Recently Daniel Andrews’ government, in Victoria, passed a bill that prohibits Christians praying for those who are struggling with sexuality or gender identity issues and want to change.
Specifically it prohibits any:
practice or conduct directed towards a person, whether with or without the person’s consent on the basis of the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity; and for the purpose of changing or suppressing the sexual orientation or gender identity of the person; or inducing the person to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity.
And this includes:
carrying out a religious practice, including but not limited to, a prayer-based practice, a deliverance practice or an exorcism.
The ripples have been felt as far afield as America where, within days of the bill being passed, Carl Trueman wrote about the issue and spelt what this means:
“If someone asks a pastor, a priest, or a Christian friend to pray for him that his sexual desires or gender dysphoria might be changed, that pastor, priest, or friend runs the risk of committing a criminal offense.
“Presumably this also applies to parents praying for their children – or perhaps even parents teaching their children that untrammeled expressions of sexual desire (at least within the canons of contemporary bourgeois taste) are inappropriate.”
It is now a criminal offence for a Christian to promote, or assist, change in such a case, even though that person may desperately want it and be seeking his help for it.
Ironically, and hypocritically, if a person is struggling with gender dysphoria, but desperately doesn’t want to change sex, a counsellor who counsels him to pursue change anyway, would not be viewed as a criminal, but would be publicly praised for his “enlightened” approach.
This is pure evil.
Little wonder the bill drew the ire, not just of religious organisations, but also from medical and legal groups as well.
The crux of the matter
No one (that I know of) supports or promotes the type of barbaric “conversion therapy” practices that are sometimes cited as justification for such legislation: practices that, however well meaning in another time and place, were little short of torture.
Bill Muehlenberg commented:
“It is not ‘conversion therapy’ that is now illegal in Victoria. It is Christianity, prayer, counsel, biology, common sense, and help for those struggling that is now banned in Victoria. Dare to live out your faith in this Australian state and you can be imprisoned for a decade!”
Or, as Martyn Iles put it:
“Really what this bill does is that it basically criminalises the truth.
“It takes those truths – about marriage, about gender, about sex, about family: things like that, things which Christians hold dear that are part of creation itself – and it says those ideas, the expression of them, the living out of them, can become criminal acts.
“All that is really needed is for someone to come along and say that they were harmed by those views – and in the modern world it is not difficult for them to do that.”
And if they are believed (or even if they are a willing participant, but a third party takes the initiative to complain on their behalf), the person found guilty of trying to suppress or change the other person’s sexuality or gender identity faces up to 10 years’ jail or fines of almost $10,000.
Dare to be a Daniel
I think Martyn Iles is right when he says the right response is:
We must live as though this law doesn’t exist.
“Don’t modify your behaviour in areas like e.g. if someone comes to you and asks for prayer, you pray for them! If someone comes to you and asks for assistance, give them the assistance they are asking for.
“If you are doing a Bible study group, or you are in a position where you are speaking about the Bible, and you get to a section about sexual ethics, or marriage; or, if you are talking about creation itself, and how God made things and set them up for His purpose and design – don’t stop! Don’t avoid it. In fact preach it, speak about it, as if only God were watching.
“If your child has gender dysphoria, or same sex attraction, treat them with the same love that Christ would have you treat them with, support them in the same way. And don’t compromise and change what you do because of what this bill says.
“In that respect, live as though this bill does not exist.“
This is precisely what Daniel did.
The government in his day forbad prayer; they made prayer illegal, except prayer made to the king. The government was now god!
WDDD. What did Daniel do?
“Now when Daniel knew that the bill had been passed, he went home.
And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” (Dan 6:10)
Daniel did nothing different! He went on doing what he had always done. He simply ignored the new decree. He lived as though this new law did not exist.
What he had always done was very public, and he didn’t change a thing. He still prayed publicly, even though his enemies who hated him could see him clearly and get him into trouble.
“That’s real faith: to continue to do what God would have him to do, and change nothing in the face of the laws, the legislative brush strokes of men, but rather follow the drum beat of Christ and of God Himself.”
