Can The Wrong Authority Get It Right?

The loudest arguments about gender identity and sexuality usually start at the surface, but the real conflict sits underneath: who gets to define what’s true. We take you into the opening message of the Divine Design series and ask the questions that shape every other answer: What is a human being? What is reality? How do we know right from wrong? And why do so many people, including many Christians, end up treating the self as the highest authority?

We look at how quickly transgender ideology moved to the center of public life, using the 2015 Caitlin Jenner moment as a cultural turning point. From social media gender options to schools and public policy, the pace forces practical, personal questions for parents, pastors, and anyone trying to love people who are confused or hurting: Can a man become a woman? When should children be confronted with these debates? Where do these feelings come from, and what does real help look like?

From there, we zoom out to worldview and decision-making. We break down the three things every heart is hunting for, whether we admit it or not: a source of authority, a source of knowledge, and a source of trustworthiness. And we argue that Genesis 1:1 is not a throwaway line. If God is Creator, he has the right to define his creation, including our bodies, our identity, and God’s design for marriage. Most importantly, we explain why the Creator is not only powerful but trustworthy, pointing to the gospel of Jesus Christ in John 3:16 as the clearest proof of God’s love. If you want clearer thinking, steadier conviction, and more compassion in a chaotic moment, start here. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the biggest question you want answered next.

Transcript

Welcome And Series Theme

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Welcome to Foundations of Truth, the biblical teaching ministry of Dr. Timothy Mann. Our mission is to help you build your life on the unshakable foundation of God's Word, rooted in Scripture, anchored in the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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The topic we're calling divine design: gender, sexuality, marriage, and the Bible. And there are other issues that will connect to that in a number of ways. Addressing the subject of how you arrive at the answer matters. How you arrive at the answer matters. And you'll see what I mean in

Key Scriptures For Authority And Trust

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a little bit. This morning I'm going to be topical in my approach and may be doing some of that throughout this series, meaning I'll be taking certain scriptures from God's Word to address the subject. I will do my dead level best by God's mercy and grace and the leadership of the Holy Spirit to be very biblical in context as I do this. Genesis chapter 1, verse 1. Genesis chapter 1, verse 1. The Bible says, In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now turning your Bibles to the New Testament Gospel of John. The book of John. John chapter 3. John chapter 3, verse 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Now would you turn with me back to the Old Testament, the Old Testament book of Proverbs. Proverbs. It's in kind of the middle of the Old Testament. Proverbs chapter 3. Proverbs chapter 3, verse 5 and 6. The Bible says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Back to the New Testament. James. It's in the latter part of the New Testament, after the big book of Hebrews. James chapter 1. James chapter 1, verse 25. The Bible says, but he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Caitlin Jenner And A Cultural Flashpoint

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You might remember, you might very well remember the first time that you heard that Bruce Jenner didn't want to be Bruce anymore. You may remember that. It was in 2015. It was in 2015 when Jenner, an Olympic champion, an American hero, and the stepfather of the famous Kardashians, he was interviewed by Diane Sawyer about his experience as a man who lived with a deep secret. Through much of his life, although he was revered as a model of athleticism and masculinity. I mean, this is the guy who made Wheaties famous. This is the guy who started the tradition of taking the American flag from an observer in the stands and running with it. How many of you remember that? Through much of his life, modeled athleticism and masculinity. Bruce Jenner believed he was really a woman. He defined himself, he defined himself as being transgender. Now, if you've seen any of the interview, and I've watched the interview, if you've seen any of that interview, you actually see someone who is desperately unable to find peace. Someone who is still seeking self-acceptance and attention. Despite possessing great wealth and great celebrity. Well, fast forward a few months from that interview, and Bruce Jenner made a surprise appearance on the front cover of Vanity Fair. He was posing provocatively and copying what you see on the covers of magazines at the checkout at the grocery store. You know what I'm talking about? The magazine cover was an act of self-revelation. He was signaling a transition to fully identify as and live as a woman. The cover proclaimed, and you may remember this, call me Caitlin. The picture really is now famous. This man who had been married three times and fathered six children was now a super celebrity and cultural icon once again. Caitlin Jenner was created. And the message to the world was clear. Men can just become women if they feel or perceive themselves to be women. Or vice versa. And you'll remember this, the media could not get enough. So much so that ultimately Jenner then starred in a new reality TV show, documenting his process. The question of being transgender has moved to the front of the culture at incredibly fast pace. I mean, ten years ago, it was a topic that really barely registered on most people's radars. And now and suddenly, gender identity became and has become the most fashionable so-called social justice issue of our day. Now, I don't know what you think, but to me, 2015 seems like eons ago now. Social media accounts, meaning Facebook, Twitter, all the rest. Social media accounts actually offer multiple gender options for members. States like New York are finding citizens who fail to use preferred pronouns of transgender citizens. Teachers are reading first graders books in school that promote transgenderism. Transgender individuals are now holding church denominational leadership positions. Transgender individuals are appointed to cabinet positions in presidential administrations. And it's happened fast. So fast. There has to be answers to questions like can a man become a woman?

