Politics & Theology - Gender and Race

1. We are the special creation of God.

Genesis 1:26–28 NIV

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

2. We are unique reflectors of his image.

Genesis 9:6 NIV

6 “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.

James 3:9 NIV

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.

3. We are sexual beings.

Genesis 1:27 NIV

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

This declaration affirms that both male and female are created in the image of God, that they are distinct, and that both sexes have inherent worth and dignity. Human sexuality is not an incidental or arbitrary feature. Rather, it is part of God’s intentional design, a means through which humans can both experience and express love, commitment, and co-creation with God.

Genesis 2:23–24 CSB

23 And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man. 24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.

The enemy is destroying this natural path.

Matthew 19:4–5 NIV

4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

John Hammett and Katie McCoy argue that, while Genesis 1 establishes sexuality, Genesis 2 provides the basis for gender. They explain,

Genesis 1 reveals that sex is binary, Genesis 2 reveals that gender is also binary. The second creation account refers to humanity as either([the Hebrew word for] man) or([the Hebrew word for] woman). This distinction reflects how the male and the female relate to one another as a man and a woman, respectively. In other words, and describe their gender identity.[3]   ish  ishah  

The original couple’s sexual distinctions led to gender distinctions. These distinctions are portrayed not as a basis for division or hierarchy, but as a divine arrangement intended for companionship, mutual support, and procreation.

The prohibition against gender confusion

Deuteronomy 22:5 NIV

5 A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.

This affirms that men and women should participate in gender-appropriate behavior and abstain from behavior that intends to deceive others concerning one’s gender.”

At the root of Transgenderism is the rejection of the human body as naturally good, coupled with the desire to sever reality from nature.

NT Wright- The confusion about gender identity is a modern and now internet-fueled, form of the ancient philosophy of Gnosticism. The Gnostic, one who ‘knows’, has discovered the secret of ‘who I really am’, behind the deceptive outward appearance (in [Times columnist Hugo] Rifkind’s apt phrase, the ‘ungainly, boring, fleshly one’). This involves denying the goodness, or even the ultimate reality, of the natural world. Nature, however, tends to strike back, with the likely victims in this case being vulnerable and impressionable youngsters who, as confused adults, will pay the price for their elders’ fashionable fantasies

Gnosticism is a 2nd-century religious movement emphasizing gnosis (secret, divine knowledge) for salvation, rather than faith alone.

Romans 12:2 NIV

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

There is one race, The human race

Genesis 1:26–27 NIV

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

The fragmentation of the fall. When human beings turned from loving and serving God, the immediate result was an alienation between persons  Gen 3:7-9

Genesis 3:7–9 NIV

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

We’ve used race to alienate ourselves from God.

 We are to be an “alternate city” of God

Matthew 5:14–16 NLT

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

in the midst of every “City of Man,” showing the unity of persons across culture and race and class barriers that only Christ can bring

Called from your culture.

Acts 10:9–15 NIV

9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Acts 10:34–35 NIV

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Racism is a violation of the grace and mercy of God 

Galatians 2:14–15 NLT

14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? 15 “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles.

Your personal identity; race, gender, economic status is not to be prioritized over your Kingdom / Christian identity.

All cultures are to be submitted to Christ not idolized over Christian faith.

Galatians 3:28 NIV

28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.