Affirming God's Image: Addressing the Transgender Question with Science and Scripture - Softcover

Branch, J. Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 168359276X ISBN 13: 9781683592761

Publisher: Lexham Press, 2019

Synopsis

What is a knowledgeable, faithfully biblical response to transgenderism?

In Affirming God's Image, J. Alan Branch takes a fair, respectful, and factual tone in addressing this complex issue through a biblical lens. You'll learn:

• Scientific research around the transgender experience
• An Overview of the history of transgenderism
• Important terminology surrounding gender issues
• Why people pursue gender reassignment surgery, and what happens after
• How to navigate conversations around this topic

The book ends with two practical chapters for families and churches, giving you guiding principles for how to address this issue in a loving, Christ--honoring way.

The first step to responding well to any situation is understanding it. Affirming God's Image equips you with the biblical, scientific, and practical knowledge you need for a wise response.

About this title

About the Author

J. Alan Branch is professor of Christian ethics at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO. He has also served as a pastor and a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves. He is the author of Born This Way? Homosexuality, Science, and the Scriptures.

Review

Affirming God’s Image is the book I will recommend first to anyone with concerns about transgenderism. Professor Branch has made a thorough study of the exegetical and medical literature on the subject, and he presents judicious analysis and evaluation of it. Most important, he understands deeply what Scripture says about human sexuality. He urges us to show the love of Christ to people afflicted by gender dysphoria (especially including our own children and youth). But he sees great dangers in gender reassignment surgery and urges a vigorous “no” when that is suggested. He calls us to affirm the sex God has given to us at birth as a precious gift. And he presents these messages to us clearly and with grace. ―John M. Frame, retired J. D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando)

Careful, compassionate, and faithful, this new volume from Alan Branch is required reading for pastors, counselors, families, and individuals who are struggling with gender dysphoria. Dr. Branch has waded through a sea of literature to distill an approach that calls on Christians to love those who are suffering and to serve them by sharing biblical truth about sexuality. ―C. Ben Mitchell, Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy, Union University

Affirming God’s Image by Alan Branch is a timely and welcome resource for Christians needing to understand the transgenderism movement sweeping Western culture in opposition to the timeless Word of God. It is written in terms easy to comprehend but with a thoroughness deserving academic respect. Branch argues transgenderism is not a genetic or neurological trait, is a constructed social identity rooted in many causes, and is entirely contrary to biblical truth making it impossible to reconcile with reliable Christian ethics. I recommend this book with eager enthusiasm and am sure it will be a standard on the subject for years to come. ―Daniel R. Heimbach, Senior Professor of Christian Ethics, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Edition details

• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 168359276X
• ISBN 13: 9781683592761
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 208