions that are contrary to what is written in the Bible, and the end thereof are the ways of death. Evolution began as an idea, then it morphed into a theory, and finally it became the mainstay of science in most public schools and universities.
It all began with a thought and a suggestion being infused into the minds of persons by the tempter, and then it took on a life of its own as it was dwelt upon and regurgitated over and over again.
The same is true of the identity crises we are facing; it began with the imagination of some being infused with alternative ideas to sexual orientation from the tempter in times past, and it has now infiltrated and infected the minds of millions of persons. Let’s read:
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.
Therefore, because there is nothing new under the sun, we must trace the beginnings of the identity crisis, and how it has evolved with the passage of time. In the garden of Eden, the suggestion was infused into the mind of Eve by the tempter, that they could be different to what God said were.
God created both of them as human beings, but it was suggested that they could become gods, if they were to choose an alternative path to what God had instructed. And as Eve dwelt upon the suggestion, it took on a life of its own, and she decided to try and re-designate her identity. Let’s read:
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Here comes the suggestion, being asserted in such unequivocal terms that Eve is led to question, not only her identity but the truthfulness and intentions of God. Becoming a god would significantly change her identity, “For a spirit hath not flesh and bones”, and according to the tempter, great benefits to all society would accrue as a direct result. Let’s read:
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die, 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Their God-given identity was questioned, and thus the prospect that somehow, they were beings other than what God had stipulated, began to take root. Again, in the wilderness of temptation, the identity of Christ was questioned in the tempter’s opening statement, in direct opposition to what God said.
God had revealed unequivocally through The Holy Spirit at Christ’s baptism, that Jesus was indeed The Son of God, but lo and behold, not long after, His identity was questioned as the first temptation of the tempter ensued.
If the devil could just shake Christ’s confidence in His identity, the battle would be lost because being uncertain about who He is, would then place Jesus in a fluid state of mind, and would then render Him vulnerable to temptation, Let’s read:
Matthew 3: 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 4: 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God….
Thus, in our day, one’s identity is being tethered to how one feels from one day to the next, not what God has stipulated in His word and because feelings fluctuate, the result is a continuously fluid situation, that has spawned many variations, to the original model set forth in Eden.
There is also the legal factor, by which legislatures have given legal status to variations, and because the identity issue is now prominently in the public square, in high and low places, even some persons who had never even thought to question their own identity, aren’t sure anymore of who they are.
And the issue is coming into our homes, churches, schools, and universities, at an alarming rate and on several different fronts so as to threaten the fabric of society. The minds of young and old are being bombarded with questions and philosophies that spawn a whole lot of confusion, whereas God has made the issue plain.
Therefore, we are going to address some the more important questions pertaining to identity, so that those who are struggling with the issue could have some clarity on the matter.
Question [1] How is one’s Sex to be determined?
A person’s sex is determined at conception, by the genes we inherit from our parents. Chromosomes which hold genes, are the pieces of DNA which tell our cells what to do. In human beings there are 23 pairs of chromosomes, and one pair consists of sex chromosomes. They come in two forms: X’s and Y’s.
Women have two X’s, so that when they share half of each pair of chromosomes with their offspring, the sex chromosome they offer will always be an X. Men have an X and a Y, so that if the father shares an X chromosome with his child, it will make a girl (XX). If he shares a Y chromosome, the child will be usually be a male (XY).
But there are some variations which do occur such as when you have to X’s mingled with fragments of a Y, which could result in a natural imbalance in the individual. This particular situation is not the result of one’s choice, it’s just a happenstance of nature which has occurred in some persons, some more, some less.
We are not going to deal with these variations, we will leave such gray areas in God’s hands, for they are the exception rather than the rule, even though these occurrences are happening more frequently. However, if one is conformed to the natural norms at conception, his/ her sexual identity is medically confirmed to be either male or female.
But because of societal, trends, and popular modes of thought and philosophies, individuals who were born very male or female are now given the option of deciding which sex they want to be. When God created man, He did not create variations, but after man fell these occurrences began to take place both on a scientific level and by deliberate choice against one’s natural grain.
Here is where a great problem can occur, for if after establishing a person’s sex scientifically, beyond the shadow of a doubt, they are then allowed to choose another orientation, the inevitable result would be sexual definition by choice, not by science.
This is where we are headed, since personal choice is made to rule the day, even when it conflicts with established fact and designation from conception. In other words, folks are now permitted to choose their sex, for the process of designation is being taken out of the hands of science.
This leads us to our next point on the issue, for it is a fact that some persons, through no choice of their own, struggle with contrary feelings in their souls. If any person has been the recipient of a verified, and scientific variation, as mentioned earlier, a decision would have to be made on their part.
