Preferred Pronouns? - Or - You Shall Not Give False Testimony Against Your Neighbor

In this information age, people know more things yet believe less. The world has lost the concept of absolute truth and information is not a substitute. It is being built on falsehood rather than honesty.

“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.” (Isaiah 59:14 ESV)

The Ninth Commandment explicitly prohibits a false witness by telling untruths about another person and commands truthfulness of speech to and about others in any circumstance. Words can either help or harm. Being a false witness makes a statement of what is not true and is intended to deceive, violating the obligation to speak the truth.

The Bible explicitly tells us that human beings are to live in accordance with their design because it is absolutely critical to human flourishing. Sexual gender is binary by its very nature. There are men and there are women by God’s design for humanity.

Pronouns describe objective reality. When a person uses a person’s “preferred” pronouns they are describing a subjective reality that is contrary to the Word of God and against empirical biological science.

When a person uses a false pronoun to describe a man or a woman, they are bearing false testimony against their neighbor. The moral obligation of every person before God is to speak the truth in love and humility, even if their neighbor may take offense.

The Bible expands on this:

"You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice."You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.” (Exodus 23:1-3 ESV)

When a person lies to, or about another person, they act like the devil. The Pharisees slandered Jesus to His face and said He was an illegitimate child. Jesus responded and said;

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44 ESV)

"Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.” (Matthew 26:59-60 ESV)

The word “devil” in Greek is ‘diábolos’ and means to slander, falsely accuse, defame, unjustly criticize or malign to destroy another.

When a person criticizes, gossips, and spreads rumors about another, they also act like the devil. It is the just the same qhen a person accuses God of causing pain, sickness or suffering, they are slandering His righteousness, goodness, faithfulness and impugning His character and nature.

THE GOODNESS OF GOD

God desires only what is in our best interest.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17 ESV)

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19 ESV)

“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber." (Psalm 121:3 ESV)

God is always seeking the welfare of His people.

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11 ESV)

God’s ultimate purpose is to prepare His people to become His possession:

"...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:14 ESV)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

On an even more intimate level, God calls every Christian His Bride: "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:9 NIV). Not only are Christians His Bride, but He has promised to have a most intimate one-on-one relationship with them:

"And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2 ESV)

The Creator of the Universe became human to walk among humanity and ultimately die for them. He sent the Holy Spirit and gave the Bible to prove His love and help prepare them for the day when they will see Him face to face. Jesus said that He causes “the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45 ESV).