Similarly, in a pastoral letter to all congregations, Rev. Dr Peter Barnes, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, wrote:
“What is the Church to do? Two things come immediately to mind:
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- The apostle considered himself innocent of the blood of all because he proclaimed the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26-27). We are obliged before God to preach all that He has revealed to us, whether law or gospel, and to do so in a spirit of love and truth.
- There is nothing unique in such legislation. When King Darius exceeded his God-given authority, Daniel did ‘as he had done previously’ (Dan.6:10).
It is our task to keep on keeping on, to proclaim and to live out so far as we can the gospel of Christ which has been entrusted to us.”
And, no, it didn’t spare Daniel.
His enemies malevolently watched to catch him out: “That Daniel does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed.” (Dan 6:13)
He was still thrown to the lions.
Nor will it spare us.
God’s enemies malevolently watch to accuse us, as they did Daniel. As they did Jesus: “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)
Some of us will be thrown to the lions.
But God was with Daniel in the lions’ den.
And God will be with us.
Pray for boldness to ignore this law
WWWD. What will we do?
The Bible, in Acts 4-5, tells us how we are to respond.
In chapter 4 the apostles “had their Equal Opportunity Commission moment” (as Martin Iles put it) when confronted by the authorities.
“That a notable miracle had been done through them was evident to all who dwelt in Jerusalem, and [the authorities] could not deny it.” (v 16)
But they won’t accept it. “They commanded the apostles not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” (v 18)
The apostles refuse; they can’t accept that.
So the authorities threaten them, then let them go with a warning.
This is just a taste of what is to come; it will not be long before the first of them is stoned to death. There’s some pretty horrible and painful times ahead.
What would they do?
- They met together with fellow believers to encourage each other; and, more importantly, to pray together. (v 23)
- In prayer, they begin by worshipping God: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.” (v 24)
- They recognise that what is happening is nothing new; it was prophesied it would be this way long ago, by the mouth of God’s servant David: “Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.” (vv 25-26)
- They took comfort in the sovereignty of God: “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.” (vv 27-28)
- Then, they prayed for boldness to continue “to speak and teach in the name of Jesus”, disobeying the authorities’ explicit command: “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.” (v 29)
- Then: “When they had prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (v 31)
Let us do likewise:
- Let us meet together with fellow believers to encourage each other and, more importantly, to pray together.
- In prayer, begin by worshipping God!
- Know that this is nothing new or strange: “They think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you… So do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings.” (1 Pet 4:4, 12-13. See also, John 15:18-19, Acts 14:22, 1 Thes 3:3)
- Take comfort: God is in control. All this is happening according to the all-wise counsel of His eternal decree.
- Pray for boldness to continue to proclaim the whole counsel of God, to assist those who are seeking deliverance from sin, in obedience to God’s law, even though it means disobeying the laws of our government.
- Pray in faith (Jas 1:6) and, God will answer your prayer.
Pray for boldness to obey God
Praying for boldness to obey God does not mean we will be spared further trials and suffering in this matter. Daniel was not spared the lions’ den.
The disciples were not spared. And because they continued to disobey, the authorities “filled with indignation, laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.” (Acts 5:17-18)
They escape, and are commanded by God’s angel: “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” (v 20)
They are arrested again for their disobedience, and are brought before the authorities. Enraged, they demand: “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?” (v 28)
The apostles’ answer must be ours:
“We must obey God rather than men.”
(This is the only grounds on which we may disobey the law; we may not flout a law just because we dislike it.)
Then, “when [the authorities] heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.” (v 33)
They were not killed – at least, not then.
Gamaliel counselled restraint, and for the moment the authorities went along with that advice. Well, up to a point: they still “beat them”; and then “commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus,” before“letting them go.” (v 40)
Before long, the first of their number will be killed – soon to be followed by many others.
“So they departed, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (v 41)
Furthermore, even though it meant disobeying the authorities, they continued to obey God: “Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” (v 42)
And so must we.
And though they take our life,
goods, honour, children, wife,
yet is their profit small,
these things shall vanish all:
the city of God remaineth.
. – Martin Luther.