Quick Takeaways

• Many Christian parents question whether "conversion therapy" aligns with biblical teaching or harms their child

• Scripture calls parents to love, shepherd, and protect their children, not hand them over to strangers, promising change that research shows is impossible

• "Conversion therapy" is widely recognized as a deceptive practice that causes guilt, shame, and family division

• Families can hold firm to their faith while rejecting harmful practices and choosing compassion instead

• Protecting a child from proven harm honors God while safeguarding emotional and spiritual well-being

What Does Scripture Call Parents To Do?

Many Christian parents approach this question with sincere hearts. They want to honor God, raise their children in truth, and respond with courage when a child shares something difficult about who they are or who they care for. Scripture gives parents a sacred responsibility: to love, guide, protect, and remain present. Families are a gift from God, and parents are entrusted with shepherding that gift.

That foundation matters because "conversion therapy" practices target parents in moments of fear and confusion. Practitioners promise change they cannot deliver, often cloaking those promises in religious language. These programs sell false hope through dangerous methods and exploit a parent's instinct to protect their child.

When viewed through that lens, the question shifts. It becomes less about whether a child's identity is sinful and more about whether participating in, endorsing, or funding a deceptive, harmful practice aligns with Christian morality.

Is "Conversion Therapy" Sinful Behavior?

Sin in Scripture is often tied to actions that cause harm, deception, exploitation, or the misuse of authority. When parents evaluate "conversion therapy," they often discover patterns that match those very concerns.

It Relies on Deception

Courts have ruled that these programs misrepresent what they can do. In the JONAH fraud case, even "success stories" admitted they still felt the same attractions despite claiming otherwise. The court found the program to be consumer fraud built on false promises. Deceit is never biblical.

It Harms Children Emotionally and Spiritually

Research documents that minors subjected to attempts to change who they are experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The Family Acceptance Project findings show that parent-initiated attempts to "change" a child correlate with doubled or tripled suicide attempt rates and long-term emotional harm. Scripture calls parents to protect children from harm.

It Divides Families

True therapy strengthens families, not divides them. Many parent testimonials describe how "conversion therapy" drove wedges between parents and children, replacing trust with fear, guilt, or withdrawal. Breaking a child's trust is not aligned with Christian stewardship of family.

It Places Authority in the Hands of Strangers

Parents are the God-given guardians of their children. Enabling counselors to pressure kids into changing a part of themselves that cannot be changed undermines parental authority and misuses professional influence under the shield of confidentiality. Outsourcing authority to individuals who promise unbiblical outcomes is spiritually hazardous.

From a Christian perspective, supporting or participating in practices rooted in deception, coercion, and harm falls short of God's call to love truthfully and protect faithfully.

Is It a Sin for a Parent to Reject Conversion Therapy?

No. In fact, protecting a child from practices proven to cause harm aligns with Christian teachings about integrity, stewardship, and care.

Rejecting "conversion therapy" does not require parents to abandon their beliefs. Families can hold firm to their faith while refusing harmful practices and choosing compassion, patience, and presence instead.

Christian parents can remain faithful to Scripture while saying: "I will not hand my child over to someone who promises what no one can deliver."

That posture is protective, not permissive.

Faith-Focused Alternatives That Honor Scripture

Families who step away from "conversion therapy" are not left without guidance. Many faith-centered resources help parents navigate difficult conversations while nurturing trust and spiritual grounding.

Research emphasizes that listening, learning, and steady love protect minors from depression and anxiety, and offer the stability they need to grow toward adulthood with clarity and trust.

Healthy, faith-aligned approaches include:

• Pastoral conversations focused on compassion, not outcomes

• Supportive family discussions rooted in prayer and discernment

• Community ministries that help families walk through uncertainty without fear

• Resources like PFLAG's faith-focused materials, which guide Christian parents in showing love without surrendering belief

None of these approaches promises to "change" a child. They focus on what Scripture teaches clearly: loving your child, safeguarding them from harm, and trusting God with the rest.

A Helpful Way To Think About It

Instead of framing it as a doctrinal category, many Christian parents find clarity by asking simpler questions:

• Does this practice rely on deception?

• Does it harm children?

• Does it divide families?

• Does it pressure children into something they cannot change?

• Does it misuse trust or authority?

When a practice consistently produces harm, fear, and broken relationships, Christians have every reason to walk away from it. Not because their beliefs changed, but because their faith calls them to act with love, truthfulness, and protection.

FAQs

1. Does the Bible support "conversion therapy"?

There is no biblical mandate for practices that rely on coercion, false promises, or emotional harm. Scripture emphasizes truth, compassion, and parental stewardship.

2. Is it sinful to refuse conversion therapy for my child?

No. Protecting a child from deceptive or harmful practices aligns with Christian teaching. Families can uphold faith while rejecting unsafe methods.

3. Are there Christian alternatives to conversion therapy?

Yes. Many families turn to pastoral support, prayer, family-based conversations, and faith-focused ministries that emphasize compassion without promising change.

4. Does conversion therapy actually work?

No research demonstrates that it changes who someone is attracted to or how they see themselves. Multiple court cases and expert analyses show it is ineffective and harmful.

5. How can Christian parents support a child while honoring Scripture?

By listening, showing steady love, seeking wise counsel, protecting their child from harm, and trusting God to guide their family through uncertainty.