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What does the Bible say about transgenderism? Discover 10 biblical principles that guide a loving and truthful Christian response to transgenderism and gender identity issues.

Transgenderism is a topic that Christians can no longer afford to ignore. Why? Because for increasing numbers of people, it’s no mere ‘topic’ but a defining identity.

Just a few years ago, Western countries were debating whether to broaden the definition of marriage beyond male and female. Now our societies are unsure if the categories of male and female even exist. As such, it is vital that we have a clear Christian perspective on transgenderism.

Though it was written thousands of years ago, it’s almost as though the Bible anticipated questions around faith and gender identity. That shouldn’t surprise us, since God wrote it!

So, what is a biblical view of gender? How can gender ideology and the church exist in the same world? And what does the Bible say about transgender identity?

Consider these 10 principles as a starting point.

1. God Created Humanity Male and Female

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27).

From the very first chapter of the Bible, we find the unmistakable declaration that God created male and female. A biblical view of gender begins with the truth that sex is not a human invention or social construct. It is a binary reality established by God and woven into the fabric of creation, most clearly seen in humanity. Because it is God’s idea, this distinction is good, purposeful, and will never be outdated.

What we read about gender in Genesis (see also Genesis 5:2) reveals a divinely established order — male and female created with equal dignity but distinct roles.

And the further we read in Scripture, the more confirmation we see that gender identity is not rooted in personal feelings but God’s intentional design, as affirmed by Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 19:4–5, Mark 10:6).

2. Our Bodies Are Not Mistakes

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14).

In our hypermodern world, it is easy to liken our brains and bodies to computer software and hardware. But when it comes to our humanity, is it so easy to install a new program or invest in a hardware update?

In fact, a Christian view of the body affirms that God made our bodies with divine intention (see also Isaiah 45:9, Job 10:8–12, Romans 9:20–21).

Our biological sex is not an app or a computer part to replace but an essential component of God’s good design. A healthy body image and faith are natural allies because God made each one of us — and He doesn’t make mistakes.

3. We Are Called to Speak the Truth in Love

“Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)

Speaking truth in love is a key principle from Scripture that must frame any Christian response to transgenderism.

Followers of Jesus should not weaponise the truth in order to inflict harm. At the same time, we must not let the apparent tension between truth and compassion in Christianity lead us to sacrifice truth (see also Proverbs 27:6).

Men are men. Women are women. Preferred pronouns are a trap Christians must avoid lest they affirm a falsehood. We must speak the truth on these issues, even as we season our speech with salt and bring correction with gentleness (Colossians 4:6, 2 Timothy 2:24–25).

4. Our Identity Is Found in Christ, Not in Gender

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28).

Modern culture encourages people to self-identify through feelings and labels. But a biblical perspective on self-identity is that our worth and understanding of who we are is found in Christ alone.

Male and female are real categories, but even these are not the source of our identity. What does the Bible say about identity? It declares, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Finding your true identity in Christ begins with recognising that your life is “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3) and that you have been “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

In short, ground your identity in Christ, not gender.

5. The Fall Affects Every Part of Us—Including Our Feelings About Our Bodies

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Earlier, we established that God doesn’t make mistakes. However, that doesn’t mean our minds always think perfect thoughts or our hearts are a trustworthy guide — quite the opposite, in fact.

Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, the world has come under the curse of sin (Genesis 3:16–19). Our hearts and minds did not escape this fate (Romans 1:21–25, Ephesians 4:17–18).

Thus, gender dysphoria and the fall are inextricably linked. Like all types of suffering and confusion, gender dysphoria is part of the brokenness introduced by the fall. But sin and identity don’t have to go hand-in-hand. God offers redemption and clarity to everyone struggling with gender dysphoria. Christ died for this, too.

6. God’s Design for the Body Matters

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

The Christian view of the body is that our physical selves are not a disposable shell to be discarded or redefined. Rather, our spirit, soul and body are inextricably bound together (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

A faithful exploration of gender transition and theology must begin with the truth that our bodies are not incidental to who we are, but are purposefully created by God for His honour (Philippians 1:20).

The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Our physical bodies are a sacred creation designed by God — not accidents or mistakes to be altered at will — and He intends us to use them for His glory (Romans 12:1).

7. Compassion for the Struggling Is Non-Negotiable

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).

Because it involves a fundamental disagreement over the nature of reality, transgenderism has led to heated public debates. This has been unavoidable. But for Christians, it doesn’t have be unloving.

Christians must not dismiss or ridicule those struggling with gender identity but treat them with biblical empathy, recognise their pain, and offer them the hope of God’s comfort and mercy.

The Bible calls us to “rejoice with those who rejoice [and] weep with those who weep,” (Romans 12:15) and to clothe ourselves with “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility… [and] above all… love” (Colossians 3:12–14).

Christian compassion for transgender people — and loving those with gender dysphoria — is grounded in Christ’s command to “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36).

8. God’s Grace Is for Everyone

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Healing from gender confusion is possible. The world would have you believe that these struggles never end, but God’s Word tells a different story.

Ephesians 2:1-5 declares, “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ”. Whatever our past or struggles, the gospel offers cleansing, healing, and transformation through Christ.

The gospel and transgender identity intersect at the cross, where “the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared” (Titus 3:3-7) and all sin, though red as scarlet, can be washed as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

9. Parental Responsibility Is Sacred

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).

The gender question is not just being asked by young adults trying to navigate a complex world. Parents are confused too. Christian parenting and gender ideology now collide daily, as mums and dads seek to raise their children as God commands (Deuteronomy 6:6–7, Ephesians 6:4).

When it comes to parents and transgender issues, the Church must equip mothers and fathers to respond to our conflicted culture with truth and grace — and the state should not subvert the sacred role they have in raising their children.

In a world that insists gender is fluid, teaching biblical gender to kids helps anchor them in the unchanging truths of Scripture and sets them up for a stable, healthy future.

10. The Church Must Be a Place of Truth and Healing

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16).

The relationship between the church and transgender issues has become increasingly complex, but Scripture provides clarity in the fog.

As it says in Galatians 6:1, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 adds: “Warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

In short, there is a place for both healing and truth in church. The Christian response to gender identity issues is not shame, silence or rejection but truth and hope.

Transgenderism may raise complex questions, but the Bible offers a simple, profound answer — the healing, redemption and freedom offered in Jesus Christ.

Image courtesy of Unsplash.