Without Excuse: The Basis for Determining Morality

Although the root cause of transgenderism may be in doubt, as Christians, we understand that the Bible defines transgender behavior as sinful, regardless of its cause. A person’s biology and mental health cannot be our basis for determining the morality of any behavior. Scientists have discovered possible biological predispositions to such things as adultery, rape, pedophilia, violence, and many other sinful behaviors.^[1][2] Just because something is natural does not make it acceptable behavior. Instead, our morality is determined by our Creator.

Those behaviors and actions that are immoral or sinful are so because they fail to align themselves with the character and behavior of God. Our standard for all behavior is determined by our Creator. In Leviticus 11:44, God commanded His people, Israel, “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” Also, in verse 45 He said, “For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Still again, in Leviticus 19:2, God commanded His people, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” These commands are then repeated to God’s people, the church, in 1 Peter 1:14–16, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

God originally created humans as holy creatures. Adam and Eve were without sin until they chose to rebel against God and place their will and desires above those of God. At that point, their nature was broken. No longer did their nature tend towards God. Now it was bent away from God, and this sinful nature was passed along to their offspring. This is the teaching of Romans 5:12, which says, “Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.” Nevertheless, despite the fact that humans were now born with a pre-disposition to sin, God continued to demand holiness. Never does God condone sinful behavior on the basis of biology. Instead, He calls us to overcome our temptations and to align our behavior with His will. God’s standard has never changed. When humanity possessed a sinless nature, His standard was holiness, and when humanity rebelled and received a sinful nature, God’s standard remained holiness.