INTRO

Video: Kid’s Do Trump Impression [Deepfake]

TENSION

Review series – Deep Fakes aren’t just on TikTok.

  • Only 4% of American teens hold to a Biblical worldview.
  • Last week: “If it says Christian, I can trust it.”
  • This week: “Culture defines gender.”

Cultural definitions of what it means to be a man…

  • The Luke Bryan (outdoorsman)
  • The Chad (frat boy)
  • The Jock (sports)
  • The Elon Musk (entrepreneur)
  • The Shawn Mendez (smooth operator)
  • I won’t even try to get into the cultural definitions of what it means to be a woman!

When we let the culture define something that God has already defined at the beginning (gender), we have confusion, hurt, and brokenness.

  • Culture pervades false narratives about gender.
  • Culture says gender is fluid.
  • Culture says gender doesn’t exist.

Get your definitions from God, not culture.

TRUTH

Scripture: Genesis 1:25-31; Genesis 5:1-2

  1. God said men and women are equal.
Genesis 1:25-31Created in the same image (image of God).Created by the same person: The Trinity (“our image”).Created for the same purpose (fill the earth, subdue it, multiply, exercise dominion over the earth).Given the same responsibility toward God (obedience).

Genesis 5:1-2 summarizes: “When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.”

  1. God said men and women are different (Gen. 2:18-25).
God created the two genders to compliment one another.Is’ and is’sa reflect both similarities and differences.Obviously – men and women are different in appearance.Deeper – Neural mapping of the brain suggests differences between males and females significant as early as adolescence:Male brains are structured to facilitate perception between coordinated action.Female brains are structured to facilitate communication between analytical and intuitive processing modes.In all these differences, we, together, reflect the image of God.

What was God’s creation intent for each gender?

Woman – The Mighty Is’sa (Proverbs 31:10), clothed with strength and dignity.

  • Hayil is’sa: Virtuous/mighty women (compare to Ruth 3:10)
  • Work/business (v.13-16); Kindness (v.20, 26); teacher (v.26); family-oriented (v.27-30); internal over external
  • “Clothed with strength and dignity” (31:25)
  • Examples: “Well-behaved women rarely make history.”
    • Ruth; Esther; Deborah; Syrophoenician woman
    • All challenged cultural norms with strength and dignity.

Men – Grace and truth (John 1:14). Jesus is the ultimate man.

  • Jesus showed his emotions (John 11:35), yet chased crooks out of the temple (John 2:13).
  • He cared for others (John 6:5-13) and showed compassion (Mark 1:40-41)
  • Jesus forgave (Luke 7:44) and was humble (John 13).
  • Jesus was brave (Mark 11:15-18) and judged righteously (John 5:15-18).
  • You won’t find toxic masculinity in the Bible! It condemns…
    • Domineering (1 Peter 5:3)
    • Greed (Heb. 13:5)
    • Workaholism (Gen. 2:3)
    • Sleeping around (Rom. 13:13)
    • Selfishness (Phil. 2:3)
    • Arrogance & vengeance (Rom. 12:3, 9)

Jesus affirmed male and female when asked in Matthew 19:4.

“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?”

What happened? The fall (Genesis 3).

Both of these definitions (strength & dignity; grace & truth) are found in, and fuel by, a relationship with Jesus!

  1. God said men and women bear his image.

Every man and woman bears the image of God.

  • Whether or not you fit into the culture’s definition of what a guy or a girl should be, you were wonderfully made by God.
  • Being a girl doesn’t make you and less of an image bearer!

Jesus paid for the sins of every woman and man on the cross.

  • Your greatest need isn’t to be more girly or tough, your greatest need is to be adopted into the family of God.
  • The effects of sin has made it hard to be guys and girls in our culture, but the result of the gospel is that you are sons and daughters of God.

Every man and woman is looked on with compassion by Jesus.

  • Are you struggling with fitting into society’s mold? Jesus has an offer for you:
  • Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

Every man and woman is defined by something even bigger than gender.

  • “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28
  • Get your definitions from God, not culture.

APPLICATION

#1 – Feast on God’s Word daily. Get your definitions from him.

#2 – Find your identity in Christ. The culture doesn’t get to define you, or set expectations for you. You are who God says you are.

#3 – Feel compassion toward those who struggle with identity issues. Your generation must see people who struggle with identity issues not as a threat, and not as the enemy, but, rather, as the mission field. 

LANDING

How can we pray for you? Text 304-208-8044 for help.