In such a situation, we strongly advise that persons who are experiencing contrary feelings, through no deliberate choice of their own, should take all such matters to God in prayer, for He alone understands the depth of despair one experiences, as well as the scientific variations which produce such feelings.
But for those who were born very male or female at birth, and who, because of popular sentiment, or an indulgence in extremes have now developed a taste and desire for that which is forbidden, the question that comes next will require straight answers from the word of God.
Question [2] How should persons deal with all natural, or deliberately induced contrary feelings?
It is an indisputable fact that because of our fallen nature, everyone would have to deal with contrary feelings at some point or another, some more some less, and in varying degrees with different desires. Contrary desires striving for the mastery is nothing new, because addictions, and natural and unnatural inclinations are mostly contrary in all persons.
Human nature naturally craves forbidden things and that’s why most kids will choose candy over salad. It is therefore a fact of life, that most of our struggles, even as Christians, will be centered on that which is contrary to God’s revealed will and as such we must avoid changing His designations to suit our cravings.
In other words, if God says a certain desire is wrong, whether it be sexual, drug, or diet related, the first step in overcoming would be to acknowledge it as sin, and then ask God for grace and strength to live victoriously.
But what is taking place currently, with the identity crisis, is that many individuals have concluded that contrary feelings are not wrong because that’s what they feel. And in some instances, the legislature has indeed given the thumbs up to such conclusions, by making our personal feelings the determining factor in deciding whether one is male or female.
Thus, we must be very careful, lest the reasoning of the wily serpent imperceptibly invades our thought processes, because, according to the Bible, there is something such as wrong feelings, even if they may occur naturally. The desire for revenge is a wrong feeling, and joy at the demise of one’s enemies is also a wrong feeling.
The same is true as it pertains to the identity crisis. Persons can experience wrong feelings from time to time, but that does not make those feelings kosha or acceptable just because they might be real. The human family experiences real, wrong feelings on a daily basis, so to make them legal just because they are real would do violence to what the scripture teaches.
In other words, to make the word of God subject to one’s feelings will open the floodgates of vices, and it will be near impossible to put that genie back into the bottle, once it is let loose. The identity crisis can morph into a tsunami of epic proportions if person’s feelings are made to dictate morality. Let’s read:
Ephesians 4:4 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feelings have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
Contrary desires which have been cultivated, as it pertains to sexual orientation are included in the above categories. If a person’s feelings and desires are conflicted against God’s revealed will, then the right course of action will be to acknowledge sin for what it is, according to what is written, and then ask God for grace to overcome.
But for persons to claim the freedom of choice as a license to give free reign to one’s contrary feelings and desires is a recipe for disaster, for the entire plan of salvation was engineered to counteract, and to uproot contrary feelings wherever and whenever they may occur. Let’s read:
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
God does not condemn anyone for having contrary feelings, what He does is to offer grace and power to deliver us from such desires, if we so choose. The act of David in taking a next man’s wife, constituted his surrender to contrary feelings, and these must be resolutely suppressed by the grace of God, even if the desire is very real and very strong.
No one should question whether contrary feelings are real or strong, for even Paul who wrote several books of the Bible struggled with contrary feelings of his own. This is an ongoing human conundrum, but it must be kept under bit and bridle, lest feeling gain the ascendency over reason and the word of God, as is too often the case. Let’s read:
Romans 7: 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Question [3] How does the grace of God figure into the equation?
The grace of God brings power to the equation so that anyone who desires to overcome may do so through the power of Christ. Different people have different struggles, but the good news of the gospel is that every struggle can be turned to victory when we are connected to the source of power, even The Lord Jesus Christ.
God knows all about our struggles, but He is more concerned about what we do with the remedy that is provided, for there is no battle against the flesh that cannot be won through the power and merits of Christ. To deny this sacred truth would be to deny the efficacy of the gospel, and would render the Christian religion as vanity. Let’s read:
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Persons who are struggling with porn will have to pray. Those who are struggling with drug addiction will have to pray. Those who are struggling with diets and foods will have to pray, and those who are struggling with their identity will have to pray, just like everyone else.
To put it in a nutshell, if you’re struggling for any reason, you will have to pray. Being connected with God means being connected with power, and since there is nothing impossible with God, the identity crisis can be overcome, wherever it may affect us adversely.
We therefore end with passages of scripture that will remind us of this sacred truth, that whatsoever might be our issue, we can be victorious, if we trust in the power of Christ, for this has always been the very essence of the gospel. The passages would be juxtaposed so as to make plain their relevance to each other. Let’s read:
Romans 7: 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
God Bless!