The alarming news dropped this week that Amazon banned books by Joseph Nicolosi, the founder of so-called “conversion therapy” (1, 2). This continues a string of news stories (3, 4, 5), about Amazon related to books by several authors that have been banned for various political reasons. Whereas, Amazon formerly allowed for and fought for books with which the company disagreed (6), since the completion of the 2016 political cycle, Amazon allows politics and special-interest groups to heavily influence their policies. Will Christian books be next?
My concern and the point of this blog is not to argue for any of the books Amazon has banned. Furthermore, I would hope all Christians are against “conversion therapy” as proposed by Joseph Nicolosi. However, since Amazon chose to ban a book on “conversion therapy,” just mark it down, it will not be long before they begin to ban Christian books as well.
Why a Book about Conversion Therapy?
Denny Burk summarizes this issue well. He writes:
Let me stipulate up front that I am no fan of Nicolosi or of conversion therapy. It’s a secular theory that has nothing to do with Christianity. I have written and spoken in opposition to it for years (if you want to understand why, read here). Having said that, the reason that Amazon is banning Nicolosi’s books is not because he taught Christianity (he didn’t) but because he taught that it is possible to change someone’s sexual orientation.
For Christians, this should be alarming. The Bible clearly teaches that people can change and should change. Any issue (including sexual orientation) where an individual chooses to want, desire, or determine to live differently than God’s standard of holiness as defined in the Bible, the Bible calls for that person to change and live consistently with God’s standards. The Bible is all about changing one’s character and conduct. This is not new.
The Bible teaches that all men are born with a sin nature – a natural disposition to go against God’s standards in any/every area of life. For some, this is lived out in the arena of sexual orientation, for others in pathological lying, and others extreme narcissism. In each case, the Bible describes the problem, presents the solution, and describes how the person can change. The solution and process of change, according to the Bible, all relate back to one’s worship of Jesus Christ and the change that takes place in an individual through the sanctification process (2 Cor 5:14-17; 2 Pet 1:3-11; cf. 1 Cor 6:9-11). These are not newly determined political positions by the Church; all such positions historically date back to Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter, and other biblical authors.
However, in today’s political climate, these historical positions will increasingly become taboo by various interests groups. As those groups put pressure on Amazon and other companies, the companies – as Amazon – will choose to cave or face incredible backlash.
Again, it is just a matter of time.
How Does the Christian Respond?
So how should you, me, or any person who claims to be a Christian respond?
I do not think this is a time to come-to-arms politically and fight Amazon or any other company. Is this inconvenient? Will it become increasingly inconvenient? Absolutely.
However, we must recognize that this and many things much worse are bound to happen. Why? Because people who are committed to tolerance dogmatically believe that you must be tolerant of their opinions and beliefs. If you do not conform to their view of tolerance, then you must change or face the punishment of not accepting them. For many, it goes even further. You must not only tolerate them and their opinion, but must also be for them and support them. Nonconformity to this kind of tolerance is not tolerated. You will face punishment of various kinds – including among other things your books banned and businesses sued.
This is not about politics though.
As a Christian, You Will Face Suffering for Doing Right
As far back as the first century, Christians suffered for teaching the Bible and living consistent with the Bible. As they suffered, the early biblical writers provided them the way forward. Peter writes:
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:15-17)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Peter 4:1-6)
What is Peter saying?
Expect people who disagree with you to make you suffer. This has been true since the first century. In America though, under the protection of the first amendment, Christians have enjoyed incredible freedom and hardly no push-back. However, that is changing.
What are you to do then? In everything you do, live as consistently Christlike as possible. Live with a clear conscience. Say no to sin. Respond with a spirit of kindness when people disagree with you. Love your neighbors as people who are also in the image of God. Recognize that God has your back – in eternity as well as right now.
Will those who do not worship Christ understand you? No
Will those who do not worship Christ tolerate you? Possibly not
However, their lack of understanding and toleration simply points to the fact that we must be as dogmatic as ever to love Jesus and people, live consistent, and keep a clear conscience. If not, we are the ones who are wrong. We must keep our eyes on Christ, His suffering, His provisions, His grace, and the great opportunity before us to live for Him and love others creatively and graciously who disagree with us. Why? For the sake of the Gospel.
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