Although there are many “solutions” offered for how to change
one’s sexual orientation—and some believe it cannot even be
done—one evangelical Christian says the answer is simple: the
gospel.
Dr. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary, says secular therapy to change one’s sexual identity—known
as reparative therapy or sexual orientation conversion therapy—is
not a viable solution.
This debate, which has already been prominent in the 2012
elections, was started by the pro-homosexual group Truth Wins Out
accused a clinic ran by Republican presidential hopeful Michele
Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, of offering such treatment.
Mohler, a theologian and ordained minister, says many secular groups, such as the American
Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and
more, hold to a stance that sexual preference—whether it is
homosexuality or heterosexuality—is a normal expression of human
sexuality and that “any attempt to change an individual’s sexual
orientation is likely to be harmful.”
“We
will hold no hope for any sinner’s ability to change his or her own
heart, and we will hold little hope for any secular therapy to offer
more than marginal improvement in a sinner’s life,”
Mohler said in a Tuesday blog post.
The evangelical leader argues that we need to look to the Bible and
“be faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ” when discerning
issues such as these.
“First, we face the fact that the Bible clearly, repeatedly,
consistently and comprehensively reveals the sinfulness of all
homosexual behaviors,” he contends.
“The normalization of homosexuality
simply cannot be accepted by anyone committed to biblical
Christianity,” Mohler continues.
The widely-sought columnist and commentator goes on to say that every human faces sexual sin, not just
those who lead the homosexual lifestyle.
“Taking the Bible’s teachings about
sin and sexuality with full force, we understand that every sinful
human being is in need of redemption, and that includes the
redemption of our sexual selves,” he points out.
In his argument, Mohler says redemption is the only way sinners
receive eternal hope, and that Christians should not look to any
other methods to change their behaviors.
“In other words, a biblical Christian
will have no fundamental confidence in any secular therapy’s
ability to change a sinner’s fundamental disposition and heart, and
this includes every aspect of the sinner’s life, including
sexuality,” he explains.
Mohler
says, “we gladly point all sinners to the gospel of
Jesus Christ, knowing that all who call upon the name of the Lord
will be saved (Romans 10:13).
“We
know that something as deeply entrenched as a pattern of sexual
attraction is not easily changed, but we know that with Christ all
things are possible.”
Mohler concludes his
argument by saying those who struggle need full support of their
brothers and sisters in Christ and encourages them by saying we all
face similar challenges.
“And
even as Christians, know that believers among us struggle to bring
their sexual desires into obedience to Christ, this is not something
true only of those whose desires have been homosexual,” he says.
“It is true of all Christians.”
