This question concerns the condition of being a hermaphrodite—a female born with male genitalia, or with ambiguous genitalia. This is a birth defect, and it’s a very sensitive and complex issue, particularly in our current era, where there’s an emphasis on choosing one’s gender identity. I’ll address that shortly.

The primary question is: how do you care for a child with any type of birth defect? The answer is that you approach it as you would any other form of suffering. First, we recognize that the child is made in the image of God, which gives them inherent value before the Lord. Advances in science now allow us to use DNA tests to determine if the child is biologically male or female. While biology is foundational, being a boy or girl also relates to roles that we play. In a Christian family, if they are raising a child with this birth defect, there may be medical support available. They can raise the child to embrace the biological sex that they are.

It’s important to distinguish between sex and gender here. Sex refers to how God made us, while gender is a more modern, flexible term often used to suggest choice. Spiritually, we treat this as we would any birth defect, such as a missing limb or a disability that presents challenges in life. In all such situations, we trust in God’s sovereignty, working through challenges with faith in the Lord.

To be clear, this is not a reason to base one’s identity on feelings, such as “feeling like a boy” or “feeling like a girl.” We are called to live in a way that submits to God’s Word.

Interestingly, Jesus addresses a related topic in Matthew 19, where He uses the term “eunuch”—a general term that can mean someone with missing parts. Jesus connects this condition to the freedom to serve the Lord. Similarly, Paul in 1 Corinthians 7 refers to single people who are free from the commitments of marriage and thus able to devote themselves more fully to God.

What would I say to someone born with a genital defect? First, recognize that they, like all of us, are in need of salvation and should come to faith in Christ. Second, they should trust the Lord to guide them through this difficulty, as we all have forms of suffering in life. This challenge, like any other, can strengthen faith. Third, they should commit themselves to serving the Lord, perhaps living a single life if marriage is not feasible, just as one would with any other disability or difficulty.

In summary, viewing this condition as a unique or special form of suffering isn’t helpful. It is part of living in a fallen world, and we walk through it by faith.