The Looming Storm Surrounding Conversion Therapy
There has been a storm quietly brewing for a few years in Canada. It is a storm that is now gaining considerable strength, with the clouds starting to burst very close to home. It is centred around the issue of so-called 'conversion therapy.' And with the passing of Bill C-6 in the House of Commons, it is all but assured to be a problem in coming days.
Conversion Therapy Origins
Historically, conversion therapy referred to therapy that relied on pseudoscientific techniques in order to "convert" homosexuals (or bisexuals) back to heterosexuality. These techniques included things like hypnosis, castration, testicle transplants (yes, you read that correctly), electroshock, and lobotomies. Many who underwent such therapy did so against their wills. It was, of course, largely believed that homosexuality was aberrant in the 19th century, and when combined with a level of scientific arrogance typical of the 19th century, it was believed that a scientific procedure could be found to undo it. I will say quite plainly that this was brutal practice, and I'm not sure of any living soul who would say otherwise.
Conversion Therapy Today
While the above practices are not still employed anywhere I am aware of, conversion therapy, the argument goes, still exists in other forms that also need eradicating. Now included in the term, 'conversion therapy,' are any "change efforts" to get people to "go straight."
Our parliament just passed Bill C-6 which will criminalize conversion therapy (it is now on to the Senate for its rubber stamp). If we are simply talking about the historical practices mentioned above (which are unscientific), there is no objection here... or anywhere to my knowledge. So, why outlaw that which doesn't occur anymore? There is a foul scent in the air...
The wording in Bill C-6 defines conversion therapy as "a practice, treatment or service designed to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identity to cisgender, or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour." Supposedly, private conversations and personal views (including those of pastors) will be permitted, but the vagueness of the wording in the prohibition leaves many understandably unsettled (e.g. what constitutes a "practice, treatment or service"?).
According to this definition, it will apparently be illegal to seek to "reduce non-heterosexual attraction" in a person which would sure seem to make preaching the sinfulness of homosexuality illegal. I say this especially since one of the more obvious teachings of the Bible is to reduce repent of, and flee from, homosexual passions (see 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10; Jude 7; Eph 5:3-5). More on that in a moment.
Word Association
I contend that there is a clever word-association game at play here. The term "conversion therapy" conjures up all kinds of horrific images in our minds about 19th century pseudoscientific (i.e. unscientific) solutions to homosexuality. But, in our present times, they're stuffing a whole bunch of practices into that term as if they're all equally bad. So, if you're against Bill C-6, it is made to look like you are for all that 'conversion therapy' implies. And who wants to get stuck being on the side of those 19th century butchers?
A brief survey of those who are calling for the ban of conversion therapy quickly reveals that they do not just want the more harmful practices done away with. They desire a full "eradication" of any efforts to change someone's sexual or gender identity.
This article from a conversion therapy survivor explicitly identifies Christianity as being part of the problem. He writes, "The legal framework of Canada — like other western nations — is under-girded by Christian religious doctrines that condemn and pathologize sexual and gender diversity." What he is saying is that the Bible's teaching on sexuality cannot be permitted if we're going to ban conversion therapy (as he defines it). Indeed, if your goal is to eradicate all efforts to change someone's heart, mind, and practice in the LGBT world, then Christian teaching does stand in your way.
Also worth noting, is that in the above article by the "survivor" (note the victimhood language) we are not told what kind of conversion therapy he checked himself into. Did he have his testicles zapped while being shown gay pornography (yes, that kind of thing used to occur)? Or was it simply someone trying to counsel him out of homosexuality? We're not told, but we're left to assume the worst. This is how this language game works.
Close to Home
If this seems alarmist–and many would say it does–consider events that played out in Regina recently. A pastor came under fire for preaching about the sexual and gender issues of our day from, as far as I can tell, a Biblical perspective. His sermon caused a stir. It has even prompted a complaint being filed with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission by a prominent Regina drag queen who was in "absolute shock" about the sermon.
The particularly interesting part is how this Global News story associates the preacher's sermon with conversion therapy. It appeals to an "expert" saying,
[Kristopher] Wells, who has done extensive research on conversion therapy, said Murphy’s sermon bears the hallmarks of the practice... 'These particular comments are not directly about conversion therapy. But they certainly speak to the ideology of hatred that leads people to leave the church, feel unsafe in their community and in some cases, take their own lives,' Wells said (emphasis added).
