This Is Nonsense, Says the Watchman: Trans Figure Skater’s Performance in the European Championship Is an Embarrassment to God’s Creation

A 59-year-old male Finnish farmer, Markku-Pekka Antikainen, took up figure skating at age 50, declared himself trans, and has now performed under the female name "Minna-Maaria" at the opening ceremony of the European Figure Skating Championship.  Finland was proud to announce that they would be including the world's "first trans figure skater" at the proceedings, only to discover Markku could not skate.

Previous warnings that the trans "athlete" may not be qualified for the event were present, but strangely, ignored.  Markku has competed before with similar results.  However, he received higher marks from judges for his routines anyway, likely due to his trans status.  Take a look at this routine, in which Markku dresses up as a Gisha, stumbles about and yet still gets a 2nd place score

Similar to the way in which children competitors are sometimes given special treatment because judges are afraid to hurt their feelings, the culture of participation trophies and special allowances for trans participants is slowly erasing competitive environments and turning athletics into a joke.

The debate over male athletes competing in female sports while claiming to be women is often more about the inherent genetic differences between the sexes and the clear advantages men have.  In this case, the debate is about trans participants being given chances they don't deserve simply because they say they are trans.

At bottom, the greater conflict is over what constitutes reality.  Though Markku is a non-athlete given license to pretend he belongs in an arena with champions, other men with biological advantages are given license to pretend they are women while destroying women's sports and dominating in every field.

One ultimately has to wonder if any of this is about social "dignity" or so-called equity?  Perhaps it is actually meant to be nothing more than a mockery of human excellence and truth; an attempt to tear down all notions of merit while forcing the public to act as if they believe men can be women or that the mediocre can be extraordinary?  Perhaps all of this is an exercise in forcing the populace to see something that is not really there and to participate in the big lie?

Watchman believes that if we do not teach our children about gender and sexuality, our unbiblical culture will. Disobedient culture-makers are persuasive, powerful, and eager to indoctrinate our youngsters. Fathers and mothers must recommit to teaching their children the scriptural worldview so that they do not adopt the cultural one.

We must provide compassion and urge for repentance. We must reach out to people who have been cursed by Adam's Fall in the same way that we have. We may have a visceral reaction to sin and its consequences, but this reaction must never silence our impulse to provide mercy to the lost. Transgender people will become more common in our neighborhoods and communities. We have a choice: sinfully avoid them, or reach out to them in love and conviction and evangelize them (see Matthew 9:10–13).

Conversion for transgender people will not be sleek and tidy. It will be a shambles. It will entail admitting that sin has corrupted us in every fiber of our existence (Isaiah 64:6). But the gospel is more powerful than sin. Christ's death cleanses us, and Christ's resurrection provides us new life. The Resurrection both elevated Christ's spirit and regenerated His body.

Pastors should speak about how the Resurrection affects everyone, including transgender persons. Faith has far-reaching repercussions for our bodies. Repentance for transgender people will entail embracing their God-given gender and abandoning whatever wicked identity they have chosen. 6

Conclusion
Many of us have been enchanted by the talking animals of Walt Disney films and cultural culture. However, a Disneyfied concept of narcissistic self-determination has not served us well. The culture has presented us with a false gospel, one that approves of everything we do and allows us to pursue whatever we choose.

The biblical gospel is substantially superior. It explains our humanity. It restores our honor. It calls us to be men and women who see our bodies as a gift, a vessel through which we might glorify our Creator and Redeemer. This may appear to be too good to be true, but the church exists to emphasize one point: this is not a fairy tale.