Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Denison Forum

Home
Evangelical
Religion News
Will schools soon have to open girls’ locker rooms to boys?

Will schools soon have to open girls’ locker rooms to boys?

Last updated on: April 25, 2024 at 6:10 am by Jim Denison

Will schools soon have to open girls’ locker rooms to boys? 2024-04-25T06:10:15-05:00 Jim Denison

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

If you care about someone whose K–12 school or institution of higher learning receives any federal funding, take note: their school may have to open girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, housing accommodations, and sports teams to boys who claim to “identify” as girls. Boys’ facilities and activities would likewise have to be accessible to biological girls who “identify” as boys. This is because the Department of Education has unilaterally expanded Title IX of the Civil Rights code, an amendment passed in 1972 that prohibits discrimination “on the basis of sex” by “any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This was intended to prevent such discrimination with regard to athletic participation, facilities, and scholarships.

Now, however, “sex” has been made to include “sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.” The new regulations also require K–12 schools to accept a child’s gender identity regardless of their biological sex and without providing notice to, or seeking approval from, the child’s parents.

As First Liberty warns, the Title IX changes directly threaten our religious liberty. The Independent Women’s Forum also strongly condemns the regulation and plans to sue the Biden administration. Others will likely join them in legal opposition.

“Man’s trouble lies heavy on him”

We have been discussing this week our relativistic culture’s rejection of objective truth and morality. An example of such confusion is the controversy over National Public Radio’s new CEO and President, Katharine Maher. She suspended editor Uri Berliner in response to his recent essay criticizing the network’s progressive bias, a move that seems to reinforce his point.

We should not be surprised: when she was CEO of Wikipedia, Maher claimed that “there are many different truths” and stated, “I’m certain that the truth exists for you. And probably for the person sitting next to you. But this may not be the same truth.”

Jesus would disagree. He told his disciples, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32). Note the definite articles. As my wife, Janet Denison, wrote in her blog yesterday:

The only way we can truly be a disciple of Christ is to “abide” in his word. When we allow the opinions of others to influence truth, we have ceased to abide or dwell in the truth of Christ. And Jesus said it was his truth that would set us free (her emphasis).

Embracing Jesus’ truth is the only way to be set free from the burden of fallenness, finitude, and sin. Solomon described this burden well:

Man’s trouble lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it (Ecclesiastes 8:6–8).

The wise king would agree:

The more people reject biblical truth, the more they need it. The sicker the soul, the more urgent the Great Physician.

How can we share the truth effectively today?

Three practical responses

Paul stayed in Ephesus longer than anywhere else in his missionary journeys, “reasoning daily” for the gospel so effectively that “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:9–10). We have a fascinating window into his strategy through the testimony of non-Christians who heard him.

One: Show people why they need biblical truth.

An Ephesian who made his living by selling idols complained that “Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods” (v. 26). The apostle exposed the obvious illogic of the man’s livelihood: How can “gods made with hands” be true deities?

The biblical worldview is “True Truth,” as Francis Schaeffer noted. But to open minds to it, we often need to show them why they should consider its claims. With regard to the Title IX revisions noted earlier, for example, we can point to the tragic irony that the new version will defeat the very purpose for which the code was originally intended. Rather than ensuring that girls and boys receive equal support in our schools, it ensures that boys who “identify” as girls can unfairly compete against them and violate their private spaces.

Two: Leverage your influence.

When Paul wanted to address the uprising provoked by the Ephesian idol maker, “some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater” (v. 31). These were wealthy and distinguished citizens whose office was greatly coveted.

As their fellow Roman citizen and cultural leader, Paul obviously built personal relationships with them over his two years in Ephesus, illustrating James Davison Hunter’s thesis that culture changes as we achieve our highest place of influence and live there faithfully.

Three: Speak the truth in love.

The town clerk quelled the riot in Ephesus by reminding the crowd that Paul and his companions “are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess” (v. 37). They illustrated Peter’s admonition to defend our faith “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15) by manifesting the “fruit of the Spirit” in ways that impressed even their skeptics (Galatians 5:22–23).

Will you pray for God to raise up more Pauls today?

Will you be an answer to your prayer?

NOTE: This is my last note about our latest book, Between Compromise and Courage (2nd ed). We updated the book with four new topics: AI, end times, the rapture, and gun control. And we updated previous chapters on always-pressing topics: abortion, racism, suicide, and religious liberty. Our team prays that you’re equipped and inspired by this new book to be the salt and light Jesus calls us to be. Request your copy of our newest book today.

Thursday news to know:

Quote for the day:

“A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.” —Rick Warren

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 24, 2024

Protesters at Columbia University want Hamas to “burn Tel Aviv to the ground”

Next Post

April 26, 2024 Harvey Weinstein’s conviction for sex crimes overturned

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category america biblical-living Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Ananias and Sapphira died after lying to the Holy Spirit about their offering.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE