Dad, are boys and girls the same?

Sep 29

Gender is a gift we receive from God and live out for his glory and our good.

The cultural attack on clear distinctions between the sexes and clear correspondence between sex and gender threatens to throw both our kids’ self-identities and our societal structures into confusion. But God has not left us unprepared. Right from the beginning, the Bible provides clear guidance on how to think about sex and gender. Men and women are created by God to reflect his glory in the equality they share, the differences they demonstrate, and their cooperation to carry out his good purposes for the world.

Kids' Questions

Talking Points: Dad, are boys and girls the same?

What does it mean to be male or female? Does it mean anything at all? Many in our culture reject any intrinsic meaning to sex and gender so that they can create them for themselves. However, starting in Genesis 1–2, the Bible teaches us that our sex is a gift given by God, our gender should correspond with it, and that both together reflect his image, pointing to the gospel. Men and women are fundamentally equal, different, and interdependent. Self-sacrificial loving unity across difference is a powerful picture of the gospel to the world.

Key Questions: Dad, are boys and girls the same?

Answers to the questions: What’s the difference between sex and gender? What if my girl is a tomboy or my boy is not into “guy stuff”? If we say that boys and girls are not the same, then aren’t we saying they’re not equal? How should we respond to people who deny the truth of gender?

Sample Discussion: Dad, are boys and girls the same?

A sample of how to talk to our kids about gender. Gender is the way we communicate our sex to the world. It’s kind of like a name tag. But it’s also a way God communicates the gospel to us.

Recommended Resources: Dad, are boys and girls the same?

A curated list of some helpful articles, podcasts, and books on this topic for those who want to explore it further.

Graham Thompson

Dad, are boys and girls the same?

Gender is a gift we receive from God and live out for his glory and our good.

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Talking Points: Dad, are boys and girls the same?