These kinds of stories are frustrating because they confuse Christianity with reparative therapy. Reparative therapy is a secular theory stemming from the work of Joseph Nicolosi. Its foundations are not in Christian revelation.
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Some Christians have sought to "Christianize" reparative therapy in order to change sexual orientation or gender identity. That project remains controversial among Christians.
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Reparative therapy is premised upon a secular psychological theory about broken/dysfunctional relationships with parents that need to be "repaired" before the subject can be "straight" again. Its "therapies" proceed from that premise.
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But this is not a biblical premise. Nor is it the historical Christian account for why people incline toward sin. That is why it is possible to go through reparative therapy in which neither the therapist nor the patient are Christians.
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Reparative therapy is not premised on Christian foundations, and it is an error to characterize it as Christianity's answer to homosexuality and transgenderism. It's not.
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The most that can be said is that some Christians have made use of this secular therapy for Christian ends. It's no surprise that it has had such mixed results. That's why I and others have been critical of that effort. See more explanation here:
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biblicalcounseling.com/whats-wrong-wi…
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biblicalcounseling.com/whats-wrong-wi…
One thing that Christianity does have in common with reparative therapy is that both call for personal transformation. But in Christianity, the goal of transformation and the means by which it is accomplished differ from reparative therapy.
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In Christianity, the goal of transformation is holiness in the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29). That transformation will require putting to death the deeds of the flesh, including all forms of sexual immorality (Rom. 8:13). It's the goal for all sinners, not just gay sinners.
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It may or may not include the ability to marry. Some will, and some won't. But all sinners who come to Christ will be transformed by the Spirit into the image of Christ from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18). Old things have passed away, and all things become new.
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They will no longer be slaves to their sin (John 8:34-36). That is the change that authentic Christianity produces, and it is much more fundamental and total than what we find in reparative therapy. And it is delivered not by therapy but by the ordinary means of grace.
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I haven't seen the film yet, but the director's commentary is troubling. The director endeavors to show the harmfulness of reparative therapy but then concludes that ALL efforts at personal transformation are harmful, including ones rooted in Christian teaching.
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She writes, "My ultimate goal is to tell the truth of the 'pray the gay away' movement's enduring harm. I hope that... a family member or struggling LGBTQ Christian searching for information on conversion therapy..."
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"...finds PRAY AWAY, learns about our subjects’ compelling stories, and finds their way to affirmation and self-acceptance."
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prayawayfilm.com/about
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prayawayfilm.com/about
In other words, the director seeks to show not merely that reparative therapy is harmful but that ANY efforts to change are harmful. "Affirmation and self-acceptance" are the only humane answers to sexual immorality.
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It is a bait-and-switch. Hold up the shortcomings of reparative therapy, and then use that as evidence against the Christian teaching about redemption from sin and transformation into the image of Christ.
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My point is simply that viewers need to be aware of what is going on here. In spite of this film's message, the hope of the gospel is real. It doesn't offer therapy, but conversion. And it is the only way to true and lasting, transformative joy.
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