The Questions Gender Debates Raise

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Can a woman become a man? How and when should children be confronted with the debates about gender? What are we to do with children and teenagers who are a member of one biological sex but think and feel and maybe have even been convinced as though they were born in the wrong body? And what are we to say to someone experiencing these feelings and desires? And where do these feelings and desires even come from? We'll be addressing same-sex issues before long in this series. And how can we love and help someone in our lives who is deeply confused and hurting in these ways? All these questions have to have answers. These questions go deeper than just simply what we understand by gender. They go to what we understand by humanity, who we are, how we got here, and what it means to be human, and what role, if any, God plays in that. We have to reach deep enough to understand what authority is, how you understand what is true, and why the source of what you believe is trustworthy. We have to reach deep enough to answer those questions. Do you really believe what you believe is really real? I want to say that again. Sounds confusing, doesn't it? Do you really believe what you believe is really real? And see, that's a question that leads to other big questions. Like, what is reality? What is a human being? What is the nature of the world around us? What happens to a person at death? Why is it possible to know anything at all? How do we know what is right? How do we know what is wrong? And by the way, we all answer those questions. We all answer those questions. We may do it with a great deal of angst, we may do it with a great deal of heart searching, or we may do it unconsciously without even knowing it, but we do it. We answer those questions. And those questions require us to evaluate our worldview. They actually require us to unearth the deepest, our deepest convictions about the world, about our purpose, and about morality.

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Thank you for listening to Foundations of Truth with Dr. Timothy Mann. You know, everyday believers face increasing pressure to conform to the values of a culture that often rejects biblical authority. And that's why ministries like Foundations of Truth are so important. Through your prayers and financial support, this teaching ministry continues proclaiming God's truth with clarity and conviction. Would you help us continue this mission? To give securely online, visit firm-foundations.org. That's firm-foundations.org. And thank you so much for helping us stand for truth in a world desperately searching for answers. Now let's get back to today's message from the Divine Design Series. Here's Dr. Timothy Mann.

What A Worldview Really Is

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A worldview, if you don't know what a worldview is, and I could give you lengthy scholarly definitions. I read several this week. They sound a little confusing to me. A worldview is really nothing more and nothing less than the sum of our beliefs that we hold at the deepest level of our being. That's really what it is. It's the sum of our beliefs that we hold at the deepest level of who we are, either consciously or unconsciously. And it usually speaks to about where the ultimate meaning of reality is found. And every person on earth has a worldview. Every person in this room has a worldview. Every single person on earth has a worldview. You don't have the luxury of not having a worldview. You have one. And you know when yours surfaces, when it pops up? Our worldview comes to the surface whenever we need to decide how to live in some way. When you're making a decision about how to live your life in some way, that's when your worldview surfaces. Every single time. I mean, this is a fair question. How do you and I work out what is right and what is wrong in terms of our actions and in terms of our beliefs? How do we work that out? Especially, and particularly when faced with big decisions that we may only get one shot at making. And ultimately in finding the answer to those things, you are looking for a source of authority.

