Euphoria is a word that means, basically, “feeling good”. If you’re euphoric you’re up, you’re happy with what’s around you and with yourself.

Dysphoria means the opposite: With dysphoria, you just don’t feel right. You have a sense of anxiety, of discontent, or of discomfort – physically, psychologically, or emotionally. That’s dysphoria.

We hardly ever heard of dysphoria until quite recently. Now almost every day we hear or read about something called gender dysphoria: People (and people in all age categories, including very young children) who say they just don’t feel right about their being male or female. They’re male or female biologically, but they claim they don’t feel like a male or a female.

And, for whatever reasons, they’re distressed – or at least they’re uncomfortable – with the sexual category of their conception and birth. Then, if those with gender dysphoria come (again, for whatever reasons) to affirm their gender identity as different from the sex the person had (or was identified as having) at birth, that person is then regarded as transgender.

Then this gender dysphoria and one’s self-designation as transgender (or lesbian, or gay, or bisexual, or queer – a rather new use of the word, and which now refers to those who reject the traditional gender identities of male and female, but who also want more alternatives to the designations, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) – these play out on our social arena in various ways – especially in a culture that emphasizes individual rights.

Didn’t Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy affirm, in the 1992 decision Planned Parenthood vs. Casey: “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and the mystery of human life?” So, if the heart of my liberty is the right to define the mystery of my human life; and if so much of my human life is tied to my sexuality, then, surely, I must have the right to define my own sexuality.

And virtually every day we’re seeing how this way of thinking affects every realm of our society.

For those of us who are older, these things read like the oddities of Lewis Carroll’s book Alice in Wonderland:

    • Schools and states receiving strong opposition to proposed laws and regulations requiring transgender individuals to use the restrooms, showers, and locker rooms corresponding to their biological sex.
    •  Pressure on insurance companies to provide “medically necessary” sex change surgery.
    • Legislation making it easier for people to change their legal gender.
    • States and nations offering third gender options – like “X” – for state identification cards.
    • Mandating gender-neutral language that, among other things, forbids using “Ladies and Gentlemen” in public announcements, and requiring the phrase “pregnant people” so as not to exclude men.

And what is particularly scary about this – giving a sense of dysphoria, if you will – is that children and young adults – elementary and high school students, as well as college students – have become a mission field for those obsessed with issues that come under the umbrella of gender dysphoria:

  • Planned Parenthood has released guidance recommending that parents teach their preschoolers (yes, their preschoolers) that “your genitals don’t make you a boy or a girl.” Parents are urged by Planned Parenthood to “affirm their preschoolers personal gender identity.
  • At least one charter school has guided kindergarteners through an in-class gender transition project. No notice was given to parents. A proposed policy to notify parents was rejected, as was permission for parents to “opt out” for their child or children.
  • Youth of all ages are encouraged to be “gender rights campaigners” promoting these issues and opposing those who stand for so-called “traditional views’ of sexuality.

Add to this that there is a strong push to forbid and penalize counseling practices which affirm that those with gender dysphoria and its related effects can, in fact, change those feelings and learn to live in accord with their biological gender.

Once again, I must say that, for those of us who are older, these developments in our society read to us like the oddities of Alice in Wonderland.

Nevertheless, this is part of our world today. So, I’m very thankful for individuals and organizations which stand firmly for biblical standards regarding gender and sexuality – but that also stand firmly for bringing the Gospel to those who have been brought into bondage by violating those standards – again, for whatever reasons.

My favorite organization that is both faithful to the Bible and compassionately Gospel-centered in ministering to a culture filled with sexual and gender brokenness is Harvest USA. On their website (It’s easy to find: www.harvestusa.org ) you’ll find an amazing array of resources: Videos and articles on things like “Gospel Sexuality: Raising Sexually Faithful Kids”, “What Should I Communicate to My Daughter About Sexuality?”, “Can You Change if You’re Gay?”, How Do I Live With My Story of Childhood Sexual Abuse?”

There you can also access their online magazine, with themes and articles on topics like Women, Sexuality, and the Church, Just What is Godly Sex. Transgenderism: The Shaping of Reality. Living Faithfully with Our Bodies.

Check it out for yourself: www.harvestusa.org.

The President of Harvest USA is Tim Geiger. He’s my guest again today on A Visit to the Pastor’s Study. For this program, he’ll be telling us a little more about Harvest USA, but he’ll be focusing on what that fine organization is doing to reach out to students – countering the message of gender dysphoria with the message of gender euphoria through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Parents and young people in particular- you need to hear what’s coming in the minutes ahead.

Tim Geiger, President of Harvest USA – welcome again to A Visit to the Pastor’s Study….

Here’s a link to the full program:

Yours in Jesus Christ – the Great Liberator,

Pastor Bill