7 Reasons for The Transgender Conflict With Christianity
7 Reasons for The Transgender Conflict With Christianity:
Introduction
Recently, the United States has experienced shocking acts and threats of violence against Christian communities and Christian voices that highlight a growing and troubling conflict. On August 27, a person identifying as transgender opened fire during Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, killing two young children and injuring many others. Authorities are investigating it as an anti-Catholic hate crime. Less than a month later, on September 10, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University during a public event of Turning Point USA.
Sophie (Nicholas) John Roske — attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (June 8, 2022; Chevy Chase, MD).
Audrey (Aiden) Elizabeth Hale — mass shooting at The Covenant School, a Christian elementary school (March 27, 2023; Nashville, TN).
William “Lily” Whitworth —who identified as transgender- plotted shootings against three Colorado Springs schools and at least one church; arrested March 2023; sentenced January 30, 2024.
These tragedies have intensified the question: why is there such aggressive hostility in some quarters—especially among some who identify as transgender—toward Christian values? To be clear, not all trans-identified individuals share hatred or seek conflict with the Christian faith. But these incidents suggest there is a strand of antagonism that intersects with cultural, ideological, and moral disagreements.
I believe there are seven core reasons why transgender ideology often clashes with biblical Christianity.
1. The Bible Teaches Binary Gender (Genesis 1:27)
From the beginning, the Bible presents human identity in male and female categories: “So God created man in his own image … male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27). This binary is part of the creation order. When the transgender movement affirms fluid or multiple gender identities, or that gender can be chosen or changed, it directly conflicts with this foundational biblical teaching. Hence, many are upset at those who hold a Scriptural view of a binary divine design.
2. The Bible Teaches That Legitimate Marriage Is Limited to One Man and One Woman (Genesis 2:18-24)
Scripture consistently presents marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In Genesis 2, Adam and Eve are joined by God; in the Gospels, Jesus references this same model (Mt 19). For many in the transgender movement, questions of identity also connect to broader questions of sexual relationships and marriage definitions. Christians who affirm the biblical model see it as God’s original and ongoing design. To others who affirm marriage models outside the one-man, one-woman structure, biblical teaching feels exclusionary or oppressive.
3. God Designed Us When We Were Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:13-16)
Psalm 139 speaks to God’s intimate hand in our creation: “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb… fearfully and wonderfully made.” This language affirms that every part of our biological self has purpose. While the Bible acknowledges brokenness, suffering, and identity struggles (including gender dysphoria), Christians believe the starting point is God’s design, not personal desire or self-construction. The conflict arises when identity becomes primarily about what feels true inside rather than the outside reality.
4. Scripture Assumes Psychological Identity Aligns with Biological Identity
Throughout Scripture, identity assumptions are aligned with biological sex. Biblical commands and narratives assume a coherence between what one is physically and what one is socially and psychologically. For example, God’s speech to Job (“brace yourself like a man”) and prophetic calls to Ezekiel (“son of man, stand on your feet…”) imply that gender roles and identity as male or female are not mutable or subjectively chosen. When transgender ideology separates psychological or subjective identity from biological sex, the biblical narrative sees that as a break from creation order, thus potentially putting a wedge between the trans culture and Christianity.
5. God Rejects Human Autonomy and Rebellion
Much of modern thought, including some strands of transgender ideology, places high value on autonomy—on each person being the final arbiter of their own identity, feelings, and life path. Christianity, however, teaches that human beings are made to live under God’s authority, not to define what is true for ourselves apart from Him. When someone claims the right to define their own gender or identity, the Christian critique is not primarily about restriction, but about the heart posture of autonomy and its implications. Conflict arises when what Christianity holds as submission to divine order is perceived as oppression by those embracing self-chosen identity.
6. Scripture Is Clear on How God Feels about Sexual Ethics, Which Some See as Intersecting with Transgender Ideology
Not all transgender-identified individuals advocate for or practice same-sex relationships, but much of LGBTQ+ activism treats them as interconnected. Scripture in multiple places—Leviticus 18; Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6 to name a few -teaches that sexual activity outside of God’s design (including same-sex relations) is inconsistent with His will. For Christians, upholding these teachings is seen not as hatred but fidelity to Scripture. For those who feel that gender identity necessarily leads to or includes sexual redefinition, Christian opposition to it feels like moral condemnation to the trans community—and that can breed hostility.
7. Scripture Teaches Our Primary Identity Is in Christ, Not Our Feelings
One of the central claims of the New Testament is that in Christ we become a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), that our identity is found first in being children of God,(John 1:12) believers in Christ—not in our feelings, internal identity, or social categories. Identity politics often elevates feelings, self-declaration, and labels as the defining essence of a person. Christian teaching reorders that: the Christian’s truest self is in relationship with Christ. For many who have anchored identity in feelings or internal experience, this can feel like erasure—but for believers, it is seen as release: identity no longer subject to every shifting feeling but grounded in something eternal.
