LGBTQ+ rights is a huge topic - in the UK campaigners are calling on our government to abolish 'conversion therapy', that is, "the attempt to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity." (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57059459)
The problem is...
Conversion therapy IS Christianity.
We do not know the full details of what is planned under this new law. However, as Christians we must be aware of what is at stake.
I am fully aware that within all beliefs there can be abuse and within Christianity there has regrettably been abuse of authority and this will have included mistreatment of people whom identify in the LGBTQ+ group. This is never ok. They are not alone and there have been injustices of groups and individuals throughout history. Some well-meaning perhaps and others very sinister and evil. However, hoping and helping one another to live a life that honours God as taught in the Bible should not be illegal no matter what area of life is being addressed.
Jesus followers believe, whole heartedly, that their lives are not perfect, that their natural wants and desires all have to be submitted to the Kingship of Jesus. I constantly have to have conversion from doing what I want/feel like to living the way God advices. I do this with varying degrees of success like all Jesus followers, as we are imperfect people following a perfect saviour.
This will not make sense if you do not follow Jesus. In fact the Bible tells us that it won’t and that people who would consider themselves wise (you could read 'woke') are the exact opposite in God’s eyes ‘the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight’*. When a person ‘converts’ to follow Jesus it is partly through the revelation that the wisdom of this world is not always that wise. That the highest source of wisdom comes from God.
When we choose to follow Jesus (become a Christian) we demonstrate this by the act of baptism. Baptism is key to understanding this some of this complex issue. Baptism is a symbolic act; being plunged under water enacting our life being dead and being raised out the water signifying us being ‘born again’* as a ‘new creation in Christ’.* The result of being a new creation in Christ is that we no longer are confined to just live how we wanted, but we have a new different identity in a different Kingdom which has a different way of living. This new life comes with the free gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us in many ways, one of those ways is helping us live ‘life to the full’* by obeying Gods recipe for human flourishing. This is included within the teaching of the Bible. Nobody attains the standard of the kingdom of God by themselves. Christian’s attain access purely 100% by faith in Gods grace provided in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, ‘so that none of us (including me) can boast’*. We will never fully attain this standard, not by some margin, while we live our years in this body. Yet to follow Jesus is to live as ‘being saved’* going through constant conversion (repentance) from anything that doesn’t honour God, ourselves or others.
Conversion therapy IS the life of a Christian, we believe in conversion from a great many things. This is not out of wanting to parade purity pridefully (notice the little alliteration lol) but out of desire to be more like Jesus and to honour our saviour's sacrifice. So this law change has potential to be an attack on the core of what we practice. Though the Bible teaches very clearly that choosing to actively pursue homosexual relationships is outside of God’s best. This is not the concern that I, now millions of Christians will have with a law about banning conversion. Homosexuality, despite what certain groups/media may wish to suggest, is not a focal point that churches talk about very often, if at all. As the church we talk about things which affects many more people much more frequently. The converting from the love of money. We talk about conversion from idolising people and their status etc. so as we only give worship to God. The list goes on, we teach positively about the benefits of living out this new life in Jesus by converting from behaviours that the Bible teaches harm our relationship with God or each other. A loving Christian response to anyone living outside of God’s best is to hope, pray and counsel them to live their best life which for Jesus followers is laid out in the teaching of the Bible. We also expect and hope that our Christian brothers and sisters will feel comfortable enough to help us in areas where we struggle to the best way, the way the Bible teaches.
I therefore believe we should be very concerned in the state dictating any form of ban on conversion therapy.
Let me be totally and completely clear, it is utterly contrary to Jesus teaching or anything He would advocate to pressurise or abuse power in the an attempt to make/force someone to change behaviour. Christians also believe that it would be pointless. Conversion/repentance from anything in our lives can only be an act of free will and something that happens in the heart of a believer. He has given us free will and this is never taken from us by God. Jesus demonstrated this clearly as He allowed people to leave Him when His teachings were too challenging*. He also allowed one of His closest followers to walk away* without anything coercive.
We absolutely should have robust a clear laws about abuse of authority. I am far from a legal expert but it was my understanding that many people are tried on the basis of ‘an abuse of power’ in some respect.
Notwithstanding, this law change could put millions of Christians in the UK in very, very difficult positions if asked by anyone for support in conversion from anything outside of God’s best. It may initially be limited to just sexual preference. However, like all things once inshrined in law the principal can be ever expanded.
