A Book Review from Books at a Glance
by Nick Harsh
I was grateful for the chance to read and write a review of the book Does God Care about Gender Identity by Samuel D. Ferguson. Not only is the book a concise resource regarding an issue needing careful thinking in our Western Culture, but it is also a resource I would gladly give to the parent of any child struggling with gender dysphoria. For the Christian who is unsure how to think about the issue of gender identity, this book is instructive and accessible.
Two main themes are held in tension from the first pages of this book to the end. They are: Deeper Understanding and Compassionate Engagement. Ferguson writes, “This booklet is written for those interested in or concerned by today’s evolving views on sex and gender” (pg. 6). While a deeper understanding of these evolving views is needed to navigate the ever-changing ethics of the Western World, compassionate engagement is also needed. Here, the familiar phrase applies: People don’t care what you know until they know you care. Certainly, Christians need to engage the culture with thoughtfulness, discernment, and care. However, if discernment is divorced from love, the Bible’s message of transformation will sound like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Cor. 13:1). Ferguson handles this tension well. He writes, “My goal, however, is not to be callous or offensive but to set all our broken lives within the contours of Scripture’s vision for humanity” (pg. 9). I believe Ferguson accomplished what he set out to do.
The book is divided into seven main headings:
- Why This Booklet?
- Three Core Beliefs of the Transgender Movement.
- Some Concerns about Transitioning.
- Back to the Beginning.
- Encouragement for Parents.
- Encouragement for Leaders.
- A Word for the Person Who Identifies as Trans*
I’ve briefly discussed the first heading already. Here, Ferguson explains his desire to understand deeply and engage compassionately. Like both wings on a plane are needed to take-off from the ground, so also deep understanding and compassionate engagement are needed if we are to be salt and light in the world. From there, Ferguson addresses three core beliefs of the transgender movement.
- Belief 1: My Identity Is Self-Determined.
- Belief 2: My Feelings, Not My Body, Determine My Gender.
- Belief 3: We Find Wholeness Through External, Not Internal Change.
Each of these beliefs is deeply established in the worldview of modern-day society and is the foundation on which the transgender movement is built. Ferguson makes it clear that up until the 60s, the terms gender and sex were considered synonyms and used interchangeably. The world we live in today is very different. Today, many distinguish between one’s biological sex and one’s gender. A person’s biological sex is “distinguishable by their chromosomes, reproductive structures, hormone levels, and anatomical features” (pg. 2). On the other hand, a person’s gender is now used to refer to “the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of being male and female” (pg. 3). Ferguson says, “This is the revolutionary idea of the gender revolution. And with the riverbanks of biology removed, gender identity is now as free-flowing and expansive as one’s feelings” (pg. 3).
However, this understanding of gender identity did not occur in a vacuum. It is the logical conclusion of these three beliefs embraced in our world today. The rapid shift we see in culture is directly connected to the ever-increasing passion and potency with which these three beliefs are held. One cannot understand the transgender movement without understanding the pervasive nature of these three beliefs in Western Culture.
After briefly discussing the core beliefs of the transgender movement, Ferguson kindly shares three concerns he has for those considering what is known as affirmative therapy (i.e., a method of treatment that confirms an individual’s psychological sense of gender and encourages ways to explore and express it). First, he says, “Affirmative therapy moves too quickly with immature kids who are easily manipulated by social pressure” (pg. 14). He shows that the primary individuals affected by gender dysphoria are males in early childhood. Additionally, he cites research indicating that most of those individuals outgrew it (pg. 14). In other words, affirmative therapy is concerning because it makes “permanent changes based on what may be a passing phase” (pg. 15). Second, Ferguson says, “The methods of transitioning are inherently traumatic to our natural bodies” (pg. 15). Here, Ferguson points to several studies where the risks of hormonal interventions or surgical procedures are shown to outweigh the potential benefits. Ferguson’s third concern is that “when affirmative therapy is judged by its own stated goals, transitioning hasn’t proved effective” (pg. 16). Tragically, many have found after transitioning that the dysphoria remained. Ferguson shared the heartbreaking story of Grace Lidinsky-Smith, who said, “One year [after transitioning], I would be curled in my bed, clutching my double-mastectomy scars and sobbing with regret” (pg. 16). He concludes, “Transitioning appears to be a high-risk and often low-reward gamble” (pg. 16).
With that in mind, Ferguson walks through what the Bible teaches about a person’s gender, identity, and sexuality. In contrast to the three beliefs of the transgender movement, he shares three truths from the Bible.
