Saxraments
Understanding the Spiritual Bond Between Abortion and Transgenderism
Have you ever wondered why the issues of abortion and transgenderism seem so close to each other? I have. In fact, if you spoke to my wife or my friends, they’d probably tell you I have wondered about this too much.
But it is a little odd, isn’t it? These two issues seem to share some sort of deep connection, but without an immediate and obvious reason why. Many will blame those pesky culture warriors, but I’m dubious.
Planned Parenthood, one of the largest providers of both abortion and so-called “gender-affirming care” (puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones), seems to understand this connection better than anyone.
This is clearly seen on their own website with articles titled “The Fight for Trans Rights and Abortion Are Inextricably Linked.” This is one of countless examples I could provide.
Since around the time of Roe v. Wade’s reversal, Planned Parenthood appears to have shifted their focus from abortion to transgenderism1, significantly expanding their so-called “gender-affirming care” program.
Both of these issues have been defining issues in the last three US presidential elections. In 2022, Glenn Youngkin won Virginia’s Governor race and many credit that victory to the situation that occurred in Loudoun County, involving parental rights, safety and transgenderism in schools.
Whether I am talking to a conservative Christian culture warrior, or a liberal transgender pro-abortion activist, everyone seems to understand these two issues are “inextricably linked” as Planned Parenthood aptly put it.
Ye Shall Be As gods
First, both issues represent the ultimate climax of the age-old human quest for individual liberty, “bodily autonomy” and personal sovereignty apart from God (Genesis 3).
The animating spirit of both issues is a reversal of the very first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism.
The catechism says,
“Q. What is my only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong to God.”
Abortion and transgenderism say,
“Q. What is my only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am my own, and belong to Myself.”
Transgenderism says, “I am the creator, I can completely reinvent myself totally on my own terms”
Abortion says, “Nothing and no one will get in my way. I will even kill my own child if I have to.”
Saxramental
But I think the deeper reason these issues share a spiritual bond is because we are inherently religious creatures and both of these issues are satanic parodies of Christian sacraments.
Every culture will express religious devotion in some way, whether it is true religion or a perverted form of religion. It’s not a matter of whether, just a question of which.
In our culture, historically, Christianity has been the dominant religion. So, Satan, the craftiest of all the creatures, has found a way to twist Christianity’s most prominent sacraments into something perverted and murderous.
Satan be Satan-ing.
Regarding abortion, pro-life activist Seth Gruber while giving a speech, articulates this well,
“ …abortion is the sacrament of Satan. Because abortion says ‘You must die so I can live,’ but Christ says ‘I must die so you can live” … This is why Peter Kreeft said… ‘Abortion is the demonic parody of the Eucharist.’ That’s why it uses the same holy words, ‘This is my body’ but with the opposite blasphemous meaning. Do you think it’s a coincidence that the central phrase of the entire abortion industrial complex and the culture of death today are the same words of our Savior at the first communion, ‘This is my body’.”
If abortion is the satanic parody of the Eucharist, then transgenderism is the satanic parody of Baptism. If you listen carefully to those who identify as transgender, you will hear and see a twisted version of baptism’s holy language and symbols.
For example, if you use their “old” name you are “dead-naming” them; meaning, the old person has undergone a ritual form of death and a new person is here.
To the trans community, broadly and intentionally “misgendering” (refusing to use the new pronouns) or “dead-naming” (refusing to use the new name) are unforgiveable sins; deep transgressions that are taken extremely seriously. This is why many trans activists equate being thoroughly critical of transgenderism to genocide; you will hear them say it “erases their2 existence.”
Christian baptism is the sign and seal of the new covenant. But similar to the biblical sign of the old covenant (circumcision), those who have have received trans surgeries have scars in intimate places that signify their adoption and admission into their new family; online and real-world trans subcultures.
They undergo full immersion into their “transition,” which is typically both social and medical. This process is the water that washes away their old self; as they go through this journey, they receive their new “authentic self.”
Listen closely and you will hear what sounds like a story of death and resurrection; of rebirth into a new identity that totally eclipses their old identity.
