Introduction 

I have recently learned there is a large portion of the human population that is neither fully male nor fully female. They were born intersex. These people are human, created to rule on the Earth along with every other human. They were born in rebellion against the creator, just like every other person. They need to surrender to King Jesus and have their human spirits resurrected just like every other believer. They have the need to gather with other believers, other people who love and follow Jesus. They need to be in ecclesia (church). So, what can intersex people do for church?

So Many Intersex People 

Many people are born with some variation between the XX (female) and XY (male) expressions of sexual chromosomes. Some are XY but cannot make use of testosterone to take on adult male characteristics. Some people are born with both XX and XY chromosomes. What their genitals and other parts of their bodies look like vary. Some people have both genitals in a variety of sizes. Some people express neither male nor female traits. 

All these people are about as numerous as redheads. None of them is transexual with gender dysphoria. Those are males and females who feel and believe they were born in bodies with the wrong sex.

Rejection of Intersex People by the Medical Establishment

In ancient times, intersexuals were acknowledged and sometimes honored. Over the last century or two, however, the medical establishment has rejected the notion of variations between males and females. They performed surgeries on babies to “correct abnormalities” in sexual organs. They told parents to raise these children as strictly male or female. These doctors gave parents no information about intersex children. They simply convinced parents to allow surgeries and to raise the children as the doctors assigned them. The babies were never consulted.

Rejection of Intersexuals in Society

These intersex children typically grew up hearing or were told as teens about their “abnormal” conditions. Often the parents told them to keep it a deep, dark secret. Certainly, they learned they could never have offspring. 

Culturally- raised girls were told they could never grow breasts, have periods, not become pregnant. Some culturally- raised boys discovered the opposite about themselves. This is an obstacle to fitting in, to feeling okay about themselves.

Rejected by Language

The English language has no neutral pronouns besides the impersonal “it”. This has caused intersexuals to adopt the plural “them”. This might work for some with multiple personalities, but it is wrong grammatically. I like the idea that some people use pronouns based on being a person. “Peh wants per name to be Kim. Peh wants the name Kim applied to perself. The name Kim is pers.”

Rejected by the Church

Because intersexuals struggle with being identified as male or female and seem to desire physical intimacy with someone of their apparent sex, an ignorant church assumes they are being homosexual or transgender. “We can’t have that among God’s people. It’s immoral.” 

Church leaders require these struggling people to conform to their culturally- mandated genders or be excluded. This is an obstacle for these people, people who are naturally as rebellious as the leaders. They, too, need to 

• surrender to King Jesus 
• receive Holy Spirit to renew their hearts and minds
• and gather with groups of God’s people for worship, fellowship, and the work of ministry.

What Can Intersex People Do for Church?

A return to the first- century model of gatherings is a good option for intersexuals. (Such can soon be read about in my Gathering of Misfits book series.) They can meet in twos or threes with significant others who are believers. They can meet with their families or small groups to seek God and declare His truths and His will to the principalities and powers. They can meet with other groups or families in neighborhood gatherings and ever- larger assemblies.

Benefits of Meeting with God’s People 

Intersexuals can learn many things from in- depth study of the Bible.

The Creator did not make mistakes when He caused them to be born intersexual. He has unique purposes for their unique circumstances.

However badly their earthly fathers treated them, intersex people can learn about Father God’s wonderful love for them. That love is written throughout the Bible in His love for the Patriarchs, the people of Israel, and the Jews and Gentiles who became believers in Jesus.

The loving Savior calls on all His people to love and accept all people in spite of their circumstances and behaviors. They are to intercede before the throne of God for people to 

• know the Father’s love 

• surrender to King Jesus 

• and have their hearts and minds changed by Holy Spirit.

God’s people are to declare His will to the powers of darkness that deceive individuals, the people of society, and the power leaders of social institutions and movements.