It happened in December of last year at a GameStop retail store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. An employee was accused of misgendering (referring to someone with a word or pronoun that does not represent the gender with which they identify) by calling a man dressed and identifying as woman, “sir.” That person began screaming and cursing and affirming that he was a woman, even to the point of asking the employee to step outside so that he could show him how much of a woman he was, referring to fighting. Not very ladylike. Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (5:20)! We are in a time when truth is being redefined. Everything is being rebranded, renamed, and redone. In some cases, that is good. Who didn’t want a better Hulk movie? Thank you, Marvel. However, in areas of greater importance, like gender, there are some things that should never be moved, changed or altered. It’s like living in a not-so-fun house where perception is not reality. How do we live in it, and how do we prepare our children to live in it?
In our homes and areas where we have control, we must keep things right-side-up as much as possible. Not only for our own sanity but for the influence on our children. Our homes need to be a refuge for truth. Anything that addresses the issue of reassigning truth (from homework to Disney—everything) needs to be talked about as a family. They are getting this thrown at them from every angle. Teachers say that homosexual relationships in schools are as common as heterosexual relationships. They are being programmed that tolerance means I have to agree or be silent about my own beliefs. At home, they need to be able to process this with you. Give them the opportunity to ask questions. Teach them how to reason through the murky waters of this new truth they are being bombarded with. We must teach them to be respectful but firm. It is alright and healthy to be able to disagree with someone. We can be respectful to people without accepting their opinions or life choices (Eph. 4:14-15).
In our own interactions with people of the opposite truth, what should we do? How should we speak? We need to show wisdom in how we speak (Col. 1:28). Our words need to be seasoned in such a way as to be heard (Col. 4:5-6). We need to be respectful but firm. We can’t budge on truth. Would we not be offended to have to call a man a woman? Would you not feel oppressed if everyone and every establishment around you catered to this new truth? This is not really truth, only there are some teaching it and wanting to promote it. We should not be among those who promote it or are silent to correct it, but we must protect those around us.