You Asked For It So Here's My Thoughts on Bruce
June 08, 2015
Ok, so I have been asked on several occasions recently to comment on the whole Bruce Jenner situation. These are my thoughts. They only reflect my opinions and no one else; not my family, not my church, and not my denomination. Just mine.
Any person who is not a believer in Jesus Christ is controlled by his flesh and his flesh alone. Only followers of Christ have the Spirit of God dwelling within Who is committed to leading us to truth and convicting us of sin. I have very little knowledge of his faith, but I have never heard of Bruce professing to be a believer in the sense that he has trusted Christ as his Savior. Thus, he is following the inclinations of his flesh and has no access to the Spirit of God within him. I have been there and know first hand what that is like.
How about how the media portraying him as a hero? Personally, I find it very distasteful and inappropriate to use the same word used to describe the brave men and women of the military who face the enemy to secure our freedom to describe Bruce's decision to live life as the opposite sex. Or to speak of his decision with same reverence we speak of a child who resolutely faces radiation and chemo treatments to battle cancer with courage. I'm sorry, the media and I disagree greatly as to the definitions of courage, bravery and heroism.
I am surprised as to the number of women who have applauded his decision to live the remainder of his days as a female. It seems to me that women who have endured the mental, emotional and physical distress and discomfort associated with their physiology would not easily welcome someone into their gender who has not also paid the price. Bruce may choose to live as a woman but will never have to endure the pain or inherent dangers associated with childbirth. However, this is only an observation coming from a man and not a woman. I am certain I do not qualify to speak for them; Myself having never had to deal with the challenges I have just listed.
My greatest issue is with believers. That may seem to be a strange statement, but please allow me to explain. Some who follow Christ have expressed their opinion that if this makes Bruce happy then we should be happy for him. So should our concern end there? Is happiness the main objective of life? It may be a true statement that for the unbeliever happiness is the pinnacle of existence. So should we be happy that someone, whether we know them personally or not, is attempting to find fulfillment outside of the forgiveness of sin for which we all are in desperate need. When in reality God's ultimate desire for His highest creation is not happiness but holiness.
I am not angry with Bruce Jenner. I am not disappointed with the media. They are acting according to the instincts of the flesh. Without a Damascus Road like experience they will continue to act this way. (Just for the record, I believe those kinds of experiences still occur.) I am more disappointed with my reaction. I immediately wanted to pass judgment on this former athlete. But God reminded me of the horrible mess my life was in when He found me. The only difference in my life and Jenner's is that I was not a member of the Kardashian family. I am grieved over this man's decision just like I am grieved over the millions of other decisions made every day by people who believe their main objective in life is to be happy to the detriment of their eternal souls.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12