The article continues,
Wells said he hopes the sermon and its contents can serve as motivation for Regina city council to move forward towards a ban on conversion therapy.
The piece goes on to quote a Regina psychologist named Michael White, saying,
'The child [in the church] in many ways is forced to listen to this message that your behaviour is unwanted, unloved by your creator,' he explained, 'and that you are somehow flawed, bad or evil. And that’s a very destructive message for a young person trying to understand their identity.' White said attempts to forcibly change someone’s sexual identity can be damaging to mental health and can lead to anxiety, depression or even suicide.
So, before Bill C-6 has officially made law, people have already been clamouring for preaching to be banned, linking it to conversion therapy, sexual orientation change efforts, and the "hatred" that undergirds it all. If anyone doubts that Christianity will be in the crosshairs in days ahead, their head is in the sand. If Michael White (quoted above) believes it is hateful and harmful for a person to hear that their behaviour is unloved by their Creator, well... there's a chance he may not like what the Bible has to say about God's holiness and mankind's depravity...
That preaching is already being targeted is not surprising since all of the literature (that I've read) coming from conversion therapy ban advocates are quite explicit that the Bible's plain teaching is evil. Even "spiritual prayer" is a considered a tool of conversion therapy. There is just no way to avoid it: they're coming for us.
God's Law
Mankind is created by God, male and female. Sex is a gift to be enjoyed in the bounds of marriage between a man and a woman, and is, obviously, the means by which we reproduce. To mess with all of this is to claim to know better than God and to walk in rebellion to Him, violating not only the clear teaching of Scripture, but also the law written on the human heart (see Rom 1:18-32; 2:14-16). It will and must only end in disaster; such is the price of sin. Christians have no choice of saying otherwise. We do not become peoples' enemies by speaking the truth to them. They might see us this way, but it does not make it so.
This means that no matter what the national laws say (and however they might be applied), we must continue to hold the line. We must continue to believe and preach the truth of God's Word. We must continue to uphold God's law which reveals that every human being is a sinner who stands condemned before His perfect holiness. We must proclaim the holiness of God by which we will be judged.
God's Gospel
However, we do not do this out of a spiteful vindictiveness or to simply leave people feeling terrible. Moreover, we do not make "holding the line" on the Bible's teaching about sexuality and gender our ultimate aim. Rather, we do these things in the hope that sinners will understand their sinful condition before their Holy Creator and then hear and receive the good news of the gospel that they might be forgiven and made new! Our goal is to proclaim good news to a lost and dying world in desperate need of forgiveness.
Indeed, the gospel proclaims that God's Son, Jesus Christ, has died in the place of sinners to satisfy God's holy wrath against them by taking their sins upon himself (2 Cor 5:21). Jesus not only died, but rose from the dead securing the pardon and salvation of all who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus alone! It is those who believe in Christ that are justified before God as a gift of his grace (Eph 2:8-10; Gal 2:15-16). The law of God reveals the problem and the gospel provides the solution!
Conclusion
As God's law and gospel are both put forward, God is glorified, regardless of the outcome. People may not like hearing the diagnosis of their own hearts and they may despise the cross, but it is the means of salvation for all who believe (Rom 1:16) and so we will preach (Rom 10:14-17)! Whatever our own individual sins, all true Christians have come to know something of our complete lack of righteousness before God and our desperate need for the righteousness of Christ that comes by faith. Indeed, the saying holds true: we are beggars telling other beggars where we found bread.
Many will simply not understand this motivation of holding the line on biblical sexuality (or any other sin our world cherishes). They will truly hate us while viewing us as the hateful ones. We absolutely must come to terms with this reality. Some people will label truth-speakers as haters because they themselves hate the truth and desire darkness (John 3:20). In such cases a nicer tone will not help. Jesus himself was despised though never sinning once in any way (always with the perfect "tone"). And he told us we could expect hatred too (see John 7:7 and 15:18 for starters).
Nevertheless, we follow the lead of the Apostle Paul: "For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ" (2 Cor 2:17).
In these days, let us press in all the more closely to the promises of our Lord to be with us and keep us to the end:
"In the world you will have tribulation. But, take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b)
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God’" (Rev 2:7).
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6).
