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Does God Care about Gender Identity?

A Biblical Vision of Gender Identity  Since the beginning of humanity, people have recognized the distinct creation of the male and female gender in God’s design. But with today’s gender revolution, people are increasingly questioning who they are designed to be. In our society, gender identity has been divorced from biology and rerooted in psychology. Do the core teachings of the Bible uphold these modern ideas? In this concise booklet, Samuel Ferguson carefully and compassionately compares the core beliefs and practices of the transgender movement with fundamental truths expressed in Scripture. Ferguson argues human identity is not determined by the individual but is given to us by our Creator, who designed our bodies and minds with purpose and encourages us to live in Christlikeness―choosing the path of God-given transformation over man-made transition. 

80 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2023

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Samuel D. Ferguson

4 books1 follower

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5 stars
61 (45%)
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12 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Matt.
Author 7 books1,704 followers
October 5, 2023
Magnificent. I can’t imagine a better booklet-length treatment of this topic.
Profile Image for Eliot Jones.
61 reviews5 followers
June 19, 2024
Simple and short, as all apologetics should be. Obvious to see Sam’s heart for ministry. Glad he wrote this.


I started this book on my honeymoon, probably after one too many margs, so I’ll probably need to revisit this.
Profile Image for Grant Liller.
27 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2025
Brief, practical, helpful. As someone who knows people struggling with gender dysphoria, this gave me some new, happy, and hopeful things to consider which even provided hope for me in my own walk with the Lord.

Worth a read if you’re looking for a brief treatment on the subject. With only 40 short pages, this book certainly exemplifies quality over quantity.
Profile Image for Logan Vlandis.
102 reviews6 followers
September 27, 2023
Necessitated by the boon in gender dysphoria, Ferguson offers a Christian posture on how we ought to understand gender identity and how the church can engage those who feel a sexual identity dissonance between their biological reality and their psychological impressions.

After a brief ideological exploration of dysphoria, its assumptions and recent prevalence, and Scripture’s conceptualization of gender, he concludes with numerous pieces of practical wisdom for parents, churches, and individuals who are themselves dealing with dysphoria.

I found the ethos of the book to be refreshing - probably its most shining attribute - especially considering how many voices associated with conservative social ideologies (apparently informed by Christianity) are harsh, dismissive, and derogatory of people struggling with dysphoria. Even while holding a hard line against transitioning due to dysphoria, Ferguson purports compassion and empathy as critical to being a helpful presence to people who feel this particular struggle deeply.
Profile Image for David.
191 reviews43 followers
June 25, 2025
Brief (I read it in just a couple short hours), but useful. It hits the most central points, and functions as an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to understand the modern crises surrounding sex and gender dysphoria from a Christian perspective.

Ferguson is compassionate and gentle, but still firm regarding God’s authority and how we must respond to him. He doesn’t engage in stereotypes or culture war talking points, but grounds his book on scientific evidence, personal relationships and interviews with people who struggle with gender dysphoria (and their parents), and in basic biblical truths that unite all Christians.

If you or someone you know is dealing with these issues, in your private or public life, you’ll probably need to dig deeper than this book takes you. But it’s a great starting point, a way to orient yourself properly so you can grow in understanding without getting lost.
Profile Image for Noah Senthil.
159 reviews12 followers
April 30, 2025
The brief length, humble tone, and balanced approach by Samuel Ferguson are all refreshing. A great resource for parents and teens. It’s helpful to hear his personal experience as he’s walked with friends and their children through gender dysphoria. When he draws hard lines, they don’t feel harsh. They feel thoughtful and compassionate.

I wouldn’t hesitate to hand this out to those wrestling with questions about gender and sexuality. Because of it’s size, it’s very limited, but he somehow covers a lot of ground in a few words without it feeling rushed.
25 reviews
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February 7, 2024
Short and to the point. Ferguson lays out 3 beliefs of the transgender movement, which helps the reader understand better how to engage people who hold to these beliefs with compassion. He also presents biblical truths about gender identity, arming the reader with a deeper understanding of God's gift of human identity. Helpful little book that hits its aim and beyond in a few words and with little space.
Profile Image for Chris Wray.
559 reviews19 followers
September 5, 2026
This is an excellent little booklet on a hugely emotive and consequential topic. While in one way it would make a conservative Christian’s life easier to avoid it, our cultural dialogue on gender points to perhaps the most important question of our time, and one which Christians absolutely need to think through and take a position on: what it means to be human.

