Some thoughts on "Understanding Gender Dysphoria" by Mark Yarhouse

I have just finished reading Understanding Gender Dysphoria by Mark Yarhouse. What follows are thoughts, reflections and reactions. This isn’t really a review of the book (there are several of these that can be readily found on the internet), nor are all the thoughts I express finalised, they are just a reaction to the book, with a number of concerns.
I have to say that I am so glad I have finished reading it, though I probably need to read it again at some point, but it was a most depressing read. He essentially does two things. On the one hand he gives much useful information and insight into gender dysphoria from a mental health/ social science perspective. In these terms the book is undoubtedly useful.  On the other hand he suggests there are three ways of looking at transgenderism.

• The integrity framework - essentially the Biblical viewpoint that God created us male and female
• The disability framework - a person experiencing gender dysphoria is suffering a disability and it is not their fault
• The identity framework - in simple terms the LGBT approach (I realise this is possibly an oversimplifying things).

Furthermore he suggests that what we need is some combination of all three, and this is where my concerns about the book start to come in. I have no problem with the first two being needed, but the identity framework strikes me as buying into the LGBT approach.
A lot of the book is concerned with describing gender dysphoria, then chapters 6 and 7 are entitled “towards a Christian response”. Chapter 6 is concerned with dealing with the individual, and Chapter 7 addressing the issue at the “institutional level”.  Chapter 7 is the most concerning and disappointing.  He contrasts a

Behave -> Believe -> Belong

approach with

Belong -> Believe -> Become

favouring the latter. However, neither of these approaches are Biblical. He points out the weaknesses of the first, and I would guess most evangelicals can see its weakness. The second approach is much more in vogue these days. However, if we look at the New Testament it is not the approach that Jesus took! He accepted all sorts of people (just as well, or you and I would not be included), but repentance was always a key part of things. The sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50 is an excellent example. She was probably a prostitute, Jesus welcomed her. But the key aspect of the story is that she knew she was forgiven.  Yarhouse seems to be too accepting of the LGBT “community” approach.
The book almost totally ignores the “LGBT agenda” aspect of transgenderism, ie its wider effects on society. These range from the breaking down of social norms that have served us well for thousands of years, and, most worryingly, the effect on our children (eg getting young children to doubt who and what they are).
My greatest concern is that the book has virtually nothing in terms of a Biblical perspective. There is nothing of the power of the gospel. Indeed, I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:5 about “having a form of godliness, but denying its power”. It seems that so often in the church we are in such danger of falling into this category when dealing with such difficult issues as transgenderism.
We must avoid the condemnation route, for we will only end up condemning ourselves as well. But we need to know and to communicate the power of the gospel to the world, we may think we are communicating the love of the gospel, but if we deny its power then we are denying people the love of Christ.

Anyway, these are my thoughts on the book. The author does have an admirable concern for those experiencing gender dysphoria Some the criticisms may be a little harsh, if they are it is because they are motivated by a belief that there is far more power in the gospel than we realise, and what we need most of all is far greater appreciation of that power.

Note: I have since written a postscript to this article.