Out of prayerful, albeit unsuccessful, attempts at healing and deliverance – nuanced in this book, and which probably occurred because the supplicant was either essentially unwilling or unable in the circumstances to accept the authoritative presence of God-with-us – an increasingly popular mania has developed, promoted by soundbites and buzzwords, which is intent on banning ‘conversion therapy’. The enemy of Jesus Christ is very clever, not wanting anyone to know that Jesus has overcome him.
Irrational fear
In an attempt to dissuade people from accepting Jesus, receiving the gift of repentance and being redeemed and saved for all eternity, an irrational fear has been released, a fear that Christian prayer and teaching might be abusive and harmful, particularly if there are sexual issues. And it is unlikely that there is anyone at all who has never had sexual issues. As the age we live in draws to a close, we ignore this spiritual conflict at our peril.
Bible-believing Christians can see that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, Father of Jesus, really is in charge. Prophecies are being fulfilled. The people of Israel have returned to their land and God is working His purposes out. Spirituality is real and powerful and should be taken into account, even in this scientific age. But politicians and otherwise intelligent secular people have ignored the truth and caught the mania, and media are delighting to spread the contagion. Like the dancing mania of the Middle Ages, the craze is very catching. Spiritually illiterate authorities do not properly understand what they are dealing with.
The great ban
This legislation would prevent anyone confused about their sexuality, or their identity, or distressed by unwanted sexual attraction, people with gender dysphoria, or girls wanting to be boys, or homosexuals wanting to change, from seeking any help other than affirmation of their temptation. Conversations deemed critical would be criminalised, possibly even in the home, and professional help, therapy and counselling would be regulated by government, which amounts to politicians telling professionals how to treat their clients.
Conversations deemed critical would be criminalised, possibly even in the home, and professional help, therapy and counselling would be regulated by government, which amounts to politicians telling professionals how to treat their clients.
Critical talking help would be banned; but hormone treatment and irreversible cosmetic surgery to affirm a person’s desire to change sex would be promoted. Freedom of speech would thus be curtailed and potential for tyranny enhanced. Emotionally troubled youths would thus be sterilized and mutilated.
Brazil, Canada, Germany and thirteen other nations to date have already passed laws to ban Conversion Therapy, and Scotland seems intent on joining them as soon as possible. Is this part of the great delusion prophesied in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2?
Responding with logic
Patricia Morgan has written a book for the authorities demonstrating very clearly, with 324 substantial references, that there are no good reasons for such a ban. Written in a disinterested way without Christian bias by an academic sociologist who has investigated other policies, such as adoption, which have been promoted without adequate evidence, this book takes a critical look at the detailed arguments in favour of the proposed ban.
It is not an easy read and can be disturbing; but it is absolutely essential reading for everyone who is concerned or in any way involved with imminent legislation about Conversion Therapy.
For the conversion therapy debate it is the sociological equivalent of the report by Dr Hilary Cass into gender identity services at the Tavistock Clinic. With every sentence of the 190 pages packed with alleged facts and carefully reasoned debate, it is not an easy read and can be disturbing; but it is absolutely essential reading for everyone who is concerned or in any way involved with imminent legislation about conversion therapy.
There are five chapters, and scriptural comments not included in Patricia Morgan’s book will be added to the brief descriptions that follow.
‘Coercive and abhorrent’?
The first chapter investigates whether so-called conversion therapy is indeed ‘coercive and abhorrent,’ as is frequently asserted. Although it is alleged in the National LGBT Survey by the Government Equalities Office that “it can range from pseudo-psychological treatments to, in extreme cases, surgical interventions and ‘corrective’ rape,” it appears that any forcible administration of aversion therapy or ECT for same sex attraction ceased after homosexuality was decriminalised in the Sexual Offences Act 1967, and there are no current reports in the UK of any one being tortured to convert from sexuality considered deviant.
Horror at allegedly coercive practices appears to have been grossly enhanced by resentment taken by people offended by assumed religious exclusion of those who are not heterosexual. Tales of anxiety, shame, depression and thoughts of suicide as a result have been concocted with rage into allegations of trauma and harm that have allegedly put lives at risk. Scriptural truth from the Psalms, however, is that God sometimes does allow us to be hurt in order to help us (see Ps 69:27, Ps 119:67 &71 and Ps 30:6). People who fail to seek the Lord in their troubles will inevitably remain at the mercy of the fallen world.
There are no current reports in the UK of any one being tortured to convert from sexuality considered deviant.
Apparent victims
The second chapter deals with sexual fluidity. Some of the wide variety of sexual indulgences and preference of the secular world have become important to lobbyists. But the noise they make is excluding Christians who obey the word of God, which tells them that if that is what they used to be like, they can be washed clean (see 1 Cor 6:9-11).
The third chapter deals with apparent victims and what, if anything, should be forbidden by law in a multi-faith nation. It points out that there is a prevalent understanding of humanity in which desires define individuals, and that pastoral and other counselling should therefore offer support to LGBTQ individuals to affirm their identity. But why would government seek to exclude Christians who desire to live by the Spirit rather than gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Gal: 16) and whose identity comes from knowing they are known by name and loved by their Father (Ps 39)?
Is change possible?
The fourth chapter addresses the increasingly common belief that change is impossible because people are born that way, anatomy is not always a guide to gender and therefore doing nothing affirmative to help individuals who are sexually confused is tantamount to doing harm. Academic evidence for this belief is tainted by dismissal of evidence at odds with it and by associated psychiatric morbidity. Information is available that does not support the belief that sexualities are absolutely unchangeable.
It may have to be accepted that science may not be able to change religious faith and religious faith may not be able to change the intentions of those who affirm LGBT beliefs.
It may have to be accepted, however, that science may not be able to change religious faith and religious faith may not be able to change the intentions of those who affirm LGBT beliefs. Philosophical considerations seem necessary. Christians remember the words of Jesus that “what is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27).
The fallout
The final chapter reveals harm done by law based on strident lobbying by activists enforcing a new morality dependent on progressive surgical and pharmacological technology rather than sound evidence. There is lasting damage to confused individuals, to professional careers lost through false accusations, and to a nation losing godly truth.
But Bible believers know that “Your word, O Lord, is eternal, it stands firm in the heavens.” (Ps 119:89).
Banning Conversion Therapy is published in 2023 by Wilberforce Publications Limited and is available on Amazon for £12.50.
