According to a report from Christian Today (30 March, 2024), Scotland's government is seeking to ban so-called 'conversion therapy': The Scottish government says it wants to protect people "from the harm of conversion practices". Under current proposals, a crime will have been committed if so-called conversion practices have been "committed with the intent that the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity would be changed or suppressed". The recommended penalty is up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to £10,000, or both. The report also notes that, while the Church of Scotland is in general agreement with the proposed ban, the Roman Catholic and 'other' churches are not because of religious freedom and the rights of parents. Indeed, opposition to 'conversion' itself seems to be at issue. The Good News of the Gospel is good news because God's salvation has come to us, making it possible for us to convert. It has
Introduction The world is a hateful place. Who can deny it? As Paul says, For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another (Titus 3.3, ESV). Quite possibly, this is what Paul meant in Ephesians 2.3 when he described the pre-Christian life as a time when we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [1] In Titus, Paul contrasts our hatred of others to the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Saviour (Titus 3.4), and in Ephesians our wrath as sons of disobedience following the prince of the power of the air contrast with God’s mercy and love (Ephesians 2.4). To pray for our enemies is to move from malice, envy, hatred, and wrath to God’s goodness, lovingkindness, mercy, and love. A Complete Ethic Jesus prayed from the cross for His enemies: 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do' (Luke 23.34). This