Gender dysphoria is one of the most sensitive and divisive issues of our time. It’s deeply personal, incredibly complex, and touches countless lives around the world. For Christians, the struggle is not only about how to understand it but also how to respond in a way that honors Christ.
I know this reality firsthand. For most of my life, I wrestled with gender dysphoria. I know the feelings of guilt, shame, and isolation that come when your internal sense of self doesn’t seem to align with your body. Those feelings can be overwhelming and lonely.
The Weight of Silence
Many Christians who struggle with gender dysphoria keep it hidden out of fear — fear of rejection, judgment, or even outright hostility from family, friends, or the church. That silence leads to even more anxiety and despair.
And sadly, churches themselves are divided. Some congregations have embraced cultural activism, affirming gender transition as though it were not sin. But the authority to define sin doesn’t belong to clergy, congregations, or culture. It belongs to God alone.
What Scripture Says
From the very beginning, Scripture is clear:
“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
— Genesis 1:27
God created man and woman in His image. He didn’t create a spectrum of genders. That truth doesn’t erase the very real pain people feel, but it does give us a foundation for how we respond.
The Bible also mentions eunuchs — men who were castrated by force, by choice, or born that way (Matthew 19:12). This reminds us that Scripture does acknowledge people living outside the “norms” of male and female expression. But even then, the call was not to redefine God’s design, but to draw closer to Him.
The Unchanging God
Culture may demand that Christianity “normalize” gender dysphoria, but that’s impossible. We cannot change God, His Word, or His standards. Instead, it is God who changes us through His Spirit.
As sinners, every one of us falls short — not just those wrestling with gender dysphoria. To deny sin is to deny truth. To justify sin is to separate ourselves from Christ. But to bring our struggles to Him is to receive forgiveness, hope, and new life.
A Call to the Church
Our responsibility as Christians is not to fix, manage, or control people wrestling with gender dysphoria. Our responsibility is to point them to Jesus. To love them as God loves them. To remind them — and ourselves — that healing and identity are found in Christ alone.
The mission hasn’t changed:
Love God. Love people. Make disciples.
Yes, Christians can and do struggle with gender dysphoria. The question is: how will we walk with them — with truth, love, and a commitment to point them to Christ?