What are we to make of Government plans to ban "gay conversion therapy"?

There has been a lot of attention paid to reports of government plans to “improve the lives of gay and transgender people”, in particular the proposed banning of “gay conversion therapy”. What are we to make of all this? Well let’s look at the headline issue first, so-called gay conversion therapy. On this the devil will be in the detail. What exactly do they mean by “gay conversion therapy”? Some activities that come under this banner are at best highly questionable, and some a lot worse, but California is seeking to introduce something similar and there are serious concerns that this might even outlaw someone preaching that homosexual acts are sinful. One must also raise the question of if someone has unwanted same-sex attraction and wanted to receive legitimate psychiatric or psychological help, or counselling, in an attempt to change would they be allowed to do so or not? If the answer is no, the this is an indefensible denial of freedom.

In the article there is also mention of “exorcisms”. Now exorcisms are part of Christian ministry, were part of Jesus’ ministry, but the church often makes a complete mess of this area. In the immediate context we should note that there is no record in the Bible of someone being “exorcised” of homosexuality, nor of any other sin for that matter. Exorcisms set people free of some form of bondage, physical or psychological. The Biblical answer to sin, to all sin, is repentance not exorcism.

So there is a need to see exactly what is proposed, and to be clear on what true Biblical practice actually is.

But let’s not turn our attention to some of the presuppositions contained in the report. Perhaps the most fundamental is that we are identified by our sexual preferences. This is very unbiblical. We are defined by our relationship (or lack of relationship) to God. There is also an implicit assumption that sexual preferences are an inherent part of us, something we are born with and can do nothing about. This is at best highly questionable, and it is not just Christians who say that there is no “gay gene” or similar determinant. Then there is the assumption that one cannot change. This highlights one of the many contradictions in LGBT ideology. Apparently one cannot change one’s sexual preferences, but one can change one’s gender. This is a very strange idea indeed, and would seem to be the complete opposite of what is actually the case. Change is one of the key elements of the gospel, and change as a gift from God. See what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

That is what “some of you were”. And note that homosexual behaviour is only one among many sins that are mentioned there. The Bible says that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That includes those who identify as homosexuals, but also includes everyone else as well. And it also says that anyone who turns to Christ in repentance and faith will be saved. And that includes those who identify as homosexuals and everyone else as well, there is no difference. The gospel offers true freedom.