Authority Knowledge And Trust Tests

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Let me put it another way. You're looking for this. Who has the right to tell me what to do? That's what you're looking for. Who has the right to tell me what to do? You're also looking for a source of knowledge. In other words, let me put it this way. Who knows what's best for me? Who knows what's best for me? And then you're also looking for a source of trustworthiness. In other words, who loves me and wants what's best for me? You're always looking for that. Who has the right to tell me what to do? Who is it that knows what's best for me? And who is it that actually loves me and wants what's best for me? And here's what I've noticed. If you find a person or you find an institution or you find a particular book that offers you those three, that's where you'll turn to make decisions. I'll tell you what's happened many times over the last uh decades that I've now pastored a local church, and it's happened in all four churches now that I've pastored. Someone will come to me, and uh they'll have a question on their mind. They're making a decision, they're about to go a particular direction in their life, and they'll come to me and they'll really have a question mark in their mind about it, and that is usually a good sign. And they'll come and say, Pastor, here's what's going on, here's what I'm thinking. Uh I know I've been taught this, or I've heard the Bible says this, but what do you think about it? And you know what? They're really not looking for my opinion. They're really not looking for what I think about it. They're not even really wanting to know what the Bible has to say about it. Nine times out of ten, what they're looking for is permission to do whatever it is they're thinking about. They want permission. Because they're looking for a basis of authority, they're looking for a basis of knowledge, they're looking for a basis of trustworthiness that lines up with what they want. And what's now, today, we have there's lots of options today for how people will answer those questions. Many people answer these questions by appealing to their family, or by appealing to their political associations, or by appealing to entertainment, the entertainment world, their friends, their feelings, even their religion, or some religious leader, and that doesn't always turn out too good either, by the way. Or science, or even heroes they have, idols.

The Ice Cream Authority Example

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I mean, think of think of the everyday choices we make all the time. And let's use a familiar example, at least one for me. This is a familiar example for me, and it's this how do I decide whether to have ice cream? I like ice cream. How do I decide whether to have ice cream? Well, I could choose to listen to my feelings. And you know what my feelings tell me? My feelings are telling me that right now it would be great to taste ice cream. Every day, my feelings tell me it would be great to taste ice cream. Almost any flavor. I'd like it. I could listen to my feelings, or I could listen to my reason. I'm wanting to lose a few pounds, and so I shouldn't have any ice cream. Or I could I could place the basis for my decision in the way my parents brought me up, or the pressure of the culture today, which says, too much sugar is bad for you, so I need to pass on eating ice cream. Or it could even be a religious thing. Maybe I'm in a religion that requires me to fast at certain times of the year. And if I'm going to be strict and follow my religious tradition, I might say, well, I'm fasting right now and I need to stay away from the ice cream. And so, in that decision alone, there are a host of different sources of authority that I could choose to listen to. My feelings, reason, my family, my upbringing, culture, or even my religious tradition. And that's that's just whether to eat ice cream. Just eating ice cream. Now you might say to me, Pastor, what does that, any of that really have to do with sexuality and gender issues? Well, here's the thing. If we differ in our answer to the source of authority, to the source of knowledge, to the source of trust in our decision making, if we differ in those areas, then we shouldn't be surprised if we're actually miles apart once we reach our destination. Once we reach our decision on a particular issue, particular belief, or particular action.

The Rise Of Self As Authority

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There has been a crisis of authority building over the last 60 years. It has reached a crescendo. Abuse, scandal, and rebellion have been the order of the day for the last several decades. And so where are we to look for a trustworthy, knowledgeable authority? So the answer is me. Myself. That's where I'm to look. Myself. I mean, it seems so obvious, doesn't it? I mean, who has more right to tell me how to live than me? Who knows me better than me? Who can I trust more to want what's best for me than me? And you know what's so surprising and so jarring is many professing Christians think this way. Our churches are filled pervasively with people who think this way. And the world system agrees with that, by the way. Because that is the world system. The sexual revolution. If you don't know what that is, you've not been paying attention for the last 60 years, which basically the motto of the 1960s was if it feels good, do it. Whatever it is, with whomever, whenever you want. Marriage doesn't matter. Go for it. And so the sexual revolution tells me that the highest goal is self-fulfillment through following my feelings. And relativism makes it possible for me to pursue those goals without anyone being allowed to say, no, that's wrong. You can't say that. Because this is my truth. So what do we do? Well, we decide, usually, according to our reason, or more normally, our feelings. Or both. I mean, think about how often you hear others say of a decision or an opinion. Well, I feel like, or I think that. Maybe

