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.”
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