Conversion Therapy
“Conversion therapy” is receiving a lot of attention in the media and at all levels of government in the USA, Canada and numerous other countries. Media is calling for “Conversion Therapy” to be banned and governments are taking steps to do this.
There are good reasons for you and I to be concerned about this because churches and Christian ministries are going to be prohibited from offering spiritual care that is voluntarily sought out, and prohibited from offering Biblical truths on matters of sexuality and gender.
What was “conversion therapy”?
Until the 1970s, psychologists employed forms of behavior modification hoping to eliminate homosexual feelings from those with same-sex attraction. These were aversive conditioning techniques that involved things like the use of electric shock and nausea-inducing drugs while viewing erotic images of the same sex. Universities taught these practices. Secular health care organizations implemented them. These treatments were ineffective. They were damaging. Such practices were stopped and no longer take place in the USA or in Canada. We are glad they have stopped. Coercive/involuntary efforts to force “change” in sexual orientation have no place anywhere. Some of the people in Exodus were victims of these practices. Exodus has always opposed all coercive/involuntary efforts to force “change” in sexual orientation.
So why do we say that you need to be concerned about legislation that bans “conversion therapy”?
Because legislators and media broadly define conversion therapy to include any 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 behavior.
This definition includes religious practices and it goes far beyond sexual orientation into the areas of identity, temptation, and sexual behavior. It actually targets a wide range of practices and activities, many of which are very helpful and beneficial to people desiring to address unwanted gender confusion or same-sex attractions. These practices include talk therapy, standard psychoanalysis, trauma therapy, 12-step programs, pastoral counselling, discipleship programs, and even prayer and evangelism. Legislation is being adopted that will criminalize any and all Christian help to children, youth or adults who experience same-sex attractions or gender dysphoria.
Some of the proposed legislation will criminalize faith-based teachings on sexuality and spiritual guidance given to LGBT people who ask for help. When an adult or a youth asks for help to integrate their experiences of gender and sexuality into their faith, or help to live according to their moral and religious worldview, legislation will make it a criminal offence to respond to them. When a loving parent seeks to help their child recover from gender dysphoria, it will make the parents into criminals. A conference on sexual purity that encourages participants to avoid sinful sexual behavior will be considered conversion therapy. Offering Christian books on the topic of gender and sexuality will be criminalized. The media promoting this kind of legislation have even said there is no place in society for an LGBT person to share their testimony of faith or experience of being a follower of Jesus.
Legislation based on distorted science
Legislators and media claim that people who do not welcome their same-sex attraction or transgenderism experience self-hatred that leads to depression and suicide. They claim change is not possible and seeking change causes harm. Using these claims, they say that any and all help from churches and Christian ministries must be banned. These claims are not true. These claims are based on distorted science. Men and women who do not welcome their same-sex attraction or transgenderism experience strongly refute the claims that hey hate themselves and strongly refute that the help they received from churches was harmful to them. Scientific studies have shown that change is possible and the various kinds of help provided by churches and Christian ministries do not automatically cause harm.
Abusing those who leave
The irony is that those who do not want to live as homosexuals face the very abuse and bullying from the LGBT community that the community has worked so hard to eradicate from heterosexual society. Look at the comments on any story about people following Jesus rather than embracing gay life and you will see members of the LGBT community condemning and demeaning them. Former homosexuals are told they are “a disgusting shameful mess… a waste of a life… are despicable… have no place in society.”
Despite the insulting comments and claims that Christian practices or therapy for those with same-sex attraction does not work, the number of accounts of those with same-sex attraction leaving the LGBT life grows every day.
Blaming the church
Many in the government and the LGBT community take a strong negative position against doctrinally traditional churches and ministries. They claim that a biblical sexual ethic casts shame on those with same-sex attraction, increasing the likelihood of anxiety, self-harm, and depression which leads to disproportionately high rates of suicide, attempted suicide, depression, rejection, and isolation amongst LGBT and questioning individuals. But is this belief accurate? No, it is not. Credible scientific studies show this belief is not accurate.
These laws will hurt people
They will hurt Christian families & individuals who are personally impacted by issues of gender & sexuality. Restricting them from accessing the kinds of help they are seeking will cause them harm.
These laws will actually harm youth and adults for whom the feelings are unwelcome, or who want something different for their lives or have religious convictions that they want to live in accordance with.
They will hurt LGBT people who have an interest in spiritual things. Restricting them from accessing churches & Christian ministries who believe that God is able to profoundly transform people as they follow Jesus will cause them harm.
They will hurt churches and Christian ministries. Some will be forced to close. Some will face costly fines. Some will go to jail as criminals.
Protecting the right to care for people
Caring for LGBT people means churches and Christian ministries must not be prohibited from offering spiritual care that is voluntarily sought out. Nor should churches & ministries be prohibited from offering Biblical truths on matters of sexuality.
Equally important, caring for LGBT people who ask for help from religious organizations means we must ensure that we can respond to them when they ask for help. Restricting them from accessing the kinds of help they are seeking will cause them harm.
Further, LGBT people who have become Christians must not be vilified for sharing what the transforming work of Jesus in their lives has been like.
We must protect the dignity, equality and well-being of all people by discouraging harmful and demeaning medical treatment and professional services. These have no place in secular practice or in the church. Mistakes have been made within and outside of churches. We seek to honour God and love people; treating people with dignity and respect.
Caring for LGBT people means churches and Christian ministries must not be prohibited from offering spiritual care that is voluntarily sought out or prohibited from offering Biblical truths on matters of sexuality. Equally important, caring for LGBT people who ask for help from religious organizations means we must ensure that we can respond to them when they ask for help. Restricting them from accessing the kinds of help they are seeking will cause them harm.
Where is Exodus in this?
Exodus is a Christian ministry founded and led by LGBT people who became Christians. Some of the people in Exodus Global Alliance have experienced harmful and demeaning medical treatment and professional services. We know from personal experience how different those were from the help offered by churches & Christian ministries, and the talk therapies offered by therapists. Faith communities must not be prohibited from offering spiritual care that is voluntarily sought out. Faith communities must not be prohibited from offering Biblical truths on matters of sexuality. LGBT people who have become Christians must not be vilified for sharing what the transforming work of Jesus in their lives has been like.
Exodus Global Alliance is engaging thoughtfully and constructively. Exodus is working with ministry partners and friends. We provide resources and testimonies that show the truth and grace of the Gospel is good and able to transform lives.
Your prayers enable us to respond to these complex issues in a way that is consistent with the transforming work of Jesus that we have experienced.
