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by Katie Erickson

Gender is a hot topic in today’s culture. Our culture keeps trying to redefine gender roles, so what does the Bible have to say regarding gender?

Any Biblical discussion on gender has to start back at the beginning, at Creation. Genesis 1:26-27 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” God created humankind in His image, and He created us with two genders: male and female. This creation was “very good.”

While the Bible does support science as we know it today, the purpose of the Bible is not to be a biology textbook so it does not provide anatomical details as to what defines a male or a female. But it is very clear that humankind was created with those two genders.

There are many passages in the Bible that give instructions based on gender roles, such as instructions to husbands and wives. One passage with such instructions is Ephesians 5:25-33. That passage discusses both the human relationship of husbands and wives and the spiritual relationship of Jesus Christ and the Church.

Some believe that the Bible considers men to be more important than women. It is true that the Bible was written to a patriarchal (male-dominated) society, but does that mean God favors males over females? I wrote a blog post on that a couple years ago, so for more on that aspect of gender, please go read my post on “Why Does God Hate Women?”.

But when it comes to having a saving faith in Jesus Christ, a person’s gender doesn’t matter. Galatians 3:26-29 says, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

As believers in Christ, we are all called to “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2). That’s what the life of a follower of Christ should be all about.

Are you living your life as an example of the love of Christ to all people, regardless of their gender? If you are a follower of Jesus, what are you doing to support the Biblical worldview in gender discussions happening in our culture today?

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