Understanding the Conflict—and What Christians Should Do
What we see in the church , school massacres and in the killing of Charlie Kirk is more than tragic violence. They are symbolic moments where this conflict has turned deadly. These are not isolated ideological disagreements but signs of a deeper war of worldviews: one that says my feelings, my identity, my autonomy are supreme; the other that Scripture’s witness about creation, identity, morality, and human dignity is final.
Christians should have a posture of both conviction and compassion. Conviction: to hold fast to biblical ethics and morality. Compassion: towards the transgender individuals who carry pain, confusion, brokenness, and deep longing for belonging and truth. As Christians, we are called not just to defend teaching but to live out its implications with grace, truth, and humility.
We may be hated by some for these truths. Yet the gospel calls us to love even those who oppose us—even to pray for them. And above all, to preach Christ: that in Him, identity is healed, brokenness is redeemed, and our true selves are known and loved—no matter the cost.
I wish to publish your article on my Facebook
Blessings, Dr. Mattera,
Thank you for this clarity. I’m often faced with discussion. And I do point to scripture, love them and pray for them. I have received more information as to the what, why, and how!! Continue the good works that Christ Jesus can approve it.
Shalom To You and Yours!!!
His Beloved,
Virginia Lewis
Thank you for the points you’ve articulated. But, sadly, you’ve not wrestled at all with important facts. Christianity is born out of Incarnation: that the everlasting Word of God became incarnate, and that Jesus of Nazareth lived, worked, struggled and suffered with us as a real human being. To be ‘incarnate’ is to be living in the factuality of human being. Among these facts are that perhaps 1.7% births include intersex traits, some genetic, some from other causes. For example, an intersex person can appear to be one sex but have a genetic makeup of another, a situation where physical traits (phenotype) and chromosomes (genotype) don’t align. For example, someone can have XY chromosomes but external genitals that appear female, or have XX chromosomes but develop external male genitalia. In the past … and under some current state law (as in Ohio) responding to anti-LGBT animus … babies born with such ambiguous sex ( ‘appearing’ – by phenotype – to be this, but genetically actually that) are harmed by corrective surgeries that are performed without knowing scientifically if the child is male of female. And this can, as the child grows up, and their sex is later clearly revealed, for example after hormone production, be harmful FOR LIFE. The surgeries or other corrections, and how the parents, and society treat the child – for example, treating the child as a ‘boy’ when she is genetically/hormonally a ‘girl’, or vice versa – are – as you say – CONTRARY to God’s plan. WHO SINNED? The parents for agreeing to a corrective surgery? The doctor/hospital for allowing the surgery? The congregation and community and school system for treating the child – who is genetically/hormonally a ‘girl’ – as a ‘boy’ because that is phenotypical appearance ‘told them’, or what the birth certificate’ said? The very bad treatment of intersex children – because ambiguous sex made the parents uncomfortable, made the church uncomfortable, made others confused or angry – are FACTS that you must discuss here. You did not. Please revise and do. Thank you. Furthermore, the FACTS of gender dysphoria are not discussed. You should have directly discussed these FACTS. Gender dysphoria is not a sin, any more than bipoplar disorder is a sin, or alzheimer’s dementia is a sin. We know still very little about interactions of mother’s body and developing human brain and nervous system and endocrine system in mother’s womb, and environmental influences on the developing brain, nervous system, endocrine system through childhood. We do know that the human brain undergoes massive changes as the child and young adult matures, all the way into your adulthood! Something as everyday as NUTRITION can massively impact the brain.
Trump2 White House cutting families and children off from SNAP will – CERTAINLY, FACTUALLY – impact countless infants – unborn and born – and developing children’s brains! Trauma (emotional, exposure to violence, accidental injuries, concussion in sports, etc) can massively impact the developing brain. ALL THESE FACTS about human development – that likely impact gender dysphoria, gender identity formation, sexual identity formation, etc, you utterly ignore. It is NOT SUFFICIENT to say ‘God will take care of them’ … since THAT IS WHAT JESUS TOLD US to do! But your piece here DOES NOT take care of them. And shows no care for them. That is beyond sad. Please revise and include all these facts. Christian witness, and Christian formation REQUIRE attention to the FACTS of human development. God did NOT – DID NOT – jump over these FACTS of human development. God entered them! That is what Incarnation means.
It is sad to see that the writer won’t discuss the relevant scientific and theological issues I outline above. Very sad.
you forgot that many lgbtqia+ people have been forced into the church against their will, where they often faced hatred and transphobia. this leads to trauma and an inevitable resentment of religion. i think this is the most crucial factor and it is extremely ignorant that you excluded this.