By the time the Church began to address the rise of “gender dysphoria,” I had already viewed what was beyond the curtain of this movement. I had heard, “It’s as if someone snatched my child and exchanged her for someone else.” Parents searching the eyes of their child, hoping to get a glimpse of the person they once knew. Conveying, “He’s not the same person.” That child who was previously in good relationship now despises his/her parents for simply not yielding to the demands of a belief system.   

The change is usually gradual though seemingly sudden. It takes time to grow. And that “sin when it is fully grown” (James 1:14) can eventually resemble the man of Mark 5.  

“He lives among the tombs.” (v.3)

The individual spends much time in the dark tomb of the internet. The living space eventually becomes dark – drapes pulled, decor darkening, with an accumulation of light-blocking clutter. 

“No one could bind him anymore.” (v.3)

Human reasoning and knowledge has no power over the rebellion and spiritual darkness. Not only does he reject truth but attempts to break it into pieces as the demon possessed man broke the shackles and wrenched the chains.  

“No one had the strength to subdue him.” (v.4)

No therapist. No pharmacist. No surgeon. No lawmaker. It never seems to be enough. 

“Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out…” (v.5)

He rages online and screams in protest inside and out. 

“Cutting himself.” 

If not the self inflicted cuts, he does so through the purchasing of body cutting alterations. 

“My name is Legion, for we are many.” (v.9)

The birth name is cast off and a new name is chosen to accommodate the destructive belief system. The pronoun “they,” is often used for the unknown, the confusion and the chaos.  

Then Jesus made way for this man’s true “coming out” and people came to see. 

“And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.” (v.15)

Here we read of the amazing transforming power of Jesus! Being “clothed and in his right mind” suggests the man was previously naked, a picture of sexual perversion. Here he is now clothed, seated, harmless, quiet, among the living and at peace. And he became the first person Jesus sent out to proclaim His name!

““Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you. And how He has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.” (v.19)

Praying for this great mercy on our captured sons and daughters. In Jesus name, Amen.