Discarded Distinctions
In South Korea, a young man named Lee Jingyu [jing-you] recited his marriage vows before a local priest.
One of Jingyu’s friends said this about the groom: “He is completely obsessed . . . and takes it everywhere . . . They go out to the park or the funfair where it will go on all the rides with him. Then when he goes out to eat he takes it with him and it gets its own seat and its own meal.” The “it” this friend was referring to was Jingyu’s bride: a large, huggable pillow. This “marriage,” celebrated as just another expression of modern love, was between a man and his pillow. [1]
In Toronto, Stefonknee released an emotional video, explaining a recent decision to identify … as a six-year-old. “A year ago I was eight and [my adopted sister] was seven. [My sister] said to me: ‘I want you to be the little sister, so I’ll be nine.’ I said: ‘Well, I don’t mind going to six.’ So I’ve been six ever since.”
For 52 years before recording that video Stefonknee was known as Paul. Before identifying as a six-year-old girl, Paul and his wife had been married for 23 years and together they had raised seven children. [2]
In Belgium, a committee of doctors unanimously approved a treatment aimed to end the suffering of three patients, children ages 9, 11, and 17. Those in favor of this treatment celebrate it as “serene,” “peaceful,” “beautiful,” “dignified,” and “humane.”
This treatment, which claims to humanely end the suffering of children, is euthanasia. Belgium is the only country that authorizes assisted suicide for children of any age. At least for now.[3]
In New York, a team of lawyers and activists defends a 47-year-old client who has spent her entire adult life behind bars in the Bronx. Her attorneys argue that she’s being detained illegally and her personhood is being violated. Initially dismissed by lower courts, it was recently announced that the state’s Court of Appeals would hear her case.
Yes, Happy the Elephant will have her day in court. And if attorneys from the Nonhuman Rights Project get their way, her personhood rights will be recognized and she’ll be released from the Bronx Zoo.[4]
Each of these stories has a common theme. Each is an example of a discarded distinction.
Those suing on behalf of elephant personhood have discarded the distinction between humanity and the rest of creation.
Those celebrating euthanasia have discarded the distinction between life and death.
Those identifying as another gender have discarded the distinction between male and female.
Those marrying pillows, horses, or even members of the same sex have discarded the distinction between marriage and every other relationship.
Over the next five weeks we're going to examine how crucial it is to understand these divine distinctions.
Our goal is to build our lives on the firm foundation of God's Word, a foundation that begins right at the beginning of Scripture. I hope you’ll join us as we examine these distinctions together.