Bruce-Caitlyn Jenner and Rachel Dolezal: the Chickens Come Home to Roost

Why is the Jenner Identity controversy the embarrasing gift that keeps on giving? The logic behind Jenner's assertion that he is a woman trapped in a man's body is medically and scientifically unprovable. However, our culture's (and the media's) perception is that 'feelings (like clothes) make the man," or in this case woman. As a result, because Jenner feels like a woman he is a woman.

Now comes the Rachel Dolezal case: "The leader of the Spokane NAACP, Rachel Dolezal, canceled a chapter meeting Monday where she was expected to speak about the furor sparked over her racial identity (FOX NEWS/CNN)."

Who is Rachel Dolezal? Rachel Dolezal believed (or believes) she was an African American woman trapped in a Caucasian woman's body. She immersed herself in black culture, black causes, attended and graduated from Howard University, and rose to the highest level of her local chapter of the NAACP. She essentially left her home town, moved to Spokane, Washington and rebooted her identity, establishing herself as an African American. She married an African American man and she embraced African American culture and established herself as a tireless advocate of African American causes. The problem is that her parents turned up and they are both white. Rachel is white, too, as her photographs indicate. Below is a photo of Rachel today and as a young woman. 

Rachel Dolezal as an African American vs.  Rachel Dolezal as a Caucasian

(Is Rachel the first public Transracial Celebrity?)

What did Rachel do? Or what did Rachel do wrong? Let's talk about what Rachel did. First, she self-identified as an African American, much the way transgender students do in the California school system. Second, Rachel took steps to alter her appearance, as Bruce Jenner did (see below). 

Some say that Rachel Dolezal was dishonest about her racial identity. Could the same be said about Bruce Jenner? Rachel Dolezal feels like she's African American. She says she has a greater affinity for African Americans than for Caucasian Americans. However, she went about her transformation much more subtlely, some would say deceptively. 

We are told there was a time when transgendered people quietly but bravely went about their transformations because of a less tolerant society and a less accepting media. We are told today that they and Bruce-Caitlyn Jenner are "brave." Some criticize Jenner saying he put little at risk because of his money and influence that would protect both him and his 'career.' 

If we apply the same standard and thought process to Rachel Dolezal as we apply to Bruce Jenner, then shouldn't the media, the NAACP, and the culture be heralding her as a hero. Or is it because she is not rich and famous that she doesn't merit the same treatment that Jenner received? Will Rachel Dolezal receive a nomination for the Arthur Ashe Award for heroism in sports? Doesn't she play golf?

The real rub here is that even the media and the culture realize that Dolezal is no more black than Jenner is a woman. They are angry because Dolezal's downfall reveals an 'the emperor has no clothes' reality to the whole contrived Bruce Jenner charade. 

Either herald Rachel Dolezal as a heroine and pioneer for the transracial revolution that is to come or realize that the whole transgender (transracial) sham is just what it is a fraud. You can't have it both ways. Either Rachel and Bruce are frauds or heroes. Common sense tells us they are frauds and media circuses. 

Pray for these people. Pray for their supporters. Pray for their detractors. Pray for our culture. We are reminded in Romans 1:18-32 (paraphrase) that God's displeasure comes upon men and women who know the truth about God (and other things) yet they suppress this truth and concoct all kinds of stories and myths about life and existence rather than being thankful to God or giving thanks. They feign ignorance of God rather than accept the fact that they belong to Him and are ultimately accountable to Him. 

Ultimately, however, the chickens come home to roost in this life or the next. We are reminded that God offers life and forgiveness to all who will receive His undeserved mercy. However, He only grants that gift to those who acknowledge that need and receive that gift on His terms by repenting of their sin, surrendering their past, their present, their future, their rights and their will to the Savior who died for their sin in their place, proving His power over death and sin by His resurrection. There's hope for Rachel and Bruce in Christ. There's hope for you in Christ... if you surrender to the Savior. Otherwise, people go on living lies and sooner or later (in Rachel's case sooner) the chickens come home to roost. For Rachel they have come home to roost in this life.