Violent Tendencies

From the book of Genesis, we find that our Creator God made two genders: male and female. He instituted marriage and announced his intent for men and women to come together in that holy bond and to produce children.  When you attempt to tamper with God's created order, there are direct consequences.  Romans 1 (ESV) enunciates the effects of rejecting God:
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

The enemy, who is bent on destruction and opposes God and His ways, is on a deception campaign striking at the hearts of these basic aspects of humanity.  And a recent article at The Daily Signal underscores what appears to be a growing problem, stating:

An increasing number of alleged murderers, mass shooters, and violent offenders have apparently tried to silence Christians or critics of transgender ideology, acting on the assumption that those who disagree with transgender claims represent a violent threat.

Recently, according to the article, "The Oversight Project and The Heritage Foundation formally called on the FBI...to use its authority under 18 U.S. Code § 2331 to designate this threat..."   The article went on to say:

The Oversight Project and Heritage recommend categorizing transgender ideology violent extremism as typically targeting “Christian and religious groups;” featuring “mental illness, self-harm, suicidal tendencies, and lack of respect for genetic human realities, amplified by online radicalization;” and boosted by “echo chambers that promote violence against critics.”

Most people who identify as transgender likely do not pose a threat to their fellow Americans, but a growing list of attackers either identified as transgender or appear to be motivated by transgender ideology.

The Daily Signal article then went on to list a number of these individuals, such as:

• Charlie Kirk's alleged murderer, who had a transgender boyfriend,
• The alleged shooter who opened fire at a Minneapolis church school, who was a male identifying as a woman,
• The Nashville shooter at a Nashville Christian school, a female identifying as male,
• The man who attempted to assassinated Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh - a male identifying as a woman.

There were others listed, but this does present compelling evidence of a relationship between transgender practice and violent expression.  The article added: "Many of these offenders targeted Christians or threatened them because of their faith."  It also noted: "The transgender movement encourages a victimization narrative that may play a role in radicalizing these people."  The Human Rights Campaign, it says, have falsely claimed that transgender individuals are more likely to be murdered, a claim that has been disproved.

The article relates:

MSNBC columnist Katelyn Burns once described a move to restrict the Frankensteinian treatments of “gender-affirming care” as an act of genocide.

Supporters of “gender-affirming care” maintain—with a straight face—that people with gender dysphoria (the painful and persistent identification with the gender opposite one’s sex) cannot prevent themselves from committing suicide if they do not receive these interventions. Yet, at the Supreme Court, the lawyer arguing for “gender-affirming care” admitted there is “no evidence” these interventions reduce suicide.

That's according to the City Journal, quoted by the Daily Signal. Its article also says: "Online influencers who identify as transgender have amassed huge followings, and members of their audiences may find themselves bombarded with hyperbolic rhetoric about the 'hate' of those who dare to disagree with their preferred pronouns."

So, this is where we are, and these organizations have sufficient evidence of a troubling trend indicating there is a growing problem.  There is a place for the injection of Biblical truth into the debate.  There's a place for the Church to relate the truth about sexuality. And, by all means, as the U.S. Supreme Court has considered lately, Biblical counselors should be able to share truth about sexuality without government restriction.

People are confused about their sexuality, deceived into thinking they were born into the wrong body.  This lack of inner satisfaction and tranquility can lead to drastic measures. The Bible is an authoritative voice in the mental health challenges that have become more prevalent.  The Scriptures have the power to reorient the mind and to recalibrate the heart. Through a relationship with Jesus Christ, people can know true peace and reject the false promises of the enemy.