This is one of the disagreements between people of faith based on what is found in Deuteronomy 22: 5 which states that a woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God. This biblical reference has received many and diverse interpretations and meanings which are sometimes conflicting. We thus turn to the Lord for wisdom, knowledge and understanding in discussing this subject. We cannot reason out the import of the text without reference to the historical and cultural underpinnings.
1 Corinthians 14:33 says that for God is not a God of confusion but of peace. There must not be any confusion about the text. 2 Timothy 3: 16 says all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. As we are taught to do, we will invite the Lord Jesus the teacher of all to lead us to his divine truth. Let us prepare our hearts to be pierced and our souls and bodies separated by and unto God for redemption with his word.
Historical background
The book of Deuteronomy was written at the end of 40 years of Israel wandering in the wilderness from Egypt. It was called the second law to the first law given by Moses. It was a rework of the first law in order to straighten Israel back to God as the first law was perhaps not fully intact. Deuteronomy 22: 5 was part of the second law. During Israel’s forty years in the wilderness they had accepted heathen cultural practices where women were legally or lawfully allowed to identify as men, and men to identify as women. Upon the shift of sexual identity, they wore the clothes and garments of the opposite sex to which they have aligned. This was an abomination to God hence the text in Deuteronomy 22: 5.
Deuteronomy 22: 5 was to warn Israel against that heathen culture and practices. God had created only male and female and the sanctity of that was to be preserved. It was to guard against obliterating the distinction in gender identity of male and female contrary to the ungodly but circular liberty to change one’s sexuality. In today’s language it is described and justified as sexual preference, gender identity, bi-sexual, homosexual, transgender, etc. As of old, it is orchestrated to alter or obliterate the natural sexual identity of male and female. Deuteronomy 22: 5 was rather to oppose the heathen culture and to preserve the distinctions of nature and natural order, and the dignity and decency of natural sexuality against a perverse and ungodly sexual alteration, orientation or mutilation.
What are the natural genders, if any?
Genesis 1: 27 says God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 5: 2 also says male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Adam when they were created. There was and still is no divine approval or liberty for a sex transfer or sex identity change. Deuteronomy 22: 5 was rather a warning to Israel to repent, to vacate what God perceived as heathen and abominable practices. The heathen practices were a challenge to his creation and creative wisdom of God as the all wise and all-knowing God.
The pagan practices and culture unfortunately allowed its followers and converts to assume the identities of the opposite sex and to adopt their costumes and appearances or garments. It permitted them under the cloak of rights to disguise their sexuality and natural identity or order. Deuteronomy 22: 5 was not for normal clothes or garments of today but rather the swapped or migrant sexual identity, or sexual pervasiveness which was abominable to God against the purity of God’s creation. It is biblically dangerous, misleading and a misconception to assign a literal meaning to Deuteronomy 22: 5 without education about or reference to the historical and cultural background to the text. The lack of sound knowledge could be destructive of scripture.
Our global culture today
We have accepted the abominable heathen culture of old which Deuteronomy 22: 5 abhorred as detestable to God under the guise of freedom of rights to gender preference. We have opposed natural sexuality as God created it by his faultless wisdom. Global powers are using it as a tool to bait economic or financial support and assistance from developed to less developed countries. We now use words which are gender neutral contrary to male and female.
We have caused to incarcerate, punish and destroy those who rightfully and by divine knowledge oppose this woke culture of scriptural abhorrence. Fathers have become wives and mothers have become husbands under this perverse abominable heathen culture. Biblically, it is a spiritual and cultural defect contrary to the word of God. Jesus is still calling us to change and to embrace his redemption. Legal rights are not necessarily scripturally tenable. Galatians 2: 21 says I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.
Fate of our children
We have also sadly prevailed upon our innocent children or introduced them to accept and practice this scripturally non-permissive culture which is opposed in Deuteronomy22: 5.Such woke conduct saddens Jesus’ heart because we are destroying his dear little ones and leading them astray. Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:2 say woe unto anyone who causes one of the little ones who believe in God to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
These heathen practices from ancient times can be described as spiritual neglect which comes with divine consequences. Jesus rather said in Matthew 19: 14; Mark 10: 14; Luke 18: 16 let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven/God. Aside from children, we have also changed our identity spiritually from Christ Jesus in righteousness to the devil in sin and evil. God does not want us to change his image of righteousness in which he created us. He does not want us to wear any other identity save that which he has wisely given us.
Throughout the life of Christ, he maintained his Godlike image. He stood for God in all situations or circumstances. Our spirituality is of utmost importance to God that is why he died to save us from our sins. We are created in God’s image and so must it be. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, so whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. We certainly cannot glorify God with such a heathen culture. It is time to change and to wear our true identities to the glory of God.
Prayer
Teach and lead us Lord to wear your garments of righteousness rather than sexual pervasiveness through gender change and/or identity which we have now known to be a heathen culture of sin and evil. Be merciful to us, Lord and wash us in your saving blood in your holy name, Amen!!
