Power of the Gospel

You can expect it to work

I am against conversion therapy, but not conversion. Conversion therapy or reparative therapy is the idea that with the right techniques using psychological or spiritual interventions one can change their sexual orientation. While there are some claiming success, this practice is widely condemned by health care professionals as ineffectual, harmful, and even dangerous. Conversion therapy is legal in Canada, but some provinces and jurisdictions are moving to stop the practice. Rightly so, as it does not work. The reason is simple. You cannot force people to change. The only person you have power over to change is yourself. Threats, shaming, forceful confinement, drug therapy, powerplays, counselling, even physical and mental abuse may have a short-term effect for change in another, but not long term. And the damage done in the process is disturbing.

According to Wikipedia, “The highest-profile advocates of conversion therapy today tend to be fundamentalist Christian groups and other organizations which use a religious justification for the therapy rather than speaking of homosexuality as "a disease"’. Why is this? I believe it is because of the misconception that God sees homosexual activity as more evil than other sins like gluttony. We do not point out gluttony, because we like that extra piece of cheesecake.  This is actually a horrible and hypocritical problem of the church. Sins we like are ok, the sins we dislike are bad and we judge others who practice them. Notice this passage. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) According to that list, no one is getting in. The truth is we were born with the natural inclination to wickedness. We do not have to teach our children to lie; they do it quite naturally when the hand is caught in the cookie jar. The above list is what I was born with, and I find myself guilty as charged. So, I have one of two choices. I can both accept and justify my behaviours that will prohibit me from experiencing God’s best for me, or I can experience his grace, know his forgiveness, and walk out the life that God has for me. The context of the above scripture is helpful. I quote it here.  “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.” (1 Corinthians 6:11) When I gave my life to Jesus, he changed me from the inside out, and allowed me to experience a new reality called the Kingdom of God. Judging and condemning people will never help anyone to change. But experiencing the truth of God’s grace and forgiveness will. So I do believe in conversion – God converting (or transforming) a sinful nature into a Christ nature. It is a work of Grace, not the will or the effort of man. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

This week, I will be sharing on the blessing of a changed life by the grace of God. If there are areas of your life that you feel stuck in, God’s grace is there for you. This message may be just what you need.  Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Jim Reimer, Pastor

July 18, 2019