GENDER INCLUSIVITY IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS
A major study published last month in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that the majority (58%) of female athletes support the idea that participants should be categorized by biological sex, rather than gender identity. The study is the largest of its kind, and it reports the opinions of 175 national, elite, and world-class female athletes from a range of sports and countries, including 22 Olympians. Respondents were largely (81%) in favor of more inclusivity for transgender athletes in general. However, women athletes in contact or strength-based sports tended to believe (77%) that participants should be segregated by gender assigned at birth. Opinions differed when less was at stake or when the athletes were past their peak competitiveness (those athletes tended to be more tolerant of inclusion). This was a large, peer-reviewed, statistical survey of opinions. Governing bodies are expected to refer to it when establishing rules and procedures.
EQUAL BEFORE GOD
In today’s passage, Paul says that, when it comes to our standing before God, all humans are in the same position of having fallen short of God’s standard. Being Jewish or Gentile makes no difference in this calculation. All people have sinned and need God’s forgiveness, but everyone has also been offered the opportunity to be justified through faith in Christ Jesus.
Questions
- How can or should Christ’s command to love our neighbor be applied to the issue of gender identity?
- What are some sports or other activities where a gross mismatch of strength or ability is a problem?
- How can we remember that our salvation depends on God’s mercy, not our position or personal qualifications?
