What’s The Greater Problem: Pronouns or Adjectives?
Juliet asked, “What’s in a name?” She continued to suggest that if her romantic interest were called by any other name, he would be just as good. This view may be acceptable in a fictitious story of a young couple from rival families, but is it in reality? No, it is not. In recent years, there has been a growing problem with individuals with gender dysphoria (those who claim to be a gender it is biologically impossible for them to be) demanding that people call them by their preferred pronouns. Many in society who do not suffer from gender dysphoria have accommodated those who do by coalescing to their demand to be recognized for what they perceive to be true. However, just because you believe you are something does not make that true in the slightest. A man who claims he is a transwoman is not a woman by any measure. There is no hormone and no mutilation that would make him a woman at all.
Preferred Adjectives
Many will agree with this from a wide variety of belief systems, members of the Lord’s church, Muslims, and, of course, many among the sects of Christendom. I will focus my attention on the latter to show that they are actually quite similar to those who suffer from gender dysphoria. For there are many sectarians who teach different things from one another, from the Bible, all the while claiming to be faithful Christians. However, just because you believe you are something does not make that true in the slightest. A sectarian who claims to be a Christian is not a Christian as defined by the Scripture. A Christian has obeyed the Gospel (Hearing, Believing, Repenting of Sin, Confessing Christ, and Being Baptized for the remission of sins, cf. Rom. 10:17, John 3:16, Acts 2:38, Romans 1:9, Mark 16:16, et al.). A Christian is added to the New Testament church and remains faithful throughout their life even unto death (cf. Acts 2:41-47, Rev. 2:10). No creed, council, or college can manipulate the word of God to change that fact. So, why do our denominational friends claim to be Christians?
Some are easy to point out as they do not even claim to be a part of the church of Christ, as many have specific names that come before Christian. They have preferred adjectives. Perhaps we might note the names of men, Lutheran, Wesleyan, etc. We might note some names of doctrinal collectives, such as Baptist, Pentecostal, or Presbyterian. Still, even more have claimed to be the universal or Catholic church. Even though some claim to be Orthodox, the former does not look hardly at all like the first-century church we read about in the New Testament. The latter does not look orthodox in faith compared to the Apostles’ doctrine, which the first Christians continued steadfastly in (cf. Acts 2:42). All of the aforementioned groups claim to be all Christians, but they add another name to that. This problem is not new, but one that raised its ugly head in the Corinth church of Christ. Paul corrected them first and foremost when he wrote to them.
Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?
To add allegiance to anything other than Christ and His commands is to be divided from Christ and His body. I was raised in a Baptist household, and when I read the Word of God, I recognized I did not read about the Baptist religion in the New Testament. I did not read of Baptist doctrine in the New Testament. I also did not find the sinner's prayer so often taught in the Baptist religion in the Word of God. Could I stay in the religion of my fathers? Well, could Abraham stay in the religion of his fathers? Joshua reminds us that idolatry is what Abraham was raised in, but God called Him out of it. Joshua 24:2, “And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods.” Abraham had to leave his father's religion, the atheist has to leave his father's religion, the Muslim has to leave his father's religion, and so does every sectarian. To not do so and still claim to be a Christian would be akin to claiming to be a woman when you are a man. It is impossible to be a sectarian and a new creature in Christ.
Doctrinal Dysphoria
What about non-denominational groups? Does not their name indicate they are not a part of a denomination? I suppose that is their intent. However, just because you believe you are something does not make that true in the slightest. Take into account the third-largest non-denominational church that is just down the road from me. Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, has an estimated attendance of 60,000. If you were to look at their statement of faith, you would see some routine, even true items, according to the Bible. However, if you were to look at some specifics, you would see some descriptions that reflect denominational doctrines. Let's compare.
Church of the Highlands: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48).
We believe that water baptism is a public declaration of three important things: you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are beginning a changed life in Christ, and you are part of a new family. (emphasis mine)
https://churchofthehighlands.com/about/faith
https://churchofthehighlands.com/next-steps/baptism
The Baptist Faith and Message 2000: Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.
The Bible teaches in the following passages that baptism is not commanded as a public declaration of one’s identifying as a Christian, but rather it is necessary to become a Christian.
Acts 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
This is but one example to illustrate that even non-denominational churches carry the baggage of where many of their founders came from. In like manner, every Protestant church carries the baggage of the Roman Catholic church (that definitionally they are protesting). It is for this reason, I suppose, that saying non-denominational is akin to those who claim to be non-binary in gender. We must recognize that there is a clear binary line. A denomination is, by definition, a named division. Each denomination has divided from the union of truth established by Christ and the Apostles. Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth” (Matthew 12:30). I cannot be loyal to Christ alone if I add another identity to the faith He established (cf. Matt 16:18; Acts 2).
I believe that the use of preferred pronouns by the average person is not a kind thing to do and, in fact, is participating in a lie. I refuse to indulge the desires of people who are clearly experiencing gender dysphoria. I will not be compelled to sin by lying to appease critics. Moreover, by the same thought, to claim a member of any church other than the church established on Pentecost, as noted in Acts 2, is a Christian is not kind but participation in a lie. Is this too bold? I do not think so. Consider the standard that even the sectarians keep. I know that Baptists, Catholics, and others deny that Mormons are Christians, yet the Mormons still believe they are. Their reasoning? The Mormons do not follow the Bible. Well, let's apply the same standard then to all sectarians. The Holy Spirit did (cf. Gal 1:8-9). After all, on the last day we will all be judged by the Word of Christ (cf. John 12:48).
