A bill banning LGBTIQ+ therapy has passed Victoria's Upper House, and will become law, despite tensions within the Coalition and concerns from religious leaders that the law could have unintended consequences.
The bill passed without amendments on Thursday night, by a vote of 27 to 9.
The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practises Prohibition Bill makes it illegal to try and change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity in Victoria.
The law covers conversion practices in all settings, including health and religious organizations. Those who think they can take a person outside Victoria to subject them to conversion practices won’t escape criminal liability either – if convicted of the offence they face a jail term of up to ten years. Advertising harmful conversion practices will invite criminal prosecution and fines of up to $10,000. The bill had wide support from the Green (environmentalist) Party, the Liberal Party, Labor (unions), and animal rights parties.
One liberal party member said,
"This bill is an attack on basic freedoms, it is an attack on freedom of choice, it is an attack on free speech and it is an attack of freedom of association.”
The Adventist Record
On February 4, the Adventist Record published an article by Edyta Jankiewicz, in response to this Change & Suppression Bill.
In the article she argues that Adventists should integrate Scripture and science to deal with unbiblical legislations such as this one. Among other things, she writes,
This integrative approach to knowledge also means that, while we attempt to interpret what we know from science in light of Scripture, we also recognise that science sometimes speaks into domains of human life that Scripture does not. For example, while the Scriptures are central to our understanding of spiritual growth, we recognise that the Bible says very little about child development. Hence, in striving for excellence in our denominational school system, we look to Scripture for the principles of children’s spiritual development, while allowing social science to inform our understanding of the psychological development of infants and children, which in turn informs our understanding of how children learn and grow.
In the area of homosexuality and transgenderism, the Church has struggled to adopt an integrative approach. In its attempt to remain faithful to a biblical sexual ethic, the Church has not always understood the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community.
In recent years, however, social science research has revealed that the conversion practices of both medical and faith communities are not only unsuccessful in reducing same-sex attraction or increasing other-sex attraction, but that they have a wide range of potentially harmful side effects, particularly for LGBTQ youth, including loss of faith, as well as significantly higher levels of depression and suicidality.2
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia does not support conversion therapy and related practices due to evidence that, not only are they not effective in changing sexual orientation, but that they can cause harm to vulnerable individuals.
Further, the ambiguous wording of the bill raises concerns regarding teaching and preaching a biblical sexual ethic, which the Adventist Church has always sought to uphold. In addition to these concerns, the bill criminalises change or suppression (conversion) practices “whether with or without a person’s consent”, thus negating our belief in human free will, which is central to our understanding of humanity being created in the image of God.
Thus, while we are supportive of legislation aimed at protecting the vulnerable and preventing harm, the Adventist Church will be voicing its concern regarding the proposed bill in its current form.
This article speaks from both sides of its mouth, failing to acknowledge that there are many former homosexuals who—through repentance and the power of God—currently live healthy and normal lives and are happily married with children.
In this article, Jankiewicz appeals to knowledge. There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom—which she fails to mention. You can get knowledge from an encyclopedia, the internet and other sources. You can, for instance, learn the capital of Myanmar with a simple Google search. That is knowledge. Wisdom is different, it comes to us from God Himself, beginning with “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 111:10). The fear of the Lord leads us to honor His ways through wisdom, while knowledge can lead to pride and compromise with evil (1 Corinthians 8:1).
It was by appealing to science that some Christians adopted macro-evolution 100-years ago. We stand today with regard to homosexuality where we stood a century ago with regard to Darwinism. At that time, some Christians strove valiantly, some were deceived, some were unaware, and some capitulated. Our response must be better.
A Biblical Approach
First, it should be acknowledged that this is an evil law, one that seeks harm against Christian believers.
It takes biblical truths about marriage, family, gender & sex and criminalizes them, so that the expression of God’s truth can become a criminal act(s). Essentially what this bill says is that supporting LGBTQ people who want to change and live as Christians, is now against the law. Praying with such people or non-affirming efforts by counselors are now potential criminal acts. The effects of this bill are widespread, making the truth criminal. It is a direct assault on the truth of creation, and when you attack creation you attack the creator. It is an attack on people who want to live by the biblical standards of righteousness.
Secondly, how should believers respond to such an unbiblical bill? What should we do? We should appeal to Scripture for direction and understanding, speaking the truth in love.
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was watched delivered for all to the Saints. For certain men have crept in on awareness, who long ago were marked out for condemnation. Ungodly men who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and Jesus Christ (Jude 3-4).
Remember the apostles when they were called in front of the Sanhedrin and were told they had to stop speaking the truth, their response was “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
If someone ask you for prayer, pray for them. If you can intercede for someone who is struggling with sexual sin, pray for them. Be available, ask God to bring such people into your contact.
Thirdly, to our schools and colleges, continue to teach the truth with courage boldness and clarity. Teach the truth about biblical sexuality, teach the truth about God‘s creation, and teach the truth about God‘s righteous will for our lives. He will bless your faithfulness.
Like the disciples who were scolded by the Sanhedrin, they prayed to God and asked for courage to continue speaking the truth in love.
This is a time for faith for boldness for love and for truth. It is a time for speaking unpopular truth to a world that needs to hear it.
Now is not the time for doublespeak, capitulation, or compromise. Now is the time for Christians to stand up, to stand for truth no matter what the cost is. Now is the time to join hands and support each other, and encourage one another as we see the day approaching.
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“I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever” (Psalms 111:1—3).