Navigating the Labyrinth of Sex, Gender, and Identity
“(God) didn’t create us to be gay,” commented former NFL player Dez Bryant, jumping in on the internet debate questioning Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s eligibility to compete in the women’s division of the 2024 Paris Olympics. He wasn’t alone in his sentiment; others like Elon Musk and Harry Potter author JK Rowling didn’t hesitate to express their dissent on social media. Rowling tweeted, “Watch this, then explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment.”
Feeling validated that these opinions align with their own values, some Christians quickly took this as an opportunity to express their views on gender issues, expressing similar reactions to give them a sense of standing up for their faith.
However, it turns out that despite “looking like a man” and delivering a punch that her fellow competitor “has never felt before,” Khelif was later revealed to be a “cis–” woman who was born and raised female. In a not-so-surprising turn of events, Musk and Rowling (among others) are now being sued for defamation and canceled by internet users for their “homophobic” comments.
But as the world continues to perceive this as another cyberbullying case, Christians are only reminded how sensitive discussing issues related to sex, gender, and identity can be. After all, in an age where information is readily available and discussions are becoming more polarized, how can we express our convictions without inadvertently invalidating the feelings of others and being deemed prejudiced?
Get your facts straight.
In defense of Bryant, Musk, and Rowling, their arguments relied on reports suggesting Khelif had high testosterone levels because of differences in sex development, leading to her disqualification from the 2023 Boxing World Championships (a ruling that the International Olympic Committee challenged). Although the participation of people with an “ambiguous sex” in women’s sports is an issue that needs to be talked about (Could they possibly compromise the safety of biologically female athletes?), carelessly referencing the transgender community based on mere speculation despite not being relevant to the issue only makes their comments sound ignorant and pretentious–as if they were waiting for this very moment to “spread hate.” Khelif’s “looking male” or “looking transgender” are not valid enough arguments to conclude that she is transgender.
Unfortunately, this is how most of us think, whether we want to admit it or not. We tend to perceive others based on mere speculation and inferences. And when we see pieces of news or information that confirm our beliefs (confirmation bias), whether true or not, we take to social media to rant–only fueling the hate propaganda. Commenting online has become so convenient that it has become such a “norm” in society to share our initial impressions without first exercising critical thinking.
In our Media and Information Literacy class, our teacher has always emphasized the importance of sharing the same context or schema with our audience to prevent a communication breakdown. After all, more than the comments themselves, it was Bryant’s, Musk’s, and Rowling’s misunderstanding of the issue that made the already controversial statements hurtful and gave grounds for Khelif to sue them for “defamation.”
Assess your intentions.
It is also important to distinguish the fine line between being judgemental and offering constructive criticism. While being judgemental (rushing to criticize and condemn others without reason and empathy) comes from a place of self-righteousness, constructive criticism aims to lift a person up. While believers are commanded to rebuke sin, we are called to do so with patience and love (2 Timothy 4:2).
When expressing our opinions, it's crucial to remember that our intentions greatly impact how our message is received. Our thoughts are closely linked to our emotions. If we are fueled by pride, it will be evident in our writing and will likely only repel others. Anger and dissent will only create an unnecessary divide, making it more challenging to get our point across. Conversely, when words are motivated by love (as believers are called to reflect), they can overcome the barriers of our differences, allowing us to connect with others through empathy and compassion.
Practice discernment.
Yet, admittedly, societal interactions are far too complex to be addressed by a single rule book, and there are many nuances and gray areas that the Bible doesn’t explicitly teach us to navigate.
Thus, as believers, practicing discernment is still essential. Discernment is commonly defined as the ability to perceive situations “through God’s eyes” or to distinguish truth from falsehood and right from wrong. It also includes the ability to consider both the moral and practical implications of a certain situation and respond accordingly with wisdom from God.
Embrace your humanity.
At the end of the day, it is crucial to recognize that we are all still humans who are subjected to the limitations of our humanity. And while in one aspect, this allows us to empathize with the struggles of others (and so reveal God’s truth to our fellow humans in a more compassionate way), we can only do so much. While it is crucial to exhaust all efforts in defending our faith and fighting for God’s truth, we must also balance that with a healthy amount of respect and love for each other–learning, sometimes, to let go of control and trust in God’s sovereign will.
Otherwise, in a chaotic world already filled with so much noise, society will only tune us out.
References:
https://www.newsweek.com/jk-rowling-imane-khelif-donald-trump-elon-musk-lawsuit-1940241
