In Romans 1, Paul discusses the spiritual darkness that descends upon people when they reject what is right before their eyes. Much of the discussion deals with Creation and the created order. Creation itself shouts out that there is a Creator and that there are established sexual boundaries. Throughout history, however, mankind has denied these self-evident truths. Paul states that because they have rejected the light of truth, “their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom 1:21).

It is impossible to miss how this is being played out right before our eyes in today’s world. Probably the clearest example of this darkness involves one of Paul’s main points, which is sexuality. Today we’re told that a boy can become a girl and a girl can become a boy. Immutable characteristics can be changed, even though it has been understood throughout history that they cannot.

And we see the results of such foolishness. If a man says he’s a woman, he can swim in competition with women and even be nominated for “Woman Swimmer of the Year.” Men can use the bathroom facilities for women and can even shower with them. A man convicted of a crime can insist that he’s a woman, be housed in a women’s prison, and share a cell with a woman. When women in that prison become pregnant, we are not to ask how that could possibly have happened.

But the lunacy grows. The darkness has descended on our highest levels of government. In governmental jobs, a man who says he’s a woman must be treated as a woman, and a woman who says she’s a man must be treated as such. Medical doctors and other experts declare before Congress that men can, indeed, become pregnant. A judge nominated for the highest judicial position in the United States can state before our leaders that she doesn’t know what a woman is because it’s open to interpretation. Our leaders can then praise her for expressing such wisdom and understanding. It is considered a great day in our history when she is seated in that position, impacting the lives of millions of people.

To paraphrase Paul, things sure look dark. There are people around us who can’t see the obvious. Up is down and down is up.

But I recently saw a ray of light in this area. I’ve been associated with the military my whole life, and this glimmer of light came from that sector. The armed forces are having trouble meeting their recruitment goals. We don’t have enough soldiers, sailors, or airmen. The world is a dangerous place, and some are saying we could be in a world war in the near future. Our deficiencies in the military could have catastrophic consequences.

When a man turns 18, he must register with the government so that, in case of a national emergency, our young men can be called up to defend the nation. Women do not have to register. Even though women have played a major role in our wars, men, for obvious reasons, have carried the brunt of the fighting. In the case of a major conflict, many more men than women will be needed.

But what about a man who says he’s a woman–a transgender woman? Considering all that’s being said today, he is, indeed, a woman. And a woman doesn’t have to register for the military draft. That would seem like a cut and dried case, should it be tested before the Supreme Court.

But my friends in the military have said, “No.” The government maintains that in this case, a man is a man. You cannot change that by saying you’re a woman. Everybody who was born a man must register. Transgender women must register.

What about transgender men, that is, women who say they’re men? Do they need to register? Nope. The military maintains that a woman is a woman and hence doesn’t have to register. See here for the full story.

Of course, this is inconsistent. It is hypocritical. A cynic like myself would look at what is going on and conclude that folks are saying a man can be a woman unless we really need him to be a man. All those who say that a man can be a woman, and that we cannot define what a woman is, are trolling us. They realize that their positions are ridiculous. They only say what they say for political or financial purposes. However, when the rubber meets the road–when something serious arises–they fall back on what they know to be the truth.

There is another option, however. Maybe those people do believe what they say. They really do operate in darkness. But every now and then, a ray of light from the witness of Creation or from their conscience can break through with a sliver of understanding.

Are they trolling hypocrites, or is some light of truth able to break through the darkness every now and then? I don’t know. Maybe there are both types of people.