Ferguson begins with an important point, and one that really can’t be stated too often, given the amount of heat that is typically generated by any discussion of this topic: “Any engagement must be marked by compassion…I'll make a case here that many of the transgender movement's ideas and practices are unsafe, and many of its hopes ultimately false. My goal, however, is not to be callous or offensive but to set all our broken lives within the contours of Scripture's vision for humanity.” Any consistent biblically Christian comment on this topic must be expressed in this way. Human beings are a uniquely significant and valuable part of creation, and indeed are made in God’s image. Anything that debases or diminishes another person must simply be out of bounds.

Endorsing the essential dignity of all other people, even those we disagree with, does not preclude the Christian from articulating a robust and biblically informed position, and that is what Ferguson proceeds to do. He begins by summarising three core beliefs that underpin a view of humanity consistent with transgender belief: “The transgender revolution is sweeping. Deeper understanding of it requires us to consider three core beliefs that underlie it and make it possible. Though often unarticulated, these beliefs are like the framing of a house, giving the transgender movement its present shape and stability.”

These three beliefs are that my identity is self-determined; that my feelings, not my body, determine my gender; and that I will find wholeness through external, not internal, change.

Belief 1 - My Identity Is Self-Determined. Ferguson explains, “We can't understand the transgender movement if we don't grasp how it relates to our culture's obsession over the question: Who am I? Traditionally, our identity was something we received, and it was therefore relatively stable. Who we are was understood as determined by family of origin, nationality, biological sex, religion, and perhaps occupation. These matters were largely ‘givens’, arising not from feelings or decisions but from realities outside a person's control…Things have changed. Today, identity is a do-it-yourself project based on self-discovery and self-expression. This gives personal feelings and decisions pride of place, and it resists external constraint. ‘[Here is] a view of personhood,’ Carl Truman explains, ‘that has almost completely dispensed with the idea of any authority beyond that of personal, psychological conviction, an oddly Cartesian notion: I think I'm a woman, therefore I am a woman’.”

Belief 2 - My Feelings, Not My Body, Determine My Gender. In short, reality is determined not by what we are, but by what we feel like.

Belief 3 - We Find Wholeness through External, Not Internal, Change. Again, Ferguson explains, “People have long recognized their need for inner healing and change. Humans suffer from bad thinking, broken hearts, and any number of internal psychological disorders. But the transgender revolution's path toward healing and wholeness assumes that the deep change a person with gender dysphoria needs must happen mainly on the outside. Those who suffer are told they need to change their external appearance, not their perspective.”

All of this leaves our humanity as subjective, unclear and uncertain, and crafting our own identity becomes a burden that we are not meant to bear. In response, Ferguson enunciates three truths that ground our humanity in something more certain: God’s revelation in the scriptures (and particularly in the early chapters of Genesis). These truths are that my human identity is a gift from my creator; that human beings are embodied so my gender is never less than my biology; and that God’s pathway for change is transformation, not transition.

Truth 1 - Our Human Identity Is a Gift from Our Creator. Ferguson declares that, “The Bible's account of human beginnings is as much about God as it is about us. Genesis 1's emphatic message is that God is the actor in creation…The repetition of the verb ‘created’ is striking and underscores a fundamental fact about being human: we are creatures with a Creator. A human neither determines her existence nor designs her nature. She is not her own author. Our identity - who we truly are - is God-given, not man-made. God grants people the honor of living out and cultivating their identity, but not license ultimately to design and create it. Gloriously, Genesis 1 also reveals that the foundation of human dignity and worth lies not in biological sex, gender, ethnicity, or performance but in the fact that all people are made in God's image. This means that the process of living out our identity - though at times frustrated in a fallen world - is ultimately the unwrapping of a ‘very good’ gift from God.”

