Does Scripture condone transgenderism?

The phenomenon of transgenderism seems to be a common thing today. “Trans” is an umbrella term that encompasses various meanings including people whose gender “identity” is the opposite of their assigned sex at birth (which consists ONLY of male or female). Some refer to themselves as “genderqueer” or “non-binary” and a host of other terms.

In this short article, however, I am going to concentrate on those who desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another and to ask the main question that immediately pops into the mind of a Believer in YHWH/Yeshua/Torah: Is it biblical?

Well, unfortunately, as with same-sex marriages, today, no one bats an eye when a friend or family member announces they want to have a sex change. As you all know, what used to be considered taboo is now considered “normal”. EVERYTHING today is considered “normal” - except, of course, living the holy life outlined and mandated in Scripture, because “that ol’ stuff is way outdated and strange. After all, this is 2019!”

Regardless of what “the world” believes, Scripture tells us that YHWH – THE Creator of the universe and everything in it – is NOT pleased with “modern thinking.” And, the bottom line, according to Scripture, altering our Creator-assigned sex is taboo!

Let’s check it out:

Deuteronomy 23:1 "He that is crushed or maimed in his privy parts shall not enter the assembly of the Lord." (JPS)

Taking it even further, the passage goes on to say, "A mamzer (bastard) may not enter the assembly of ADONAI, nor may his descendants down to the tenth generation enter the assembly of ADONAI."

As you can see, even if a person isn’t at fault for his/her particular situation, YHWH demands that only perfection enter into His Presence. (This is, after all, why Yeshua shed his holy, divine blood for us – to give us all a chance to become clean and perfect enough. To truly grasp that concept, one MUST read and study the entire Bible!)

In other words, anyone with altered sexual organs (no matter what the reason) is no longer worthy of entering into YHWH's Presence.

Why? Because YHWH, who made man from the dust of the earth, and woman from his rib (Genesis 2:21-25) created sex organs - male and female - for the purpose of procreation. When we alter the organs, they can no longer do what they were designed to do….

Now, here's the kicker: Genesis 1 says we are made in His Image (meaning HOLY; not necessarily referring to a "human image")

Genesis 1: 27 So God created humankind in his own image; in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them: God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. (CJB)

When we surgically alter our genitals, we are, in essence, destroying HIS IMAGE, because we can no longer procreate naturally!

THAT seems to be the bottom line, and there is no way around it.

Now, does that mean someone who has changed their sex cannot enter into Eternity with YHWH?

That depends upon whether they had their sex changed before or after they became a Believer. Once the Holy Spirit has been “invited into your heart,” you become a changed person - someone who is to live a holy/set apart life and does ADONAI’s Will instead of their own.

Going against God’s Will – especially when going so far as to have one’s sex changed surgically – is deliberate SIN, for which there is no sin sacrifice:

Numbers 15: 30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people. (CJB)

Hebrews 6: 4. But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim. 7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)

Hebrews 10:26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies. (CJB)

Leviticus 26:23 If, in spite of all this, you refuse my correction and still go against me; then I too will go against you; and I, yes I, will strike you seven times over for your sins. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 6: 9. Or don't you know, that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim?* Make no mistake! Neither sexual sinners, nor idol-worshippers, nor adulterers, nor the corrupt, nor men who lay down with other men, 10. Nor the oppressors, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. (AENT)

* Compare this to Matthew 5:17-20, where we are told that breaking the least commandment of Torah and teaching others to do the same makes a person "least in the kingdom" but they still get in. Yeshua implies that those with more serious sins won't make it in: "Depart from me, workers of iniquity, I never knew you"; but here, Rav Shaul (Paul) gives a more specific list of what will keep them out.

1 Corinthians 6: 17. But he that joins himself to our Master (Y'shua), is with him one spirit. 18. Flee from sexual sin. For every (other) sin which a man commits, is external to his body; but he that commits sexual sin, sins against his own body. (AENT)

NOTE Sexual sin goes deeper than the body - because the Image of Elohim is both male and female (B'resheet/Gen. 1:27)... and when violating someone sexually, we are distorting that Image and basically spurning the One who created male and female according to His own Image! But the other point is also that a sexual sinner brings sin upon himself rather than his partner, and vice versa, unless rape or abuse is involved.

It is important to remember that it is not sin per se that causes a person who professes to be a believer to be eternally estranged from YHWH but, rather, it is our surrender to sin which causes our faith and faithfulness to dim or completely die out. We flirt with spiritual disaster if we - by our thoughts, words, and conduct - deny Messiah, reject grace, spurn redemption, and push away the Holy Spirit.

So, “the world” can do whatever it wishes, as it does not belong to YHWH. Unbelievers are doomed to simply “be no more.” (Romans 12:1-2; John 15:19 and 18:36; 1 John 2:15, etc.) But those who do belong to Him, MUST adhere to HIS Divine Instructions. Scripture amply reiterates this; there is no gray area.