I will just say again, this is not about being having gay relationships or not. The church would actively teach and promote people to not live together until they are married, for example. They would be advised, helped and encouraged to undergo a ‘conversion’ in this area of their lives. This would need support and help form friends in a number of ways especially if the couple already live together. The Bible teaches what is best and we try as a community to convert outlives to live in the abundance of God’s way of living. We believe this always leads to our betterment, even if there maybe at times a real cost, emotional, financial etc.
In 2017 the government did a survey to gather more information about the experiences of LGBT people in the UK. They had 108,000 responses. Of the respondents 2% had been through ‘conversion therapy’. There is, by chance, about 2%of the population which identify as LGBTQ in the UK. So that means around 0.04% of the population. Of this group there is no data to suggest how often it was negative, let alone abusive. Conversely a law of this nature has the potential to oppress and criminalise Christians which make up millions of people in the UK for freely practicing thief faith.
Christians understand that our way of living is ‘counter cultural’. We do not fit the norm of society in numerous ways. It is not our primary job, if at all, to try and convince those who do NOT believe to live in a certain way. It is part of our call to encourage change in other christians.
‘Cut it off!’* Jesus when teaching about sexual sin. He goes on to say ‘It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell’*. He was speaking very obviously with hyperbole, making the point that our eternal destiny is more important than anything else. He is making the point that denying our desires at times even if uncomfortable or dare I say painful is better for us in the long term if those desires are outside of Gods best are divert from eternity in God’s Kingdom (heaven if you want). Many wish to project a fake version of Jesus, like a slightly hippy Santa type. This is not the Jesus we read about of follow. Jesus is loving. He is so loving that He will guide us and lead us not to do just whatever we want but what is best for us. We all know that the love of a parent is seen in the same way. Not allowing their kids to grow up ferrel and wild with no guidance and rules, yes rules, but in a loving caring environment where there are fences to provide safety and increase their chances of a successful life.
The church believes in and often runs conversion therapy for many things addictions such as alcohol or drug misuse. This is common in many churches all over the country. Conversion therapy to help people manage money better, get out of debt, resist the urges of materialism and honour God through being generous with others and worship in giving to God. Conversion therapy for sexual things like pornography is very widespread. This, though socially acceptable, is not in keeping with what leads to the most honouring of God and others as the Bible would teach. So, though many enjoy porn, and it is hard to give up, commit to conversion therapy to find release (no pun intended) from the strong desires and physiological needs built top through porn use.
I hope you understand what I am trying to expand on, it is not conversion from being gay, it is total 100% conversion from me first to Gods way first that is the Christian life. To make a law against any of this has potential to straight jacket our faith.
It is worth also considering that Christians are also commissioned with conversion, that is ‘to make disciples’*. This means to share the Good News; that Jesus has made a way to have all our past wrong eradicated and to live a fuller life for eternity in the Kingdom of God through being born again in Jesus. Jesus called us all to ‘make disciples*’, which means ‘pupil’. To make them requires existing ‘pupils’ to be younger converts ‘teachers’. This means that another core part of a Christian life is to assist others in loving a life of conversion. This is uniform across the whole church worldwide.
To conclude, conversion is what a follower of Jesus has done AND is doing, in response to the Good News. It is what a christian is called to do as part of their faith, not forcefully but lovingly and patiently. But we are called to do it. The moment the state starts to dictate what elements of people’s lives we can support and encourage them to ‘convert’ there is a very significant danger of impeaching upon our religious freedom and the very core of the Christian faith.
I hope that you take this in the spirit it is written, I am not anti-gay and will rebuttal forcefully being labelled as such. This is, as I have hopefully made clear, not about homosexual relationships, the real issue is that of conversion. I am confident that Jesus is real, that He has paid for my sins, of which there are many, and that He has my best interests in mind when He gave us a blueprint for the best way to live. I believe that I converted to follow Jesus, and subsequently must see all areas of my life convert to His way. I believe the exact same thing for others and that I should, teach, encourage, employ, plead others to do the same. This will come in the forms a subtle as a social media post, teaching on a platform, sharing in a group of friends, to one to one counsel / therapy. This means any restrictions by the government on what we should and shouldn’t see converted and submitted to Gods way I feel all believers should pay close attention to and if necessary be ready to resist strongly.
With much love
Joss
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; - 1 Cor 3:19
Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." - John 3:3
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Cor 5:17
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” - John 3:5
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10
not by works, so that no one can boast. - Eph 2:9
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. - 1 Cor 1:18
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. - John 6:67
As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” - John 13:27
And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. - Matt 5:30
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, - Matt 28:19
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