From Turtles To Seasons: How Self-Redefinition Is Destroying A Generation

In a time when the world desperately needs anchors--of truth, of purpose, of identity--we are watching an entire generation be told that stability is oppressive, and that meaning is something you invent, not discover.

Recently, a state official in Oregon introduced themselves to a mental health advisory board with the pronouns they, them, and--yes--turtle. "My name is JD Holt," they said, "and I use they/them and turtle pronouns." One could assume this was satire, a surreal performance meant to provoke a reaction. But no--this was earnest, official, and applauded by some as a brave act of visibility.

Around the same time, a British social media influencer went viral for declaring themselves "genderseason," a term they explained as feeling "more feminine in spring and summer, and more masculine in autumn and winter." This identity was not tied to biology, science, or tradition--but to weather. Their gender, in essence, changes like the leaves.

These are not isolated stories. They're the tip of an ideological iceberg that has wedged itself into our institutions, our media, and increasingly, our children's minds. From "catgender" (those who feel a gender connection to felines), to "voidpunk" (a gender identity centered on the feeling of nothingness), the list of labels grows faster than most of us can keep up. There are people who identify as moons, clouds, ghosts, and mythological creatures. One teenage YouTuber declared their pronouns as "vamp/vampire" and insists their gender is nocturnal and blood-oriented.

This is not merely about language or personal preference. It is about the psychological, spiritual, and cultural unraveling of identity itself.

At the heart of this confusion is a tragic lie: that identity is a costume you can change daily, that truth is something internal and ever-shifting, and that embracing instability is a virtue. What our children are being taught is that meaning is found not in who you were created to be, but in how creatively you can rebrand yourself.

What began as an appeal for compassion toward those with gender dysphoria has now morphed into a performative free-for-all. Entire online communities encourage young people to abandon traditional identities in favor of niche micro-labels. 

There are children who, in the course of a week, may cycle through identifying as "nonbinary," then "voidgender," then "genderflux," and then as a literal animal. Furries--people who adopt full-time animal personas--now request litter boxes in schools. While some districts have denied such claims, others admit to adjusting restroom policies and providing "safe spaces" for those who identify outside human norms.

In Romans 1, Paul describes a people who "exchanged the truth about God for a lie" and "worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator." We are seeing this unfold in real time. The self has become an idol. Identity is no longer something received from God, rooted in biology, history, and divine purpose--it is now something you construct to suit your feelings.

And feelings change.

This is not just about pronouns, costumes, or social media trends. It's a spiritual battle. The enemy has always wanted to distort the image of God in man. And what better way to do that than to convince a generation they have no fixed image at all?

When a child is told they can be anything--but not what they are--we rob them of clarity. We steal from them the ability to build a life of meaning, purpose, and resilience. We leave them lost in a sea of self-invention, trying desperately to find significance in a shifting identity that can never fully satisfy.

God is not the author of confusion. He crafted each of us with intention: "male and female He created them." To rebel against that design is not freedom--it is bondage.

When we embrace every new identity trend as valid, we affirm chaos. We validate emotional instability. We encourage children to treat reality like a canvas for their feelings instead of a foundation for growth.

This is why young people are not flourishing under this ideology--they are drowning in it.

Studies are beginning to show what common sense and Scripture already tell us: children immersed in fluid identity ideologies are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Why? Because human beings were not meant to carry the weight of self-definition.

When every part of you is up for reinvention, there is no rest, no roots, and no rock beneath your feet.

And while activists argue that acceptance is the antidote, the numbers don't lie. The more society affirms subjective identities, the more we see psychological distress--not less.

We are raising a generation that is being taught to distrust their bodies, their parents, their faith traditions, and even reality itself. We are not helping them discover who they are--we are pressuring them to reject who they were made to be.

Christians cannot afford to be silent. We must speak the truth in love--but speak it, we must. Our children need to hear that they are not a cosmic accident. They are not a pronoun project or a seasonal experiment. They are not defined by fleeting emotions or peer approval.

They are fearfully and wonderfully made.

We must be bold enough to say no when schools, therapists, or media personalities normalize confusion. We must be loving enough to offer a better way--one rooted in truth, dignity, and divine design.

Let the world chase after ever-shifting shadows. Let the church stand on the Rock.