Not Natural

God has an amazing plan for men and women who are devoted to living out His truth - but when people pervert His plan in the area of gender, they are missing out on the life God has in store for them. In Genesis 1, we can read:
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Talk about misinformation!  Whenever we stray from God's truth, we are buying into the lies of the enemy.  He will certainly tempt us in various areas, and it seems that he is working overtime in the area of sexuality.  He wants to prevent us from having a healthy view of whom God has made us, and deceives people into thinking that someone their bodies do not reflect who they really are - so adjustments, manipulation of God's creation, have to be made. We have to relinquish dissatisfaction - in any area - and allow the power of God to enable us to live according to His plan for us.

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In Romans chapter 1, we can read about those who disregard creation and the Creator and engage in unnatural acts - I would submit that it is not natural for men and women to attempt to change their gender - it is simply unnatural.  We can read these words:
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

The United States is in a precarious place with respect to its support of so-called "gender-affirming care," which is a gaslighting term for "sex change procedures."  A recent Washington Stand article highlighted a study by a group called Do No Harm that provides a chilling look at how popular this concept is in the U.S.

The group's study of 12 nations concluded with these words, according to the article: “The United States is the most permissive country when it comes to the legal and medical gender transition of children,” adding, “Only France comes close, yet unlike the U.S., France’s medical authorities have recognized the uncertainties involved in transgender medical care for children and have urged ‘great caution’ in its use.”

Unfortunately, until some high-profile cases of hospitals where this was taking place were exposed, this seemed to be a "dirty little secret" in the medical profession. And, under the radar, the practice of these gender treatments and surgeries has spread.  The article says that: "The report...compared the number of youth gender clinics in the various countries. The U.S. led by far, with “more than 60 pediatric gender clinics and 300 clinics” that “provide hormonal interventions to minors.” France also has many locations because “care is decentralized,” and “any doctor can prescribe treatment for medical transition.”

Regarding puberty blockers, the study showed that "American restrictions on puberty blockers vary by state, but 'the most permissive states do not impose restrictions,' and blockers have been prescribed 'as early as age eight.'” In other nations:

In Iceland, there is “no minimum age” except as a “matter of clinical judgment.” The U.K. permits blockers “from the earliest stages of puberty,” while Belgium, France, and Norway permit blockers from Tanner Stage II, or “once physiological signs of puberty manifest.” Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden allow puberty blockers “from age 12.” Finland allows them “about age 13.” Ireland allows them “under 16 years old.” In tiny Luxembourg, “no official guidance exists,” but “in practice, adolescents almost always receive blockers in a neighboring country.”

Regarding the use of cross-sex hormones, the article notes, "Restrictions on prescribing cross-sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) to minors also vary state by state across the U.S., but “the practice has been documented with parental consent in children under the age of 13.” In one state, Oregon, minor children can "access cross-sex hormones from age 15 without consent and with Medicaid assistance.”  In Europe...

...France has “no age restrictions” on cross-sex hormones, but “clinicians generally will not administer them before Tanner Stage II.” Again, Luxembourg has “no official guidance,” but “Patients almost always receive hormones in a neighboring Country.” In every other European country studied, cross-sex hormones were available “from age 16,” although the U.K. requires that “individuals must have been receiving puberty blockers for at least one year.”

The Washington Stand report on the study by Do No Harm also notes: "The U.S. also exceeds most European countries in legally recognizing genders other than male or female."

What do Americans generally think about the subject?  In October, Newsmax reported on a study about this subject area.  The report stated:

A survey conducted among 1,079 likely voters by The Trafalgar Group and the Convention of States Action asked, "Do you believe underage minors should be required to wait until they are adults to use puberty blockers and undergo permanent sex change procedures?"

A whopping 78.7% of respondents said minors should wait, while 21.3% said they should not wait, according to the poll results.

A Pew Research poll found this:

Some 46% of Americans say they would favor or strongly favor making it illegal for health care professionals to provide someone younger than 18 with medical care for gender transitions. About three-in-ten (31%) say they would oppose or strongly oppose this policy, while 22% neither favor nor oppose this.

So, you're looking at a range of somewhere between just over 20 to a little more than 30 percent of respondents who support these treatments and procedures, it seems.  

A Summit Ministries poll, in association with McLaughlin and Associates found: "75 percent of voters who have an opinion on the issue believe that the transgender movement has gone too far by encouraging underage minors to use drugs and surgery to transition to the opposite sex."

The Bible speaks in Romans about people who commit unnatural acts. Internal conflict over sexuality addressed with the world's messages, rather than the Word's prescription, result in acts of open rebellion against God.  Certainly, you have people, especially young people, in distress because they have bought into erroneous thinking that somehow they were born into the wrong bodies - but they have to choose to either embrace their biology or live in fantasy. 

Yet, there is a distinct trend to try to prevent young people from receiving solid, Bible-based counseling, labelling it "conversation therapy" and a dangerous proposition. Yet, we must admit that the Scriptures provide the principles through which a person can embrace the identity that God has created him or her to have. 

Bottom line: you cannot expect God to bless choices that are inconsistent with His Word. That is true for any area of sin or rebellion - we should rather bring these struggles to the Lord and allow Him, by His power, to enable us to walk in freedom.