Why Feelings And Reason Fail

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you even catch yourself saying this all the time as well. Well, this is how I feel. This is what I think. It's so much a part of the prevailing culture that we don't even hardly notice it. The problem with that is this. The problem is that we've all acted on our feelings in a way that we later regretted. Can I get a witness? We can all, when we think about it, when we're honest about it. Look, if you're honest, if you're a liar, you know where liars go. Washington. No, I'm kidding. The Bible says they go to hell. We can all, if we're honest about it, if we think about it, we can point to moments when we did something that not only did not improve us or fulfill us, but it actually did the reverse. We've all reasoned something out. We've all acted on logic and then found out that what seemed so reasonable wasn't. Am I telling the truth in here this morning? Yeah, so it turns out that self is not such a good place to look to for authority. Self is not such a good place to look to for knowledge. Self is not such a good place to look to for trustworthiness.

Creation Grounds God’s Authority

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The Bible tells of a different story. For it gives a different script on where, on which to understand where to look for perfect authority, for perfect knowledge, and for perfect trustworthiness. The very first line of the Bible that we read a little bit ago is familiar to most, but it is no less fundamental. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. If you get that wrong, you get everything else wrong. You are not a product of chance. You are not a this world is not an accident. I don't know about you. But I just don't have enough faith to be an atheist. I don't have enough faith to be an evolutionist. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. This world has a creator. And what is made belongs to its maker. So the creator has authority. What is made is best known by its maker. And so the creator has knowledge. And since I'm a part of the creation and alive still today within creation, the creator, God, has the right to tell me what to do. And he has the knowledge necessary, always, to understand what I should do. In other words, what is best for me and for the world? There is a creator, ladies and gentlemen. There's a creator, and he is all powerful, he is all knowing, and he is all wise. But alone, that does not mean that he is good.

The Crucified Creator You Can Trust

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So why should you and I trust our creator to tell us what is really best for us because of what he has done for his world that he created. For God so loved the world that he created. Even though it's fallen, even though it rebelled mankind. That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. There is a creator who can be trusted to know what is truly best for you. He wants your best so much that he came in the person of his son, Jesus Christ, and he died for you to pay the debt of your sin. The Bible tells us of a crucified creator. I want you to understand this morning that God loves you much more than your mother loves you. God loves you much more than your father loves you. God loves you much more than your spouse loves you. God loves you much more than your children love you. God loves you much more than that person you're in love with. Hey, God loves you more than you love yourself. That's why you can trust him.

Closing Summary And Resources

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Throughout this introduction, we've seen that God's design for gender, sexuality, and marriage begins with God's authority. If we misunderstand the creator, we'll inevitably misunderstand his creation. Next time, Dr. Mann will continue building a biblical foundation for these critical issues and help us see how God's design reflects both his wisdom and his love. Until then, remember that truth is not determined by culture, opinion, or personal preference. Truth is revealed by God in his word, the Bible. For Dr. Timothy Mann and all of us here at Foundations of Truth on Dallas Reese, thank you for joining us today. And remember, when God's truth becomes the foundation of your life, you'll always have a place to stand. If you'd like to hear this message again or get more biblical resources, visit us online, firm-foundations.org. That's firm-foundations.org.

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Before we close today, I want to tell you about a resource that I believe will be a genuine help to you. I've recently published my first book, Save, Understanding God's Work in Us. In over 30 years of pastoral ministry, one of the questions I've encountered more than almost any other is this: How can I know that I am truly saved? It is a question that deserves a careful biblical answer. And that is exactly what this book is designed to give. If you want to understand salvation more deeply, stand on firmer ground in your faith, or be better equipped to share the gospel with someone you love, then this book was written for you. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes Noble, and Books A Million, and pretty much anywhere you buy books. I pray it strengthens your faith. Thanks for being with us today. God bless you.