One of the most emotionally compelling arguments offered by progressive Christians and LGBTQ advocates is this:
God made me this way. I was born gay (or trans, or nonbinary), and since I am created in God’s image, my identity must be good.
The force of this claim rests not in Scripture itself but in a sentimental appeal to divine intention. It seeks to fuse personal experience with theological affirmation, making disagreement seem like an attack on a person’s essence—an unloving denial of their humanity.
This argument is not only popular in secular discourse—it has become increasingly common in churches, Christian colleges, and denominational debates. Terms like “Imago Dei,” “beloved identity,” and “God-given diversity” are used as theological shields for behaviors and identities the Bible explicitly condemns.
But does the Bible really say that all aspects of a person’s self-perception are sacred simply because they are created in God’s image?
To answer that, we must once again turn to hermeneutics—the art and discipline of faithful biblical interpretation. Without it, we run the risk of canonizing fallen experience as divine truth.
Hermeneutics: Truth Above Experience
Hermeneutics is the method by which Christians interpret Scripture responsibly. It protects the meaning of the text from being hijacked by personal emotion, ideology, or cultural fashion.
Sound hermeneutics involves:
- Canonical clarity: Interpreting Scripture as a unified whole.
- Contextual consistency: Reading verses in light of their surrounding passages.
- Doctrinal coherence: Maintaining harmony across biblical doctrines.
- Grammatical accuracy: Understanding what the words meant to the original audience.
- Moral alignment: Never using Scripture to justify what God condemns elsewhere.
Using this lens, we will examine the true meaning of being made in God’s image, and whether that supports the idea that “God made me gay,” “God made me nonbinary,” or “God approves my same-sex attraction.”
The Progressive Argument: Creation as Justification
The Progressive case often goes like this:
Genesis 1 says we’re all made in God’s image. That includes LGBTQ people. If I’m gay or trans, that’s how God made me. To tell me to change or repent is to reject God’s creation.
This is reinforced by slogans like:
- “Imago Dei affirms my identity.”
- “God doesn’t make mistakes.”
- “I’m wonderfully and fearfully made.”
- “This is how I was born, so it must be holy.”
But this argument is built on several theological misunderstandings, particularly of:
- What it means to be made in God’s image
- The effect of sin on creation
- The distinction between created nature and fallen nature
To unpack this, we must revisit the doctrine of the Imago Dei in both its original beauty and its post-Fall distortion.
Hermeneutical Analysis: What Does “Made in God’s Image” Mean?
Genesis 1:26–27 — The Original Creation Mandate
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’ So God created man in his own image… male and female he created them.”
—Genesis 1:26–27 (ESV)
This passage teaches:
- All humans have inherent dignity because we reflect something of God’s nature.
- The image includes rationality, morality, creativity, relational capacity, and stewardship over creation.
- Importantly, it includes male and female as complementary design components.
What it does not teach is that every aspect of our internal psychology, desire, or identity is automatically good or intended by God.
The Fall: The Image Is Retained but Distorted
Genesis 3 describes humanity’s rebellion and subsequent fall into sin. The Imago Dei is not lost, but it is marred.
After the Fall:
- Our minds are darkened (Eph. 4:18)
- Our hearts are deceitful (Jer. 17:9)
- Our desires are corrupted (Rom. 1:24–27)
- Our bodies groan under sin’s curse (Rom. 8:20–23)
Thus, being made in God’s image does not mean that every instinct, orientation, or self-perception is good. The very fact that we are fallen image-bearers means we must question, test, and submit our feelings to the Word of God.
Jesus Christ: The Perfect Image of God
“He is the image of the invisible God…”
—Colossians 1:15
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature…”
—Hebrews 1:3
Jesus is the true and perfect image of God. He shows us what humanity was meant to be. As such:
- He affirms the goodness of the male-female binary (Matt. 19:4–5).
- He calls sinners to repent, not self-affirm (Mark 1:15).
- He never affirms fallen sexual desires but consistently upholds purity.
To be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29) is to deny ourselves, not affirm our fallen inclinations.
Theological Clarification: Made by God ≠ Approved by God
The idea that “God made me this way” fails on multiple theological fronts.
God Creates, But Does Not Author Sin
James 1:13–15 is crystal clear:
God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Same-sex attraction, gender confusion, and distorted identity are not evidence of divine creation—they are the fruit of original sin.
Being Born With a Struggle Does Not Sanctify It
Many people are born with inclinations that are not righteous:
- Some are born with anger issues.
- Others with substance or sexual compulsions.
- Some have genetic conditions or chemical imbalances.
The existence of a condition or inclination at birth does not make it holy or good. In fact, it may testify to the depth of the Fall.
What matters is how God calls us to respond to such inclinations.
Jesus Heals—He Does Not Affirm Brokenness
Christ is full of compassion. But He never condoned sin in the name of compassion. Consider His words:
“Go, and sin no more.”
—John 8:11
He affirms human dignity, but also calls us to repentance and transformation. The appeal to the Imago Dei must be partnered with the call to holiness, not self-justification.
The Biology of Sexual Design
Male and Female: Built for One Another
Genesis 1–2 is biologically prescriptive:
- Males and females are designed to reproduce, not just coexist.