Marcella Burke is a lawyer who serves in the Trump administration and has litigated against doctors who perform these procedures. In a recent interview with
, she discusses how she has personally heard doctors who proudly perform these surgeries boast that they are bringing “new life” into the world.Who Cares?
I often see Christians recoil in disgust at these two topics. It’s understandable. They know intuitively both issues are evil and demonic, but they’re often unable to go deeper and explain why they’re so evil.
You may not think it is important to be able to explain why. Fair enough.
I think it’s important for a lot of reasons, but here are two: 1. to be able to best love those around us who are lost and suffering and, 2. to understand the nature of the spiritual war we are in.
It is hard to love well when you don’t know or understand well.
If you have a friend who identifies as transgender, you should get to know them, ask them questions and listen to their story.
But you should also get to know and understand the false and harmful ideologies they are entrenched in.
But it’s also important for the same reason C.S. Lewis’s book “Screwtape Letters” is so important; it is hard to fight a spiritual war when you don’t really know how your enemy operates.
It is important to know your friend. It is also important to know your enemy. And knowing your enemy can help you know and love your friend.
Here is what I know.
Satan is not a creator, he is a twister.
Similar to us, he is a creature; he can only take things God made and twist them into something disordered and evil. Similar to us, all of his creative material is derivative.
Here is what else I know.
God is The Creator, and He builds His world ex nihilo, out of nothing.
Only He can do that.
He creates reality itself and institutes His moral law for our good. His laws and the sacraments are not arbitrary or random, they correspond with deep, specific needs in our souls. He knows this because He made us.
Satan twists God’s reality and moral laws, trying to wedge himself between us and God. Trying to get us to think God is keeping something good from us, trying to persuade us to not to trust God’s voice.
He does this because he hates God, and hates us; he does this to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).
We see this from the very beginning in Genesis 2,
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?’ 2 And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’’ 4 But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”
Satan is a twister. Satan is a liar.
First, he takes something God said and twists it. Satan took what God said to Adam “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” and twisted it, saying to Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’”
Then, he blatantly lies, “You will not surely die.”
Satan knew what God said, that they could eat from all the trees in the garden except the one. God was testing them, Satan was tempting them.
Satan twists in small ways and big ways. Satan takes these two Christian sacraments, communion and Baptism, and twists them into demonic parodies. Satan sacralizes abortion and transgenderism in our culture to mock God and destroy God’s children.
Satan takes things that are full of life, truth, goodness and beauty and twists them into things that are disordered, evil and murderous.
It is helpful to know how Satan operates so we can pray and war against him more effectively.
Again, it is hard to fight a spiritual war when you don’t really know how your enemy operates.
One of the best ways we can war against him is to be obedient to Christ, to properly partake of the sacraments ourselves. To confess our sins, to regularly take communion with the saints, and to be baptized.
We can pray together for our neighbors and loved ones who are lost and hurting. We can model a life well-lived, one that demonstrates the beautiful fruits of baptism, communion, and life with God.
We can practice hospitality and invite them into our lives so they can see and smell and taste Christ in us.
We can live a life that sings to the world, “My only hope in life and death is that I am not my own but belong to God.”
Even though I didn’t directly quote all of them, a lot of thoughts in this post came from reading and listening to people like , Michael Knowles,
, Peter Kreeft, , , and others. It felt wrong not to mention them. Thank you for teaching me.Thank you so much for reading. If you read this and have a thought, please leave a comment here or email me (below). I would love to hear your thoughts.
jeffreycharlescaldwell@gmail.com
When someone uses the trans slogan “it’s who they truly are,” no one ever pauses here to ask the question “what do you mean when you say ‘they’.” I’ve discussed this in other posts but another way transgenderism is a twisted reformulation of religion is it offers a new (and false) anthropology, a new and false way of understanding what a person is. Someone who believes in transgenderism believes a person most truly is who they feel they are inside. This sharply contrasts to a traditional Christian anthropology that defines a person as a body-soul composite. Christianity has a high view of the body and believes your body has a lot to say about who you are.
Good work, Jeff! I love the usage of the Heidelberg Catechism and its inversion to make this point so clearly