“Gay conversion therapy: Hundreds of religious leaders call for ban,” read the headline in my feed. The story goes on to report how “more than 370 religious leaders from around the world are calling for a ban on conversion therapy” which “refers to any form of treatment or psychotherapy (aiming) to change a person's sexual orientation or to suppress a person's gender identity. It can range from electric shock treatment to religious teachings or talking therapies designed to change someone's sexuality.”

I do not know how conversion therapies are conducted. Given that I am no health and science professional, I will leave that angle to the experts but as a believer, I have to take issue on the inclusion of religious teachings. It is ironic that it comes from “religious” leaders. It is like an LGBT advocate calling for a ban on LGBT teachings. Calls like this are expected to come from the non-religious but not from those claiming to be shepherds.

“For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold [emphasis mine],” (2 Tim. 4:3, AMPC)

They have “a form of godliness but denying its power [emphasis mine].” (2 Timothy 3:5, NIV)

Should we find our denomination or our pastors included in the list, it is a sign how “they were not of us because if they were of us, they would have remained with us; nevertheless, they left that they might be exposed to show that they all were not of us [emphasis mine].” (1 John 2:19, AFV)

Not only does the call run contrary to the teachings of the Great Teacher but it runs the risk of criminalizing our pastors and counsellors even if there is the constitutional right to be free to worship. If this succeeds, it will be like living in places where Christians are killed for their faith. And if you think this does not affect you, perhaps even praying for a loved one to overcome his/her homosexuality might land you in jail. Even if s/he has already accepted the Lord, you can still get reported by somebody else. 

Our knee-jerk reaction would be is to pray that this ban does not bear fruit and going down on our knees would be right but let us append our prayers with courage to continue to minister to them should it ever lead to legal fruition which may not be improbable as “there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves… rather than lovers of God.” (2 Tim. 3:1-4, NIV) Emphasis mine…no, emphasis God’s. All God’s.