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Confusion from a confused age
Commenting on hilarious, if tragic, linguistic gymnastics in President Biden’s spending bill – which, to avoid the word “women,” numerous times refers to “pregnant, lactating, and postpartum individuals” – Jennifer Marshall Patterson notes:
Transgender ideology plays on superficial gender stereotypes. Gender transitioning involves assuming the appearance and demeanor of the opposite sex. That reduces what it means to be a woman [or man] to surface-level features. At the same time, transgender theory would erase social recognition of the most profound biological distinction of women: the capacity to conceive and bear children. – Jennifer Marshall Patterson, “Speaking the Truth About Women” in World Opinion
In an age where the most powerful person on the planet can’t use the term “woman,” it’s no surprise that I receive letters like this one from a Middle School boy:
Pastor Wayne, I am seeing a lot of young teens start claiming they are bisexual, is this a sin or not, is it a bad thing or not? I believe that we should love all men and women and we should give our honest opinions. Can’t I think a man is handsome, but not want to marry the man? Is that against any Bible rules? In my opinion, my buddy is handsome and deserves the right girl for him, but some guys say that even thinking that is sin. I am confused and needing some elderly guidance.
I replied:
I know your church youth leaders will have great insights on this and encourage you to talk with them as well. Here’s my 2 cents:
- Your thinking is in good shape. Historically, noting handsomeness was not a problem. Thomas Jefferson wrote of George Washington, “He has a fine figure, and strong calves fill his stockings.” No one thought TJ was in any way homo-erotic (his sins ran decidedly the other direction), but knew he was appreciating manliness.
- The current hysteria is tragic for two reasons: 1) it leads many young people to stop thinking of sin as sin and 2) it causes genuine same-sex appreciation to look perverted when it is not. Abigail Shrier has a good book on this from the female perspective, and I recommend it.
T.S. Eliot wrote that when meanings are being warped it is very important to defiantly speak truth. Keep appreciating handsome dudes like yourself. And keep calling homosexual behavior what it is – sin.
God bless,
Wayne