- Their bodies are complementary, not interchangeable.
- The marital union of one man and one woman is the normative sexual ethic from creation.
Biology testifies:
- Male and female genitalia are mutually compatible.
- Emotional and hormonal responses are wired for pair-bonding.
- God built us with form and function—a sign of His good design.
Same-Sex Intercourse: Medical and Mechanical Harm
The mechanics of homosexual acts—especially male-to-male—are not only unbiblical but also biologically harmful:
- Anal tissue is fragile and prone to tearing.
- Fecal contamination is a serious risk, contributing to STDs and infections.
- Lesbian activity often simulates heterosexual intimacy with phallic “sex toys” because it cannot achieve this union naturally.
These are not merely medical observations—they affirm the created intent for sex between a man and a woman.
Cultural Captivity: The Idolatry of Innate Desire
The claim “God made me this way” is deeply rooted in expressive individualism—the idea that the truest you is the internal you, and that self-expression is the highest virtue.
This worldview:
- Deifies desire.
- Treats discomfort as oppression.
- Labels resistance to identity claims as hatred or bigotry.
But Scripture teaches:
- The heart is deceitful (Jer. 17:9).
- The flesh and the Spirit are at war (Gal. 5:16–17).
- Desires must be crucified, not celebrated (Gal. 5:24).
So when someone says, “God made me this way,” they often mean:
- “I feel this way naturally.”
- “I’ve always been this way.”
- “This brings me happiness.”
But this is a therapeutic gospel, not the biblical gospel. It treats Jesus as an affirmer of self, not a crucifier of self.
Born Again: From Image-Bearer to Christ-Bearer
Being Made in God’s Image Is Not the Same as Being Born Again
The Imago Dei gives every human being dignity and worth, but it does not save them.
You can be:
- Made in God’s image, yet lost.
- Fully human, yet enslaved to sin.
- Morally sincere, yet spiritually dead.
That’s why Jesus told Nicodemus:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
—John 3:3
What It Means to Be Born Again
To be born again is to:
- Be regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5)
- Receive a new heart (Ezek. 36:26)
- Turn from sin to Christ (Acts 2:38)
- Be adopted into God’s family (Rom. 8:15)
It is not the affirmation of your old self—it is the death of the old self and the resurrection of the new.
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
—2 Corinthians 5:17
The born-again Christian does not say, “God made me this way, so I’ll stay this way.” He says, “God remade me in Christ, so I’ll follow His way.”
Sanctification: God’s Ongoing Work in the Believer
Being born again launches a life of sanctification—the lifelong process by which:
- Desires are reshaped.
- The old man is put to death.
- Holiness becomes the pursuit (Heb. 12:14).
Same-sex attracted believers may still struggle, just as others battle anger, lust, or envy. But these are crosses to bear, not identities to affirm.
Rebutting the Progressive Claim
Let’s return to the heart of the issue:
God made me this way—how can it be wrong?
We answer:
1. Doctrinal Clarity
The Imago Dei grants dignity but does not validate desire. Sin distorts the image—it does not define divine approval.
2. Biblical Consistency
Scripture uniformly condemns same-sex behavior (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:24–27; 1 Cor. 6:9–10). There is no verse affirming gay identity or transgenderism.
3. Christological Authority
Jesus Christ is the Creator, the Lawgiver, and the Savior. He affirms male and female design, calls for holiness, and provides new birth.
4. Biological Integrity
Bodies speak truth. The compatibility of male and female anatomy reveals divine intent. Same-sex acts violate this and bring physical harm.
5. Gospel Power
Christian identity is not found in orientation but in regeneration. Christ offers not affirmation of fallen desires but transformation of the soul.
Conclusion: From Identity Confusion to Christ-Centered Clarity
To be made in God’s image is a gift. To be born again is a miracle.
Progressive Christianity offers a gospel of self—of embracing the “real you.” But biblical Christianity calls us to embrace Christ, who makes us new.
The phrase “God made me this way” can only be understood rightly when it is reinterpreted through the lens of the cross:
- Yes, God made you.
- Yes, you are valuable.
- No, your fallen desires are not divine.
Instead of using the Imago Dei to justify sin, we must allow the Imago Christi—Christ as the true image of God—to conform us to His likeness.
That is where true dignity lies—not in self-affirmation, but in Christ-conformation.
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
MMXXV
christiannewsjunkie@gmail.com
RELATED CONTENT
Concerning the Related Content section, I encourage everyone to evaluate the content carefully.
If I have listed the content, I think it is worthwhile viewing to educate yourself on the topic, but it may contain coarse language or some opinions I don’t agree with.
Realize that I sometimes use phrases like “trans man”, “trans woman”, “transgender” , “transition” or similar language for ease of communication. Obviously, as a conservative Christian, I don’t believe anyone has ever become the opposite sex. Unfortunately, we are forced to adopt the language of the left to discuss some topics without engaging in lengthy qualifying statements that make conversations awkward.
“Progressive” is another such word. I don’t believe that “Progressives” are a positive movement. “Progressive” is a euphemism for wokeness, Neo-Marxism, or “political correctness”.
“Progressive” in this sense is actually corruptive and harmful to mankind. “Progressive Christianity” is an anti-Christian movement that reflects apostasy.
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