Catechism: Divine DesignSample

God designed gender when he created humanity, but God did not design sexism and gender stereotypes. They are distortions of God’s design, and they limit the beauty of what it means to be male and female. Sadly, as much as secular culture, the church has been guilty of drawing narrow boundaries around masculinity and femininity. But when we look at the men and women of the Bible, we see challenges to our culture’s stereotypes.

Take David, for example. He was a passionate king, a fierce warrior, and an emotional poet. Or Deborah - she served as a judge over Israel, spoke prophecy, and led Israel into military battle. Jacob was the forefather of Israel, and he preferred cooking over hunting. Priscilla and Phoebe were two women who, along with many others, were active in building the early church by leading, teaching, and working alongside the apostle Paul, a role the church in America has traditionally given to men.

These examples show that you don’t have to doubt your God-given gender just because you don’t fit into the cultural stereotypes. God intentionally chose your gender when he created you. So celebrate who God made you to be! Stand in awe that God intentionally thought through every detail of who you are. And use your whole, unique self to serve God.

Read: Psalm 139:13-18 and Ephesians 2:10

Reflection Questions:

• How does the intimate, personal way God created you affect how you think about God and relate to him? What about the way you think about yourself?
• What are some ways you can celebrate who God made you to be? How can you use your unique personality and talents to serve God? If you’re not sure, ask a trusted friend or mentor to help you see and celebrate the way God designed you.