God is the creator and sole proprietor of our lives Gender-Male, Female Biological Sex-Determined by chromones and anatomy, can only be male or female (except for medical anomalies) Gender-social expression of biological sex. Deals with masculine and feminine stereotypes. Gender expressions change overtime and across cultures 2 observations regarding gender Historically determined by society as a binary choice-mescaline or feminine Now determined individually with expansive options Gender Dysphoric-psychological stress experienced when one's sense of gender identity does not align with our biological sex Transgender-A person who rejects their biological sex to take on the gender of the opposite sex. Often involves hormone treatments or surgery. Ones biological sex can not be changed Gender Queer-A person who embraces an ambiguous gander identity with both masculine and feminine elements AKA-non-binary How should we as Christ followers think and respond to gender issues? Embrace our biological sex as an attribute assigned to you by your creator. "I am who God made me to be" Champion compassion-practice empathy, engage instead of reject, listen, seek to understand Earn the right to speak the truth in love at an appropriate time-we accept all people but does not mean we condone everything Remember that we are aliens and strangers in the world. We are the radical fringe. Non-believers are the mainstream. We have failed to cary out the great commission and great commandment. We are citizens of heaven not of this world. We fight in the spirit not the flesh. We love with God's love for people