Conversion Therapy and Afghanistan

Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Conversion Therapy and Afghanistan
Monday 6th September 2021

Conversion Therapy (Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill)

POV. The challenge we now face is distilling and condensing our own thoughts and opinions given all the good stuff both written and said by Christians and other concerned people/organisations.

In the bigger picture this Bill is simply and sadly another example of the ‘social fabric’ of New Zealand being eroded away. In earlier years it was Abortion, Homosexuality and Marriage to mention just three of many.

The truth is that here we have another example of the total reversal of values that Isaiah warned Judah about in Isaiah 5:20 when he said: “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter”.(NLT)

In other words when you as a parent could be criminalised for saying ‘No’ to your child who wants to go onto life altering puberty blockers then that is not only Isaiah 5:20 at work it is also the state interfering with the way you and I choose to raise our kids. And did you notice, MY kids, YOUR kids who are……..that’s right OUR kids. They don’t belong to the State not for a minute. You are the ones who made them, you are the ones nurturing them, loving them, sacrificing for them and you are ones paying for all this. That means the majority of parents by far in NZ are wanting the best for their own children and yes they want their daughters and sons to love the bodies they were born with. So no surprises with this Poll result. The majority of everyday Mum’s and Dad’s are saying one big fat No. This is of course what a ‘representative government’ should take note of.

Here is some more excellent background reading and watching and here are four independent legal opinions all expressing major concerns including one from the Governments own legal advisor, the Crown Law Office. Further, I support the suggestion that Dr Stuart Lange (NZCN) has made that a paragraph along these lines should be included in the Bill and therefore be allowable and legal. “Respectful and open discussions regarding sexuality and gender, and advice, guidance, prayer, or support given to anyone by anyone else including parents, family members, friends, counsellors, religious leaders, or health professionals, when such advice or support is requested, and is respectful and non-coercive”.

Make a submission here.

Afghanistan

Five years ago I hosted Dr Mark Durie in NZ for a Nationwide speaking tour called, ‘Understanding Islam’. He spoke ever so clearly and compellingly about Islam and pastors and Christian leaders really appreciated his lectures. Since that time I have stayed in touch with Mark and he has become my go to person on all things Islam. Mark is a globally recognised scholar on Islam. Additionally Mark is an Anglican pastor in Melbourne and has had a very fruitful ministry amongst Iranians who are Muslims and seeing many coming to Christian faith.

Here is a 65 minute interview about Islam and Afghanistan. If you want to understand more about what is happening in Afghanistan, how events there fit into the broader Muslim world, and what some implications for the rest of the world might be, this conversation is worth your time.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.