Truth 2 - Human Beings Are Embodied, so Gender Is Never Less Than Our Biology. Again, “Genesis 1:27 says, ‘Male and female he created them.’ Our gender is a gift from God. But how has he given it to us? Is gender a feeling God places within us, an inner sense we discover then bring forth externally? Or is our gender related to our bodies, grounded in our biological sex?...The next chapter, Genesis 2, functions like a zoom lens on the creation account. It gives us more detail about how humankind is made as male and female. There we see that humans are made of both physical and spiritual realities…There's no sense in Genesis 1 and 2 that gender identity can be divorced from human embodiment. Therefore, there is no sense in these chapters that manhood and womanhood are merely psychological realities separable from maleness and femaleness. In a profound sense, one's body is one's gender. We are ‘gendered all the way down’...According to Scripture and as attested by biology, God shapes our gender into our bodies. Biological sex and gender cannot be put asunder.”

Truth 3 - God's Pathway for Change Is Transformation, Not Transition. Finally, “Our English Bibles also use the prefix trans, but with a different word: transform. Paul describes Christians this way: ‘We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another’ (2 Cor. 3:18). The Greek word we translate as ‘transformed’ carries the meaning ‘to change inwardly in fundamental character or condition.’ Christians are in a state of transformation, being changed from a life characterized by sin and brokenness to becoming more like Jesus Christ.” The Biblical concept of transformation is an important one for this conversation, and one that stands in stark contrast to gender transition. Ferguson outline three of the most important differences between the logic of the two ideas: “First, transformation is from the inside out. It begins with the heart and mind, not the body…Second, transformation culminates when God resurrects our bodies, not when we remake them…Third, transformation is the Spirit's work in the context of Christ's new community” It is truly crucial to recognise that a sense of not being what we should be, and of needing change, are correct instincts, and aligned with our humanity as Christianity understands it. It is in the exact nature of the problem, and how to deal with it, that we differ most strongly, as Ferguson explains in a memorable passage: “The transgender movement's agent of transition is the scalpel; Christianity's agent of transformation is the Spirit. The transgender movement sees change as primarily cosmetic, on the surface; Christians understand change to be inner and deep - it begins in the soul, moves through our character, and culminates in a perfected, imperishable, embodied existence (1 Cor. 15:42-49). A transition takes place in a clinic or on an operating table, but transformation is lived out in the context of the church, with God's people, the family of faith. The depth and thoroughness of Christian transformation mean it's no easy path. However, the Christlikeness that emerges along the way and the companionship of the Holy Spirit and fellow Christians make it a journey of ever-increasing glory and joy.”

He closes with some helpful encouragement for parents, which it strikes me is applicable to any number of struggles our kids can experience:

1. Show Compassion If a Child Shares a Struggle
2. Ask What Else Is Going On
3. Don't Be Anxious If Your Child's Interests Aren't Stereotypical
4. Get Help If Gender Confusion Persists
5. Establish Clear Boundaries: “Parents must frame their care for a child who wants to transition with the three biblical truths discussed above in view. Guidance that cuts against the grain of creation or moves away from the arc of redemption may seem palliative in the moment, but it will only increase pain in the long run. This, of course, has implications for a Christian posture toward transitioning”.
6. Don't Give Away Your Authority
7. Guard against Negative Cultural Influences
8. Celebrate the Beauty and Goodness of Gendered Bodies: “The beauty of gender difference adorns God's world. We need to help the next generation see and honor it.”

