What I Learned From the Struggle Over Bill 23-07,
Montgomery County’s Gender Identity Bill

—from the pen of Pastor Charles P. Schmitt, D.Min, D.D.

First of all, in the midst of the struggle over Bill 23-07, the Lord spoke to me that “we cannot save the world, only the people that are in it!” The world is, always has been, and always will be at cross currents with the will of God (John 15:18). But thank God for people in the world who can be snatched as brands from the fire and saved (Jude 22)! Our primary mandate, therefore, is not to win arguments, but to “shine like the stars in the universe as [we] hold out the Word of Life … in a crooked and depraved generation” (Philippians 2:15-16).

Secondly, others were undoubtedly disappointed that Bill 23-07 was unanimously approved by the County Council on November 13th, but I could see something encouraging in it. The Washington Post reported, “Late last week, in response to the outcry [and we added our voices to that outcry …] Trachtenberg (D-At Large) agreed to pull an amendment to the bill that would have specified restrooms and locker rooms as public accommodations in which an individual could choose a room based on the gender identity that the person ‘publicly and exclusively expressed.’ [This would have meant that a man who believed he really should have been a woman would have had access to women’s restrooms, showers and dressing rooms!] Taking out this proposed amendment, according to the county attorney’s office and Council staff, would allow employees to maintain ‘current gender-based restrictions’ on such public facilities.” Now, I do believe that was a modest victory—at least one that I was personally looking for and believing for! On the eve of the Council’s final meeting, I emailed each of them and County Executive Ike Leggett as well: “I wish to explicitly state that I, myself, as Senior Pastor of Immanuel’s Church … along with our Pastors, Ministers and Deacons, Staff and the thousands who are part of our church, oppose the passage of this Bill unless ‘restrooms, showers and locker rooms’ are clearly excluded … The right to modesty, safety, and privacy of the absolute majority of our citizens must be protected by you, whom we have voted into office….” So I do thank God for modest gains!

Finally, The Gazette, in an article dated November 14, described some of the behavior during this decisive Council Meeting. One item especially caught my eye. According to The Gazette, one man shouted out in the Council meeting that transgendered persons were “freaks of nature.” That kind of abusive language against transgendered persons is exactly what this bill was seeking to outlaw! And I personally believe that such protective legislation is not unwarranted!

Peter instructs us in his letter—“Show proper respect to everyone. Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King” (1 Peter 2:17). While the holy law of God forbids us from sanctioning sinful behavior on the one hand, the clear mandate of Scripture requires us to “show proper respect to everyone…” on the other hand. The KJV, true to the original Greek, translates this statement, “Honor all (men) ….” The Amplified states: “Show respect for all men—treat them honorably.” The Living Bible reads: “Show respect for everyone.” The Message reads: “Treat everyone you meet with dignity.” The NIV footnote adds this valuable insight—“Respect everyone, because every human being bears the image of God.”

While we cannot condone the gay and lesbian lifestyles of some and the adulterous and drunken lifestyles of others, and while we cannot condone what the abortionist does, we can yet respect and honor every one of these that we meet and treat them all with dignity! And how is that possible? We can see in every fallen soul, however marred that one may be, the image of our awesome God! And we can see, by the eye of the Spirit, what they can become by the saving grace of our God. (The same amazing grace that saved us!) Disrespect and bigotry will always close otherwise open hearts; and so we may win arguments, but we will lose souls.

I mused over the response I received from Councilman Marc Elrich’s office—“Thank you for your letter. Unlike many hateful letters the Council has received on this bill, your thoughtful letter … qualified your objections to the … bill ….” I do want to be a man who is thoughtful and not hateful, who sees the image of God—as marred as it may be—in everyone, and who believes that in all situations we need not “be overcome by evil,” but that we can “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Please join me in this! Amen!