THE LASTING TRANS
Some religious leaders back SOGIE bill
So goes the headline about the Senate panel hearing on the SOGIE bill. Sadly, I wasn’t surprised but I was curious as to who the leaders were and how they justified it. Of the three that were included in the report, two came from the Protestant community and here’s what they were quoted on:
"Matagal na nating dini-discriminate ang mga LGBTQIA, kaya't umayon kami sa bill na ito... It doesn't discriminate religious freedom. Ito ay nagbibigay kalayaan at pagpapahalaga sa LGBTQIA."
"The SOGIE bill does not infringe on religious freedom. On the contrary, it represents what most religions advocate — human equality, human dignity, and human rights."
My main contention against the bill is its impingement on the constitutional right of religious freedom and my sentiments remain the same as the article did not proffer anything to make me reconsider. The guests were just quoted that the bill won’t, without an explanation on how it won’t, much like its author. With all due respect, I cannot just take their word for it, given that the proposal carries a monetary fine and/or jail term. But more importantly for a member of the Protestant community like myself, there was no reported biblical justification.
Yes, respect and dignity are biblical values but they are not to be applied cart blanche, especially at the expense of Truth to whom we have a greater accountability (Gal. 1:10). The truth is “God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27, NLT) How people live out---or not---that truth is a different issue.
“Gender is often confusing and complicated for a lot of people,” a Facebook post on the issue opined. As in everything else in life, when we deviate from Truth and forge our own path, away from God’s design, things really do become “confusing and complicated.” We will not lessen the confusion and the complication by making the “confusing and complicated” the status quo. In fact, it will add more to the confusion and complication.
Take for example, the CR issue. If a man who identifies himself as a woman is allowed the use of the ladies’ room, does this mean he can have access to spas, saunas, massage rooms, locker rooms, shower areas, and fitting rooms as well where the female users will be undressed if not fully naked? Can he also compete in women’s sports where his physical strength might be an undue advantage?
The FB post continues, “To fully understand (gender), it is important to first learn about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression or what is known as SOGIE.” No. To fully understand gender, we go back to the one who created it---God. Let us go back to Him who offers peace to the transgender (as well as to the rest of mankind) who can and will be transformed by the renewing of his/her mind (Rom. 12:2) by the Truth who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).
Some religious leaders back SOGIE bill
So goes the headline about the Senate panel hearing on the SOGIE bill. Sadly, I wasn’t surprised but I was curious as to who the leaders were and how they justified it. Of the three that were included in the report, two came from the Protestant community and here’s what they were quoted on:
"Matagal na nating dini-discriminate ang mga LGBTQIA, kaya't umayon kami sa bill na ito... It doesn't discriminate religious freedom. Ito ay nagbibigay kalayaan at pagpapahalaga sa LGBTQIA."
"The SOGIE bill does not infringe on religious freedom. On the contrary, it represents what most religions advocate — human equality, human dignity, and human rights."
My main contention against the bill is its impingement on the constitutional right of religious freedom and my sentiments remain the same as the article did not proffer anything to make me reconsider. The guests were just quoted that the bill won’t, without an explanation on how it won’t, much like its author. With all due respect, I cannot just take their word for it, given that the proposal carries a monetary fine and/or jail term. But more importantly for a member of the Protestant community like myself, there was no reported biblical justification.
Yes, respect and dignity are biblical values but they are not to be applied cart blanche, especially at the expense of Truth to whom we have a greater accountability (Gal. 1:10). The truth is “God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27, NLT) How people live out---or not---that truth is a different issue.
“Gender is often confusing and complicated for a lot of people,” a Facebook post on the issue opined. As in everything else in life, when we deviate from Truth and forge our own path, away from God’s design, things really do become “confusing and complicated.” We will not lessen the confusion and the complication by making the “confusing and complicated” the status quo. In fact, it will add more to the confusion and complication.
Take for example, the CR issue. If a man who identifies himself as a woman is allowed the use of the ladies’ room, does this mean he can have access to spas, saunas, massage rooms, locker rooms, shower areas, and fitting rooms as well where the female users will be undressed if not fully naked? Can he also compete in women’s sports where his physical strength might be an undue advantage?
The FB post continues, “To fully understand (gender), it is important to first learn about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression or what is known as SOGIE.” No. To fully understand gender, we go back to the one who created it---God. Let us go back to Him who offers peace to the transgender (as well as to the rest of mankind) who can and will be transformed by the renewing of his/her mind (Rom. 12:2) by the Truth who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).