If a person feels they should be a different sex, didn’t God make a mistake?

Question:

Hello there!

You answered a question for me the other day on transgenderism. I have a few other questions, so this might get kind of long.

Transsexuals will say that the body they were born into is a birth defect. How do we know for sure that's not the case? There are birth defects all the time, which sometimes can be treated. I've even heard of children as young as six deciding that they are the wrong gender.

Where does it mention in the Bible that God cannot make mistakes? He even said himself that the flood was a mistake, correct?

And are sex and gender the same thing? I'm struggling and trying to find all the help I can. I feel like if I lived as a man, I would be more comfortable. I did not grow up feeling like this. I will admit that I was never real "girly" (I rarely wore makeup and jewelry) but I did wear clothes made for women (rarely skirts though). It's only been the last few weeks that I've gotten the notion that something may not be "right". I'm starting to feel like I've repressed my Gender Identity Disorder (if there is such a thing and if I do have it).

Also in your previous email to me it says:

Intersex, which used to be called hermaphroditism, is when a birth defect occurs. Intersex technically is when the external genitals don't match the reproductive organs. For example, a girl could have all or part of the external equipment of a boy, but has ovaries internally. A boy could have the external equipment of a girl but have testicles internally.

I'm kind of confused about this. Say for example that it turns out that I have testicles internally. So would that make me a man, even though I've fully developed external and internal equipment of a girl and also a menstrual period?

I also have a question about Deuteronomy 22:5:

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are] abomination unto the Lord thy God.

This is in the Old Testament, so we wouldn't be under it right? If not then, what are biblical passages that show God's distaste of transgenderism?

Answer:

The problem is that for transgenders is that there is no proof of a birth defect, there is only a claim and that is not the same thing. A test of their DNA would show a normal male or female. Assuming no alterations, a test of their blood would show normal levels of either male or female hormones according to their gender. There is only a feeling or desire, there are no facts to support the claim.

That a child has imagination or a desire to be different, doesn't state that they are different. I'm sure you could find a child who wishes he had dark skin or blonde hair or any number of traits, but it doesn't mean that they are what they desire. I recall looking at one case in detail and all I found was a poor child being manipulated by adults into affirming what the child saw the adults wanted.

No, God did not say the flood was a mistake. What is stated is: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them"" (Genesis 6:5-7). God was sorry that the choices of men left Him no choice but to destroy them, but that isn't the same as saying He made a mistake.

When a person suffers from intersex, it is not hidden. His doctors would be dealing with the impacts of this from birth. The impacts of these defects are noticeable and severe. You have ovaries and you developed normally as a female; therefore, you do not have an intersex defect.

As I pointed out to another questioner, even the way you are arguing your point is the way most females address matters. The basis of your concern is "a notion," or in other words "a feeling." It is an emotional response to what is perceived to be a problem.

The real problem is that you have become discontented with your lot in life. Like so many others who complain: "Why couldn't I have been born rich?" or "Why couldn't I have been an athlete?" or "Why couldn't I have been born in a better country?" You have decided in the last few weeks that life is unfair and that if only you had been a boy things would have been better. The truth is that if you were a boy, you would still be thinking life is unfair ... because many aspects of life are unfair. Every person faces good things and bad things, no one has a perfect life. But, then, you never needed a perfect life to be happy. Happiness is purely a choice that you make to enjoy life as it is. "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13).

So what if you're a girl who likes to rough-house a bit? When you have sons, they will be the envy of all their friends because they have a mom who doesn't mind dirt.

Moral concepts have not changed between the Old and New Testaments. Lying was wrong under the Old Law and remains wrong under the New Law. What you find in the Old Law are more details explaining exactly what God meant by certain laws. The New Testament is written assuming that the reader is familiar with the Old Testament (Romans 15:4; I Corinthians 10:6). In the New Testament, we continue to find God stating that a distinction is to be made between the sexes: "Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering" (I Corinthians 11:14-15). In I Corinthians 6:9, among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God are the malakos. This Greek word is translated as "effeminate" in the King James Version. It literally means "fine clothes" and refers to a catamite, a male who acts like a female. While it is primarily understood to be in sexual action, it is not restricted to just sex. I generally used Deuteronomy 22:5 because it makes the point clear without having to define words most people don't know.

You have a choice: You can be unhappy for the rest of your life that you don't have things you can never have, or you can appreciate the abundant blessings you do have. Your happiness is really up to you. But I can guarantee you that you won't find happiness by pretending to be something you are not.

Question:

Thank you for responding so quickly! I will admit your reply didn't really sway me in my thinking. I'm still struggling with all these feelings. You may be right in saying that my life these last few weeks have been kind of rough, but I could really say that for any point in my life. I'm suffering this sexual identity crisis I don't see this going away anytime soon. I kind of realized I've always somehow felt like this. I feel like the last few weeks have been what triggered it.

I just read this interesting article of a transsexual who tends to explain why she is not a mistake. Please read all of it before you respond, because I would love to see your rebuttal. I also have another question. People with Gender Identity Disorder: I know their biological bodies would be absolutely normal (if not intersex, but physically just one sex). But why can't that be considered a birth defect? Even though a body may be perfectly developed, who says that can't be a defect for them? Also, this is an interesting article on the genetic basis for transgenderism.

Also another thing. I have dressed up manly for an experiment. I really like the way I looked! I will admit after the euphoria I started shouting at God that I am indeed a man. I don't see why I should be a woman. It's just a birth defect.

So I guess you're saying that certain feelings are birth defects. Really I don't know what to do. I just want to kill myself. I have never had anything affect me like this before. I actually don't even know if God exists. I just don't want to be this way.

Answer:

This article, "Transsexualism," points out the studies don't prove the point being claimed. There are too many questionable parts and they have not been verified.

The first article talks about why a birth defect happens but makes the mistake of lumping transgenderism, which is feeling that a person is the wrong sex with people who have a rare birth defect that causes a difference between internal and external organs -- in this case a partial corruption. The fact remains that intersex and transgenderism are two independent issues.

Feelings are not birth defects, they are a reflection of your choices. You have no birth defect. You are merely discontented with being a female and wish to be what you never can be. Like others, you are already involved in rewriting history in your head, deciding that your recent feelings were always there -- a self-deceit proven to occur in people who see themselves as transsexuals. Like others who learn that their choices are not supported by God, you are willing to lie to yourself in another way and declare there is no God. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:20-22).

I deal in truth and I have told you the truth. You can choose to be happy with the fact that you are a female and enjoy all the advantages it gives you, or you can spend the rest of your life miserable. You are already foolishly talking about suicide as if that is going to change something. The only thing that needs to be changed is your attitude. Be happy with life as it is and be grateful for all the blessings God offers you.