Dis-Integrated Discipleship: finding the answer for modern gender ideology
If you’re called to youth ministry, you’re stepping into the front lines of a rapidly shifting culture. To navigate this, one quality is non-negotiable: a passion for discipleship. Discipleship—a term frequently mentioned in church culture—is often misunderstood or reduced to attending services, serving on a team or simply knowing about Jesus. However, the Biblical model is far more demanding. And transformative.
In Matthew 28, Jesus gave us what is known as the Great Commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Here, the term “disciple” refers to a disciplined student or apprentice—someone actively shaped under the guidance of a teacher. Jesus didn’t call us to create passive followers, casual observers, or attendees; He called us to make disciples, people whose entire lives are transformed by walking with Him. Genuine discipleship is holistic, touching every aspect of our being—body, soul, and spirit—and placing it under Christ’s lordship.
Holistic Discipleship: Body, Soul, and Spirit
Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:23:
“May the God of peace sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This verse emphasizes that God is working to align all dimensions of our being. But whose responsibility is spiritual growth? Is it ours, or is it God’s? According to Paul, God sanctifies us—bringing proper alignment and integration to our spirit, soul, and body.
For discipleship to thrive, we must live as integrated beings, with our own spirit being led by the Holy Spirit. If the soul or body takes precedence, we risk distortion. To understand discipleship and to bring order in our lives, we have to understand the ordained role for each aspect of our personhood:
1. Spirit – Our spirit connects us to God, enabling us to live in relationship with Him.
2. Soul – The soul includes our mind, will, and emotions. It shapes how we perceive ourselves and the world.
3. Body – The body represents our physical presence and is integral to living and expressing ourselves.
Modern Challenges: Gnosticism and Gender Identity
Throughout history, humanity has struggled to maintain the God-designed integration of body, soul, and spirit. An example of a harmful, faulty ideology is Gnosticism, which devalued the body and prioritized the inner self—rejecting the material world as unimportant or evil.
Today, a similar mindset appears in modern gender theory, where one's inner identity can take precedence over physical reality. This often involves gender dysphoria, a genuine distress when one's perceived gender does not align with their biological sex. While real for some, dysphoria is distinct from the broader social movement of transgender ideology.
Statistics indicate that true gender dysphoria is rare. A 2021 survey by Statistics Canada reported that about 1 in 300 individuals over 15 identified as experiencing it. Despite its rarity, this issue has gained cultural attention, influenced by social contagion—the spread of behaviours or ideas through social influence.
As youth leaders, we must approach these issues with both clarity and compassion, walking in the steps of Jesus who was full of truth with grace, yet didn’t dodge matters.
Jesus’ Call to Self-Denial
Jesus speaks directly to the heart of identity in Luke 9:23-24:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
The word translated as life here is the Greek word psyche, and is the same word Paul uses for soul. Jesus calls us to deny our self-made perceptions of identity and instead take up His perspective. This denial isn’t self-loathing; it’s a reordering of our priorities.
In our culture, expressive individualism teaches that our inner feelings define who we are. This belief leads many to elevate their perception above any external reality, including their biological design or God’s intentions.
Yet Jesus calls us to surrender these self-defined identities and receive our true identity in Him. While it’s easy to connect this concept to transgenderism, the challenge of having a self-made identity is universal. Every person wrestles with misplaced priorities. Some elevate their physical appearance as the ultimate measure of value, while others idolize their intellect or emotions.
For those struggling with gender identity, the church’s response must be both truthful and compassionate. These individuals are image-bearers of God, experiencing the effects of a fallen world like everyone else. Rather than dismissing their struggles, we must point them to Jesus, who offers wholeness and freedom.
Discipleship as the Pathway to True Identity and Flourishing
Discipleship is the process of reordering our lives under God’s design. It calls us to:
1. **Surrender Our Souls** – Jesus asks us to submit our inner perceptions to His truth.
2. **Honour Our Bodies** – Scripture teaches that our physical selves are “temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
3. **Align with the Spirit** – By living under the Spirit’s leadership, we discover true freedom and fulfillment.
This path isn’t easy, but it is life-giving. As youth ministers, our role is to model this surrender and guide young people toward it.
Practical Steps to Help disciple the next generation
1. Deepen Your Understanding of Worldviews
Equip yourself with knowledge about modern identity challenges, including expressive individualism and social influences like social media. Recommended resources include: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Truman, Holy Sexuality and The Gospel by Christopher Yuan, and 5 Lies of our Anti-Christian Culture by Rosaria Butterfield.
2. Cultivate Compassionate Conversations
Approach every discussion with empathy and a commitment to listen. Focus on building trust and understanding before presenting Biblical truths.
3. Model Biblical Discipleship
Live out the integration and proper ordering of body, soul, and spirit in your own life. Show young people what it looks like to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, not allowing appetites or emotions to rule. Seek out mentorship in any of the areas that you know you are weak in. One of the best gifts you can give the people in your world is a ever-growing you.
Conclusion: Finding Our True Identity in Christ
In a culture often confused about identity, the church must convey a clear message: our true identity is in Christ. This involves addressing challenging topics like gender identity with both truth and grace, emphasizing the transformative power of the Gospel. In this mission we find clarity for today's challenges and the promise of true freedom, flourishing, and joy in living as God intended. As we disciple young people, we need to focus on making dedicated followers of Jesus, rather than promoting vogue ideas or trends.
This article is a part of a series by Bryan Pue, highlighting some of the content that is covered in our video resource: Youth Leader’s Course.
The Youth Leader’s Course is a free five-session video resource that will help anyone leading the next generation to be better equipped with Biblical confidence and clarity on matters of sexuality and identity. It is designed to be approached in a group setting and will be a great resource to take a team through. You can access the sessions and the discussion guide (released January 2025) here.
