Andrew T. Walker

In the foreword, Dr. Al Mohler writes, “even more than the movement for the normalization of homosexuality, the transgender revolution challenges the most basic structures of society” (10). He goes on to say that the ideologies driving this movement did not emerge until just recently. There were epistemological and moral shifts that have taken place such as the challenges to the institution of marriage and redefinition of sexuality (10-11).

Walker picks up in chapter two examining the streams that have caused transgenderism to move so rapidly. Relativism, post Christendom, radical individualism, sexual revolution (sex separated from procreation), and Gnosticism are the main contributors he says. All of this combines to mean two things: the unforgivable sins today are judging others and failing to fulfill your desires. Chapter three examines the terms in use today where there is no shortage of confusion. Transgender is the “umbrella term for the state or condition of identifying or expressing a gender identity that does not match a person’s genetic sex” (34).

Chapter four really picks up steam. Walker outlines how the question of how a person lives out a gender identity begins with a handful of core assumptions. The start of this journey begins much earlier. Basic worldview assumptions come to the surface when the choice to to live in a certain way comes to the fore. Walker proceeds to ask three questions that help draw out a person’s underlying commitments. Who has authority? Who knows best? Who can I trust? These are the bigger questions operating underneath a persons’ decision to identify as transgender. Today in the west, the self is the absolute authority. The self claims to know best and only the self can determine who is trustworthy. But God as Creator has absolute authority over people’s lives. He is also all wise and his design is what is best for human beings. Chapter five continues unpacking God’s design for human identity. Humans are made in God’s image, are not interchangeable, and man and woman are made for each other (59). A man is able to become one flesh with a woman. Trying to undo God’s good design is off limits.

In chapter six, Walker makes a few more helpful points. He says pointedly, “In the same way that fallen desires pervade the hearts of all of us, individuals with gender dysphoria experience real feelings of distress about their gender identity. These are authentic experiences, where their heart’s desire is telling them one things about themselves while their body is saying something else....But experiencing that feeling does not mean that feeding it and acting upon it is best, or right. The impulse to live out an identity at odds with our biological sex is to indulge fallen desires that our heart believes will bring peace. But internal longing for peace does not mean that finding peace is possible through breaking the boundaries of human limitations and rejecting the way we have each been created” (67). He goes on to say, “Deciding that the only reasonable course of action is to affirm every feeling about self-identity that someone has is a blind alley that leads to absurdity” (72). This is important for Christians to remember.

Overall, I commend the book and found it useful. I am appreciative of Walker’s labors.… (plus d'informations)