A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality
In the two thousandth and twenty-fourth year of our Lord, the world is a different place. Social media and corporate activism spread LGBTQ+ ideology far and wide in America. At this point, it is almost ubiquitous, and each one of us knows someone who has been swept away by this new wave. As a pastor, I find myself answering questions of which our forefathers in the faith did not encounter. As important as the answer to the question is, the tone by which it is answered also matters. Small enough to fit in your back pocket, Ligonier Ministries has developed a “field guide” that provides clear, concise answers that in turn reflect the tone needed to address serious issues with the gospel.
Let’s start with the answers. Ligonier has helpfully divided the field guide into four sections: On Being Human, Homosexuality and Transgenderism, Events and Associations, and the Gospel and Love. Each section contains a series of questions and answers. The questions range from “Is there a difference between one’s sex and gender?”, “Is homosexuality worse than other sins?”, “What does repentance look like for a transgender person?”, “Is it OK to use one’s preferred pronouns?”, and “How do I share the gospel with LGBTQ people?” These are all questions that are increasingly demanding an answer from us, and we would be fools to believe we can avoid them forever. As Peter says, we must be ready to give an answer for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15).
More than the answers, the tone of the book provides the best corrective. Today, our tone moves between two extremes - angry and isolationist to passive and accepting. Both of these are an abomination to the gospel. God is holier than us and has every right to isolate Himself from our sin, but He also loves us enough to say the hard things. When Christ casts His eye to the LGBTQ community, He sees what He sees in all communities - sinners. Ligonier has done a fantastic job in communicating this reality. You may have noticed the tone behind their very questions - sin, repentance, evangelism. Consider this statement: “Remember that the person you're speaking to bears God's image. For this reason, he or she must be treated with respect, not insulted or demeaned. Further, as you seek to share the gospel with an LGBTQ person, pray constantly. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel and that the Lord of the harvest would see fit to gather this person in (Luke 10:2). Remember that no one is beyond His reach.” These are the words of Reformed Christians who refuse to let politics hinder the power of the gospel to save lost sinners. These are questions concerned with the state of their souls. This field guide is not to be used to “drop the hammer”; instead, it is used to lift high the cross.
My friends, each generation has some sin that comes to the fore. Here is ours, and here is an opportunity to meet sin head-on with the gospel. Ligonier has done a fantastic job in equipping us to do just that. If you are interested in reading more, you can purchase this small field guide here.
