The ‘war’ on truth and Children?
Written by HR, Secondary Science teacher and ACT member. All views are the author’s own.
“Us Science teachers have an easier job than those in some other subjects – we deal in facts; there are few aspects of science that are based on what emotion you are currently experiencing. (Incidentally, this should also be true for our faith, as Alistair Begg essentially says in one of my most-watched YouTube clips: ‘don’t ask me how I feel, ask me what I know about God.’)
So when one of the boys at 9am on a Monday morning a few weeks ago asked “sir, how many genders are there?”, my job was surprisingly easy:
“Can you define gender for me?” I replied. Silence.
“Is it anything to do with biological sex?” I asked. He shrugged.
“Is it a feeling?” Finally he conceded “I suppose so.”
“Well, this is Science – we do facts, not feelings”, paraphrasing a certain internet personality, and proving I’m not a morning person!
However, I was surprised that, rather than being offended by this (somewhat grouchy) response, he and the class were satisfied with it and we continued with the lesson (on…electricity). Yet it was more than that; they seemed to appreciate someone having a straight answer to the question(s) about identity they are pummelled with, day and night.
Children are vulnerable, but especially as teenagers. They’re constantly trying to figure it all out: who they are, what makes them special, and how they fit into the world. This is far easier if they know Jesus, for they know they are:
- Made in His image; fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139v14) – not just a chaotic collection of molecules.
- Accepted by Jesus (Romans 15v7) – they don’t have to be ‘good enough’ for Him.
- Adopted into God’s family as a son or daughter (Ephesians 1v5) – their identity is found in Him!
Instead of looking for the answers inside of us, we can look up to the One who knew us and loved us before the world began!
Is it any wonder then that teenagers who don’t have this firm foundation will latch onto the most bizarre ideas that promise to be the answer to the dissatisfaction and dysphoria they might experience? The tragedy is that these ideas don’t come from inside schools or from the children themselves, but from outside influences, with TikTok currently leading the assault. Adults who have fallen for the lie (and found that it fails to satisfy) now spend significant resources trying to convince children of the same lie in an effort to either justify their mistake or share their misery. And many believe it.
“It’s not hurting anyone…so long as the child is happy” are often heard in response to any questioning of this ideology. However, if a child in school decides to skip lessons, he (or she) is quickly sorted out. If one starts visiting questionable websites on a school computer, the response is swift! Is the child hurting anyone? Are they happy? Why is it that children very rarely know is best for them, but when it comes to questioning what body they’re born in, schools defer to their judgement? Anyone who says anything like the above is ignorant of the horrendous, irreversible damage that can be done to the body of someone who wishes they were something else; they are unaware of the proportion of those who take their own life when the promises fail; they have not heard the testimonies of those who deeply regret falling for the lie and are trying to warn others (these are very rarely publicised of course); they do not understand the implications for an already confused and lost society.
If you are still on the fence, Google ‘phalloplasty’, and see what some ‘doctors’ are willing to do to a girl who wants to be a boy (only if you have a very strong stomach).
Personally, these ideas can no longer be ignored or tolerated, especially when children are caught in their long march. Surely it is something that our schools are protecting them from, right? Sadly, you know this is not the case; rather, they are actively encouraging, supporting and promoting it. Even the NEU recently called for more drag queens to be invited into schools.
My school has taken a fairly neutral stance on these issues in the past, but various flags striped flags appeared overnight in the building this Easter, permanently, to signal that the school supports…well, all of it, unquestioningly. Some people I’ve turned to have advised “by staying, you are a part of it”; others: “you’ll be replaced by someone who supports these ideas” and “don’t go looking for fight”. The thing is: I just wanted to teach science to God’s glory – this fight definitely found me.
The frog in boiling water analogy comes to mind – if we continue to work for a system that is overtly anti-God and arguably anti-children, then at some point it might be too late. "Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth, sooner or later that debt is paid" to quote Valery Legasov. For many children, it already is too late; if this all carries on, there will be many for whom the grave debt will continue to grow. Ask yourself: “If I’d known schools would end up teaching that boys could become girls, would I have become a teacher?”.
When delivering some crucial castor sugar for one of her wonderful cakes the day before I wrote this, my Granny helpfully read me her Spurgeon devotional for that morning, from Hebrews 13v13: “Jesus, bearing His cross, went to suffer outside the gate. The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be isolated, but because Jesus did so;… In the same way, Christ’s people must “go to him.” They must take their position “outside the camp,” as witness-bearers for the truth… A moment’s shame will be well rewarded by eternal honour; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are forever with the Lord.”
There will soon come a time for every one of us when we will have to face such a decision; for me, it seems to be now. If we as God’s people aren’t taking a stand for the truth and for children, who will?
Written by HW, Secondary Science teacher and ACT member