Sex Change

Dear Victorious,

Is having a sex change a sin? I see these people who are "trans gendered," who say they were a "man in a woman's body" or vice versa. This seems hard to believe. Yet the professionals and experts seem to acknowledge this as a natural phenomenon. Culturally it's as if we approach a change of someone's sex about the same way we might approach straightening their teeth. Is this appropriate?

Marva L. - South Bend, IN

Dear Marva,

Yes, I think having a sex change, or trying to live as the opposite sex would be sinful. We were created as spiritual beings, without a sexual assignment. The Bible says that God knew us even before we were formed in our mother's womb. (Jeremiah 1:5) After that, God sent us to have a human experience. At the start of that human experience, we were given a sexual assignment as well. So our sexuality is not "who we are." It is simply the role that God asks us to play during our human experience here on earth.

Physically, all embryo start out female. It is during formation in the mother's womb that sexuality is determined. (This is why, for example, men have nipples.) But keep in mind that God knew us well before this time.

Biblically, it is not possible for someone to have been born "a man in a woman's body" or vice versa. The person who says such a thing is clearly confused and deceived. We should love them enough to lead them to a better conclusion about who they are.