- Truth 1: Our Human Identity Is a Gift from Our Creator.
- Truth 2: Human Beings Are Embodied, so Gender Is Never Less Than Our Biology.
- Truth 3: God’s Pathway for Change Is Transformation, Not Transition.
Clearly and kindly, Ferguson points to a better path forward. He shows how our gendered bodies are a gift from God. He says, “When we turn to the making of the first man and woman, it’s their embodiment, not their feelings, that determine their biological sex and gender identity” (pg. 20). He goes on to explain how gendered existence impacts the very core of our humanity. He quotes Gregg Allison, who says, “Every cell in a woman’s body has an XX sex chromosome. Every cell in a man’s body has an XY sex chromosome” (pg. 21). In other words, the Biblical truth we see is that a person’s sex not feelings determine his or her gender. But the Bible provides hope for the one who struggles with gender dysphoria – it is transformation, not transition. For the one who experiences gender dysphoria, Ferguson writes, “You’re experiencing the fall in a particularly hard way, but the Bible is about more than brokenness and sin. It’s a book about God’s triumph over brokenness and sin” (pg. 23).
After unpacking what the Bible says about gender and identity, Ferguson provides practical encouragement to both parents and Christian leaders who seek to lead faithfully. While these encouragements are far from exhaustive, they provide practical direction to the parent whose child is struggling with gender dysphoria and courage to the pastor who wants to remain faithful to the Bible in a culture that is often opposed to it.
Finally, Ferguson ends with a word to those who identify as trans*. He writes, “The antidote to identity confusion is not thinking more about one’s identity. Paradoxically, it’s becoming increasingly consumed with the person and purpose of another, Jesus Christ. For the Christian, identity isn’t so much about who you are but whose you are” (pg. 42).
I have aimed to provide a brief summary of a short book. However, I would also like to provide a word of reflection. This book’s greatest strength is also its greatest weakness (i.e., its brevity). It’s impossible to capture every nuance of the transgender movement in forty-four pages. The historical shifts that have taken place in our culture haven’t happened in a day – or even in a century (see Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Truman). Readers who desire to understand the details of our cultural moment or the technicalities of exegetical debate will find this book disappointing. Readers who wish to understand the range of positions that Biblical scholars hold regarding gender and identity will leave wanting. The cultural waters that we swim in are complex and require careful thinking. However, Ferguson provides an excellent starting block and a great place to start.
Nick Harsh
• • •
Why This Booklet?
- Deeper Understanding.
- Is the body integral or incidental to gender identity?
- What is the transformative path out of dysphoria and toward wholeness?
- Does God assign our biological sex and gender?
- Compassionate Engagement.
Three Core Beliefs of the Transgender Movement.
- Belief 1. My Identity Is Self-Determined.
- Belief 2. My Feelings, Not My Body, Determine My Gender.
- Belief 3. We Find Wholeness Through External, Not Internal Change.
Some Concerns about Transitioning.
- First, affirming therapy moves too quickly with immature kids who are easily manipulated by social pressure.
- Second, the methods of transitioning are inherently traumatic to our natural bodies.
- Finally, when affirming therapy is judged by its own stated goals, transitioning hasn’t proven effective.
Back to the Beginning.
- Truth 1. Our Human Identity Is a Gift from Our Creator.
- Truth 2. Human Beings Are Embodied, so Gender Is Never Less Than Our Biology.
- Truth 3. God’s Pathway for Change Is Transformation, Not Transition.
“Biblical transformation stands in stark contrast to the logic of transitioning in at least three ways” (p. 23).
- First, transformation is from the inside out. It begins with the heart and mind, not the body.
- Second, transformation culminates when God resurrects our bodies, not when we remake them.
- Third, transformation is the Spirit’s work in the context of Christ’s new community.
Encouragement for Parents.
- Show Compassion If a Child Shares a Struggle.
- Ask What Else Is Going On.
- Don’t Be Anxious If Your Child’s Interests Aren’t Stereotypical.
- Get Help If Gender Confusion Persists.
- Establish Clear Boundaries.
- Don’t Give Away Your Authority.
- Guard Against Negative Cultural Influence.
- Celebrate the Beauty and Goodness of Gendered Bodies.
Encouragement for Leaders.
- Don’t Be Silent, Teach.
- Foster a Culture of Support and Hope in Your Church.
- Be Aware of What’s Forming Your Congregation’s Youth.
A Word for the Person Who Identifies as Trans*
- Who are you?
- How do you deal with brokenness and pain?
- Where do you find belonging?
- Does God care about your gender identity?