The Southern Baptist Convention took a much needed stand in the effort to reshape sexuality into a fluid, preferential aspect of one’s life. At the annual meeting this year in Baltimore, MD, the SBC voted on a resolution entitled “On Transgender Identity.” The full text of the resolution can be read here.

Much discussion has already taken place around this resolution. Even before the convention began there was a rumbling as a result of what some knew would be “controversial” resolutions. One friend, when he heard I would be attending the SBC annual meeting, said he would be praying for me as we would be “voting on some resolutions that will be perceived as controversial.”

When day two of the annual meeting arrived and I looked at the list of resolutions I didn’t see anything that could be remotely considered controversial for a Southern Baptist. Then I got to resolution number nine.

Resolution number nine is speaks to the issue of transgenderism. As efforts to redefine marriage in our culture have progressed and been successful, the logical progression that many of us predicted would occur is now taking place. Once homosexuals found support for their alternative lifestyle and sexual orientation it was just a matter of time before others, such as polygamists and transgender persons began seeking rights as well.

Sadly, even some Christians have been deceived into believing there is nothing wrong with being a transgender person. The reality however is that such abuse of one’s biological sex stands in direct opposition to God’s created design. Hence the need for the SBC to codify in a resolution the Southern Baptist position.

Here’s what the resolution says, in part:

“That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention…affirm God’s good design that gender identity is determined by biological sex and not by one’s self-perception—a perception which is often influenced by fallen human nature in ways contrary to God’s design (Ephesians 4:17–18)…That we grieve the reality of human fallenness which can result in such biological manifestations as intersexuality or psychological manifestations as gender identity confusion and point all to the hope of the redemption of our bodies in Christ (Romans 8:23); and be it further…That we oppose efforts to alter one’s bodily identity (e.g., cross-sex hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery) to refashion it to conform with one’s perceived gender identity…That we continue to oppose steadfastly all efforts by any governing official or body to validate transgender identity as morally praiseworthy (Isaiah 5:20)…That we oppose all cultural efforts to validate claims to transgender identity.”

First it must be understood that there is nothing controversial in this resolution for a believer in Christ. As Christ followers we are obligated to base our worldview not on shifting cultural opinion, but on the transcendent truth of Scripture. The Scripture references given in this resolution clearly uphold the text and objective of the resolution.

So while others outside of Christ might be angered by this resolution and see it as discrimination, it must be understood that even the Christian idea of sexuality has to be based on the Bible. Jesus clearly said that God “made them male and female.” Within this one verse Jesus Christ explains that it is God that creates humans, and that when God creates a person male or female He does so in an absolute fashion. It’s not a suggestion to be considered and altered at will, our biology is fixed at birth and any efforts to change or alter it runs counter to God’s design and is an affront to the image and person of God.

Many will not like hearing this because without a faith in Christ anything that is biblically based will sound foolish and considered of no value in society. However, for Christians, our chief objective is to base everything – from government to the routine of our daily life – on the Word of God. So it should come as no surprise that the SBC would adopt a position regarding human sexuality that is based on the clear teaching of Scripture.

But before anyone accuses the SBC or Christians of being filled with hate for transgender people, read the rest of the resolution:

“That we extend love and compassion to those whose sexual self-understanding is shaped by a distressing conflict between their biological sex and their gender identity…That we invite all transgender persons to trust in Christ and to experience renewal in the Gospel (1 Timothy 1:15–16)…That we love our transgender neighbors, seek their good always, welcome them to our churches and, as they repent and believe in Christ, receive them into church membership (2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Galatians 5:14)…That we regard our transgender neighbors as image-bearers of Almighty God and therefore condemn acts of abuse or bullying committed against them.”

Though we are faced with accusation of being bigots and hating transgender people, the SBC and Christians are actually seeking to show a greater love. It’s not loving to encourage confusion in a person. It’s not loving to affirm the mutilation of one’s body that has been shown to result in psychological harm. Though it is indeed tough love, it is nonetheless loving to stand in the shadow of the cross under the grace of Christ and reach out to people that are hurting with the truth of the Gospel.

I’m sure many in our society sees this as being hateful, as not allowing people to “be who they really are.” But Christians believe that a person is “who they are” when they were born, created in God’s image, exactly as He intended them to be. So we are in fact attempting to support who they truly are by encouraging transgender people away from confusion and toward biological and sexual clarity in Christ.

Why? Why would Christians and the SBC take this position knowing it would produce backlash and hate from others? The last point of the resolution clearly gives that answer:

“RESOLVED, That our love for the Gospel and urgency for the Great Commission must include declaring the whole counsel of God, proclaiming what Scripture teaches about God’s design for us as male and female persons created in His image and for His glory (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 20:27; Romans 11:36).”

Despite what others think, our chief objective is not pleasing people, our chief objective is glorifying Christ and spreading the Gospel. This means standing on Biblical truth even if it runs counter to cultural opinion because the Gospel of Jesus is worthy of our loyalty.

So yes, I voted for this resolution and I am not ashamed of that fact. I don’t hate transgender people. In fact, I love them enough to be honest and share the healing, saving truth of Jesus with them. Some will call me a bigot, so be it. But as for me, and the SBC, we will serve the Lord, not society, not activists, not cultural opinion.