In case you’re not already aware, New South Wales, Australia has passed some laws restricting Christians from administering assistance to LGB+ people. If someone so much as prays for someone struggling with same sex attraction, or under the indoctrination of being queer, it is now a punishable offence to assist that individual, even if they want help from you, the Christian.
The Act called The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 No. 19 (you can read the entirety of the bill here) has been updated and the update comes into effect in May 5, 2025. Basically, you can pray for LGB+ people, as long as you’re not attempting to ‘pray away the gay’, as the slur goes.
However, should someone who is struggling in their identity try to break away from their gay or queer lifestyle and seek religious counsel, it is likely those in the church would be concerned about how it may be perceived, or be concerned that a friend of the individual may try to rat them out to authorities, even if the religious counsel had only stepped in at the individual’s request. Why? They could face up to 5 years in prison or pay up to A$100,000. Wow.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom and particularly, Scotland, it is now an arrestable offense to pray silently in your head across the road from an abortion clinic. The Abortion Services Safe Access Zones came into effect in 2024 which created an invisible exclusion zone around abortion clinics. The potential of psychologically harming a woman by talking her out of killing her unborn child, or holding a silent vigil is an apparent threat to women and girls. (And here I thought the threat to women and girls was the abortion itself. ) You can read the full text of the zoning here. This kind of exclusion zone for prayer, or vigil, could very well be extended to anywhere and I fully expect this to happen in the near future. I personally interpret this ‘exclusion zone’ as something that spells more of witchcraft than anything tangible. The zone is a made up thing. that only exists in the minds of the people who have made it. Much like sex and gender being two separate things and one being interchangeable like a wig.
As Christians we are not meant to lie, so when the woman in the video (who was arrested) was asked a direct question, she didn’t lie. She told the truth.
Some of the allegations and reason for restrictions state that Christians make them feel uncomfortable, or are offensive, but reports, such as the woman praying in her head and being arrested (don’t take my word for it, see the video) point to something else.
The Adversary, who is Satan, knows how powerful prayer is and wants to try and shut us down. Not enough Christians realize this. It’s about time you get stuck into your Bible, read it, get praying, keep praying and stand fast in your faith.
Psalm 1 states:
- Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; - But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night. - He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water
That brings forth its fruit in its season
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper - The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. - Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. - For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
The above scripture shows us that we need to stand firm on God’s word.
Persecution is no longer coming. It is here in the West, and just as the “misgender is violence” idea has spread quickly to other nations with little opposition, persecution will grow and spread quickly to other western nations. That’s just what the Adversary is counting on; complacent Christians who are easily silenced because they are fearful of losing their income, their reputation, or even their families. Yes, you read that right. As Scott and Mattie from The Harder Way podcast say, persecution starts with restriction. Without opposition, restriction leads to persecution.
If we love our children, our families, our churches, we will choose to speak up, speak truth and continue to pray.
Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
We owe it to our loved ones to continue to speak truth, even in the face of adversity and continue to pray. Continue to do what Jesus told us to. Preach the Gospel. The Good News. To remind people there is hope. That this life isn’t just one and done. That their entire existence isn’t just relegated to a meat suit for 75 years and then they cease to exist.
Nobody is trying to silence Islamists, or anyone else who doesn’t agree with LGB+. Only the Christians. Why? Because we have the Truth and the truth cuts through to the marrow and the world hates us for it. It hates how we make it feel.
You’re encouraged to read Matthew Chapter 10. Jesus has some wise words regarding persecution.
Put on your spiritual armor, pray and be planted by that river of Living Waters, like the tree planted on the river bank in Psalm 1:3.