Finally, Fergusoins answers the question with which he opened the book: “Does God care about your gender identity? More than you can imagine. When you were only a thought in his mind (Jer. 1:5), when he knit your body together in your mother's womb (Ps. 139:13), today, and even in your resurrected future, you have always been and always will be precious in his sight as the man or woman he designed you to be. Your body, your biological sex, is according to his design, and it reveals your gender. He wants you to root your identity in him. He wants you to identify as his son or daughter, embracing the gender he's given you and humbly aligning your heart and mind with how he's made you. That may feel like more than you are able to accept. But the truth is that people under the spell of the gender revolution, reeling under the ache of our broken world, need more than cosmetic solutions. They need to know they belong to God. They need to know he has a purpose in their pain. They need to know they belong to his people. They need more than transition. They need transformation, a life that's shaped not by a passing movement but by the power of their almighty Creator and gracious Redeemer.” I feel that this expresses my thoughts exactly, and in a way that I am satisfied is compassionate, clear and suitably humble. This short book is a worthy addition to the vast library of resources on gender, and one that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Profile Image for Bracey.
102 reviews3 followers
December 30, 2023
In an age where discussions about transgenderism generally brings out the worst in people, this tiny little booklet, Does God Care about Gender Identity, seems to provide a balm for the soul with a small but powerful dose of truth and compassion. The first thing that stood out to me about this book was that it calmed me more than it agitated my soul. Usually when you encounter a hot-button issue, emotions can swirl up quickly. But with this booklet I could sense the pastoral care as I turned the pages. Second, I kept saying to myself; this guy is exhibiting a rare combination of intellectual rigor and compassion. In fact, on page 9 he says when dealing with these matters, ‘any engagement must be marked by compassion.’ His tone throughout was balanced and I suspect that it was born out of the experiences the author has had with those whom he has encountered in his work as a minister, especially those who struggle with gender dysphoria. Third, I found subtle nuances throughout the presentation of the issue and unlike the way some Christians deal with hot-topic cultural issues, the mixture of intellectual accuracy and soul care was evident throughout the booklet. I think the best part of the book is when the author explained some of the effects on gender as a result of living in a sin ridden, broken and fallen world. I appreciated that he didn’t stop with the brokenness of transgenderism but highlighted the solution being the transformation offered by the Lord through the gospel by the power of the Spirit.
Profile Image for Kyle Bartsch.
240 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2025
God does indeed care about your gender identity. He lovingly created us male or female (Gen 1:27), knitting us together in our mothers’ womb (psalm 139:13). As these tensions arise in the world, this little book makes it clear that the church must teach truth to the lost, comfort the hurt and dysphoric and remind everyone that it isn’t about who we are, it’s about who we belong to that matters. Knowing who we are is far less important than knowing who Christ is.
Profile Image for Doug Hanna.
Author 7 books3 followers
January 9, 2024
Good! Helpful introduction from a lot of different perspectives. Helpful section on what ministry towards transgender community actually looks like.

Short, so there's only so much that he could do, but would love more details on practical advice for discipleship and ministry.
Profile Image for Mark Einselen.
383 reviews7 followers
June 24, 2024
I heard Rev. Ferguson present the content of this book in a symposium of sorts. It's helpful to have everything compiled in a format that's easy to reference at any time. The notes section, glossary, and recommended resources at the end of the book are also helpful to refer to.
Profile Image for Adrian Owen.
10 reviews1 follower
May 13, 2025
This booklet is a great starting point for Christians, parents, and pastors thinking through the gender identity conversation. It has helpful endnotes, a glossary, and recommended resources for further reading.
Profile Image for Bob Mendelsohn.
300 reviews12 followers
May 14, 2025
It is a very hard question and there are so few answers. Ferguson deals humbly and pastorally which helps. I’d like to walk this through with Gender-challenged folks to see what they say. Biblical information is terrific.
Profile Image for Syd Sawyer.
155 reviews
August 19, 2026
I listened to this short read on my trip back to my parents! I think my heart is really moved to compassion for people who don’t enjoy their gender identity. This book was really practical and compassionate about what the Lord says about gender!!
Profile Image for Shannon.
327 reviews6 followers
September 5, 2023
4.5 Compassionate and informative. I’d have a few other questions but they are probably a little off topic.
Profile Image for Robin.
275 reviews2 followers
December 29, 2023
4.5 stars. Best booklet on it. Compassionate and biblical. Practical too.
Profile Image for Thomas.
62 reviews
January 24, 2024
Great little book. Clear, compassionate, concise. A good resource to hand to someone struggling with this issue. Thoroughly biblical and pastorally wise.
Profile Image for Tegan V.
230 reviews4 followers
October 19, 2024
Short but very insightful. Left me wanting more! Appreciative of the Biblical truth this presents.
Profile Image for Jared.
Author 29 books111 followers
May 13, 2023
Our new Hard Questions series addresses people’s deep longings for community, their concerns about biblical ethics, and their doubts about confessional faith. Sam Ferguson's book is going to be immensely helpful for youth pastors and parents. It navigates the questions that arise when when a young people wrestle with confusion about their gender.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews