Australian Province Makes Prayer for LBGT Individuals Criminal
“Why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?” (1 Corinthians 10:29 KJV). These words of Paul illustrate that he believed in a right to the freedom of conscience. From the freedom of conscience (the right to hold certain convictions) comes the freedom of speech (the right to promote one’s views). While American freedoms continue to crumble, it could always be worse.
Lawmakers of the Australian province, Victoria, recently passed legislation that makes it a crime punishable by up to 10 years to pray for the redemption and behavior change of an LGBT individual. The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act of 2021 makes illegal several practices, including religious acts, which may influence someone to deny or repress his or her sexual identity.
Prayer at a distance is not exempt. In fact, a religious individual or ministry could be considered just as guilty as a mental health professional who would attempt to guide a patient or client away from an LGBT lifestyle.
This should be cause of concern for all Christians. While the West has been exempt from the levels of religious persecution experienced in Muslim majority or communist countries, the ides of March have come. The idea of the persecuted church has always felt so far away from America. While this is happening oceans away, the cult of radical genderism will seek to do the same in the United States.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Our Master said that the world hates him. Therefore, the ungodly hate the Master’s servants. Jesus echoed the words of his Father to the prophet Samuel. The Israelites had unjustly demanded a king. Samuel felt understandably disheartened. However, the LORD said, “[T]hey have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7).
The apostles Peter and John reiterated Christ’s words. They knew hatred. They were persecuted – killed or exiled. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,” Peter said (1 Peter 4:12). “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you,” John reminded (1 John 3:13).
When the world hates truth and justice, know that it hated the Giver of Justice first. It is a noble thing to suffer for the sake of righteousness. “[F]or thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter” (Psalm 44:22).
