Since human nature exists, sex does not amount to either biological or chemical properties in us; nor does it amount to a fluid identification of gender.
Human nature encodes capacity and purpose into humanity. Biology and chemistry can describe our constituent parts but insufficiently do so. We need to also define our capacity and purpose.
This means somewhat controversially that whether we have an xy, xx, or xxy chromosome pattern, these biological and chemical compositions do not tell the whole story.
XXY and Sex
In particular, someone born with an xxy chromosomal pattern does not fall into standard biological paradigms of sex in which male is xy while a female is xx. Were biology/chemistry alone the answer, then we’d have a subset of humanity unable to truly fulfill their sexual capacity (xxy).
It is a trap for Christians especially, then, to fall into the notion that biology and chemistry simply define sex contra notions of constructed gender. It is also incorrect to claim biology has no role in sexual determination and so concentrate only on constructed gender as determinative for sexual expression.
Biological sex still plays an important if insufficient role for answering the questions of meaning and purpose behind sex.
What Is Sex?
The answer then involves two sets of explanations for the same reality. First, it centres on what the Bible says about the purpose of sex (Gen 1–3, etc.). Second, it considers what nature says about the purpose of sex. Both Scripture and nature agree since they refer to one and the same reality. But revealed truth goes further and adds significant spiritual clarity (e.g., Eph 5)
I cannot make the argument here (but have elsewhere) that the essence of sex is: the capacity for fatherhood and motherhood. For a published argument, consider J. Budziszewski’s The Meaning of Sex.
And once these questions are answered, they give freedom to someone who does not exhibit regular chromosomal patterns. The end of sex is union with God in Christ (Eph 5:32). Sexual capacity no matter our chromosomal makeup points in this direction.
No matter our genetics, we all have one human nature. And Christ united to that nature through his hypostatic union. And by the Spirit, Christians with one human nature (the same as Christ’s) unite to God.
And once these questions are answered, they give freedom to someone who does not exhibit regular chromosomal patterns. The end of sex is union with God in Christ (Eph 5:32). Sexual capacity no matter our chromosomal makeup points in this direction.
Yes, otherwise, life in the flesh becomes a free-for-all framing laws or dismissing standards to suit his/her own cursed propensities, justified purely by science which establishes the logic of physical operation but not the essential/spiritual underpinning attributing moral logic. So ‘spirit’ is more substantive than flesh since the spiritual reality cannot be conquered by the flesh such that the Spirit has the last word.
“…intersex from the standpoint of what the intersex person might have had, had Adam and Eve not sinned. That leads to reducing the complexity of sex development to a single parameter that is viewed as indicative of God’s intent.” Anomalies have their place in the creation but like all irregular phenomenon, they do not become standards… Yet they have to be considered for the sake of the people experiencing them.
Whatever the ‘complexities’, they can only glorify God, apart from the Fall. Any other alternative sends people to permanent separation from God as a result — thus, there is no alternative at all — there is no “intersex” in the Fall, or else God’s words lose their meaning.
Matthew 19 presents two approaches to intersex. The first is God’s holy purpose in creation–that one man and one woman should marry for a lifetime and produce godly offspring. With that approach, one views intersex from the standpoint of what the intersex person might have been had Adam and Eve not sinned. That leads to reducing the complexity of sex development to a single parameter that is viewed as indicative of God’s intent. It also tends to minimize the effects of the Fall. The second approach is to consider how an intersex person might best live “for the sake of the Kingdom” with the body God gave them. That approach admits that intersex has a profound effect on more than just the reproductive system.
I gave birth to an intersex person XXY who is attracted to men and women equally. There are external male sexual organs and proper breasts but I don’t know if there are any other internal female organs. No vagina. Are any XXYs more definitively female? My (adult) child loves God with a whole heart but does not want to be single for life.
No, there was no “intersex” before the fall but there is now. I want to honour the scriptures but have also to honour those who are intersex. Do they want to be thought of as a mistake, a reject, an anomaly? No they want to be known as loved, accepted. If Jesus were present now that is what they would be to him. So many of our churches are not willing to live with the pain and complexities of a person with a physically confused sexual identity. It is all NIMBY and rejection. It takes courage to learn about intersex issues and until I had to I was just as lazy. I understand that attitude which covers much more than that issue. We are so unloving. Why are we not asking ourselves how Jesus would handle this if he were here. I don’t believe it would just be go and sin no more. If Jesus were here now, would he heal intersex people? So far I have not heard of any intersex people being healed through prayer. As this isn’t happening, what is the difference if a person surgically removes one set of genitals and takes hormones to develop the other? Sincerely
Helen McNeil
Fair enough, Helen and amen. I see “all” the world has gone astray and all fall grossly short of the glory of God where anomalies abound.
But God judges us by other criteria — the heart, mind, soul, and our ability to love Him and one another.
A person may be born blind, but may not use his/her blindness to deliberately sin, though we will all stumble to some extent, inevitably.
The whole problem with this discussion is this. Gender is determined by science. By science standards there are not just two genders. This is a proven FACT.
SEX in this narrative is being solely determined by Christianity.
SEX is being determined by what is, often times contradictory in it’s various iterations and translations from “original” text of the Bible.
This argument puts gender validations at odds with the social construct as is laid out in scripture written thousands of years ago when there was no concept of science.
So my question is this. How does Christianity, which teaches to love thy neighbor (no scripture written impies discrimination) chose to not accept this scientific fact and exclude a very large and growing community of people. Who have through verified, fact checked multiple times, historical records, have existed longer than the Bible is says people have existed?
SEX is NOT Gender. It is a social construct that was created to ensure procreation and the furthered existence of human life.
To confuse Sex with Gender is irresponsible and catastrophic to millions around the world who believe in Christianity, and believe that Jesus Christ loves them no matter what. They were BORN this way. They weren’t brainwashed by some sex crazed, pedophilic, baby sacrificing, cabal of satanic worshipers.
They are REAL PEOPLE. To exclude them from Christ or call what they ARE a sin, is in fact one of the greatest sins of all.
Above all else, Jesus Christ accepts everyone and loves them all equally.