It’s been an eventful first week for President Trump. A lot of people have strong opinions how he’s doing at the start of his second term. I for one was overjoyed when he said in his inaugural speech that the federal government will only recognize two genders – male and female. I was also amused that a president had to make such a declaration. It would be like saying, “moving forward, the government shall recognize gravity to exist.” Alas, that’s where we are as a culture.

This common sense principle reflects the created order and honors God’s biblical design as outlined in Genesis 1&2. Whenever God’s plan is rejected, people inevitably get hurt. The Morning Wire interviewed Alliance Defending Freedom CEO Kristen Waggoner this morning. It’s ten minutes well worth a listen. She rightly states that “When the law doesn’t recognize biological differences between men and women, families get hurt, and most importantly, women and girls suffer. Not only from equal opportunities, but they will lose their rights.”

So what do we say to those who identify as something other than male or female, and view gender identity as something different than biological sex? These people still need our love and our patience, but one thing we cannot give is our affirmation or approval. Romans 1 warns against rejecting God’s law by doing or celebrating what is unnatural. “They not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).

This is not a time to be mean-spirited and triumphalist, but gracious, patient, and sympathetic toward a whole generation that has been taught to question everything. It’s no wonder so many are confused. May they see in Christians an unapologetic stance on the truth, but at the same time, the sort of tenderness that Jesus showed prostitutes and tax collectors as they learned how Jesus offered a new and better way when they surrendered to his lordship over every aspect of their lives.