Alistair Begg discusses the dangers of a broad conversion therapy ban

Respected pastor and author Alistair Begg warns that those pushing for a broad conversion therapy ban are ‘trying to undermine a biblical view of humanity’.

Originally from Scotland, Begg moved to the US in 1983 to pastor Parkside Church near Cleveland in Ohio.

In an interview with The Christian Institute, Mr Begg commented on the letter sent by 20 church leaders from churches and denominations across Scotland a few weeks ago, urging the Scottish Government to rethink its conversion therapy plans.

You can watch the full interview with Alistair here.

He said he was glad his friends in Scotland wrote the letter and added “if I were there I think I probably would have signed it too”.

The letter explained that conversion therapy proposals under consideration by the Scottish Government “would criminalise ordinary Christians and church leaders for expressing mainstream, orthodox belief”.

Asked why people falsely accuse faithful Christian ministry of being coercive, he said those who are “committed to an ideology that begins from a very different place than a biblical theology” are “trying to undermine a view of humanity, a view of the world to which they are entirely opposed”.

Commenting on how to reassure politicians that the LGBT community don't have anything to fear from the ministry in churches, he said, “the first thing we have to do is say it and teach it to our congregations and then be prepared to show it by our actions”.

Asked if we can change what the Bible says to suit the demands of the culture, he said: “No because we don't have the right to believe anything other than what the Lord Jesus taught and we don't have the freedom to behave in any other way than that which Jesus as Lord demands.”

He remarked: “I mean they're saying that for me to sit and pray with somebody and encourage them to think the issues through is a dreadful violation of their rights and leads to all kinds of things. But nobody's pushing back and saying, 'do you understand why Tavistock responded as it did?', 'Do you understand what puberty blockers are doing to your 11 or 12-year-old daughter?'

You can watch the full interview with Alistair here.