The Tug of War in Our Heart

Shutterstock.com

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Romans 7:15-20 NIV

Did you ever ask yourself why you do what you do? Why you engage in sin that tugs at your heart? Many of us have been there. We’ve loved sin and hated it at the same time? Maybe you’ve engaged in self-destructive relationship patterns over and over again hoping that this time things will be different? Self-destructive behaviors always bring destructive results. You’re still empty. You’re still broken. You’re still in pain.

Most of the time We’re not consciously aware of why we’re stuck in these spirals. That’s why we need Jesus. That’s why we need safe people to walk with us to the cross, where the power of God can touch our hearts. He alone can bring change. He alone can search our hearts and show us the wounds that drive us to do what we do. No shame. No condemnation. He offers mercy. He offers forgiveness. He offers the kind of safe love that heals the deep wounds in our hearts and changes our lives.

If you’re hurting or stuck in a broken cycle, know that you have Christian brothers and sisters at Reconciliation Ministries who want to help. Now is the time to reach out and accept that help. Join us for our next session of Living Waters, a 20-week discipleship and inner healing program where you can talk with others who understand what it’s like to struggle with sin and brokenness. We know what it’s like to be wounded by those we thought we could trust. Best of all, we also know how to find victory through Jesus. The Living Waters leaders have each walked through their own healing journeys. They understand what it’s like to struggle with addictive sin and the shame and destruction that it brings. Most importantly, they understand the freedom that comes from meeting Jesus at the cross, where He brings healing and transformation.

Call us today and learn more about how Living Waters can help you find victory. Our Living Waters coordinator, Joan, and her team are waiting to talk with you. Call her at 248.956.0265. Call today and begin taking your first steps towards freedom.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 7:24-25 NIV

Michigan Bans "Conversion Therapy" for Minors

Dan Hitz is the Executive Director of Reconciliation Ministries of Michigan, Inc., a member-ministry of Restored Hope Network. He is a licensed professional counselor, an ordained minister, and an EMDR trained, certified clinical trauma professional. Dan began his journey out of homosexuality after surrendering his life to Jesus Christ in 1984.

Michigan is set to become the 22nd state to ban “conversion therapy” for minors when the law takes effect in late October, 2023. As the director of Reconciliation Ministries, I have had multiple people ask me how this law will affect the ministry. This article will look at the law and respond to the question of how it will affect the ministry.

House Bill 4616 prohibits “mental health professionals” from practicing “conversion therapy” with minors. You can read HB 4616 on the Michigan Legislature by clicking here.

House Bill 4617 defines the term “conversion therapy” and adds it to Michigan’s mental health code. You can read HB 4617 on the Michigan Legislature website by clicking here. It defines conversion therapy as “any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behavior or gender expression or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward an individual of the same gender.” The definition of a “mental health professional” according to Michigan’s mental health code includes licensed therapists such as a licensed professional counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, and registered nurse.

It is unfortunate that Michigan’s conversion therapy ban forbids licensed therapists from helping minors overcome unwanted same-sex attraction, and forbids licensed therapists from helping minors work toward embracing their biological gender. The law clearly states that mental health professionals are only allowed to help minors embrace same-sex attraction and/or embrace a transgender identity. This law applies even if the minor states that he or she does not want to embrace his or her LGBTQ feelings, and attributes them to trauma endured during childhood sexual abuse.

We have looked at the misleading nature of the term “conversion therapy” in past newsletter articles such as “The Equality Act and Cancel Culture”. The effectiveness of change allowing therapy has been explored in the articles “The Truth About Counseling” and “What Does Research Conclude About Counseling for Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction or Gender Dysphoria?” These articles and more are available on the Reconciliation Ministries website at www.recmin.org/newsletter-archives.

In response to the question of how this will affect the work we do at Reconciliation Ministries, we will continue to explore our legal options and stand fast on the Word of God. We uphold the belief that God ordains physical sexual expression to be practiced exclusively within the marriage covenant between one biologically born male and one biologically born female.

Through the years, the number of minors that we have worked with has been a small percentage of our participants. We have only worked with minors under the conditions that the parents fully explain the focus and values of the ministry before the minor comes to the first session. We have only met with teens who were freely willing to come in and talk with us. We maintained a respectful atmosphere and invited anyone we work with to disagree with us, ask questions, and make their own decisions. There have been teens who have agreed with our convictions and those who have not. Through it all, biblical seeds have been planted and mutual respect has been maintained.

Reconciliation Ministries will continue to work with adults who seek change allowing therapy to overcome unwanted LGBTQ feelings. We will continue to work with minors experiencing heterosexual struggles, including pornography addiction and recovery from sexual abuse. While the conversion therapy ban applies to “mental health professionals”, it does not apply to “biblical discipleship”. We will work within the parameters of the law to provide the best biblical care possible to anyone seeking to align their sexuality with their Christian faith. Please pray for us as we uphold the calling the Lord has given us.

© 2023 Reconciliation Ministries of Michigan, Inc.

Intimacy in Communion: The Broken Body of Christ

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 26:26 NIV

www.shutterstock.com

The Lord showed up in an intimate and powerful way at last month’s Restored Hope Network annual conference. It was a beautiful time of worship, equipping, and celebrating testimonies from men and women who have overcome same-sex attraction and gender confusion. God is still in the business of redemption and transformation!

I was honored to lead the communion service towards the end of the conference. Most of us have heard the communion story in 1 Corinthians 11 countless times throughout our lives as we celebrate communion at church. Usually we focus on how Jesus offered the bread and wine, representing His body and blood. We celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection and so much more. We may even talk about examining our hearts and the importance of forgiveness and repentance. These things are truly important; however, the Holy Spirit gripped my heart with the depth of intimacy that Jesus shared with the disciples during the Last Supper. It brought an even deeper understanding of Jesus’ offering.

We can see more of the depth of intimacy in the Last Supper as we read through the account in John, Chapters 13 through 17. Jesus knows the hour of his death has come and he, the faithful rabbi, begins to share the most important thoughts on his heart with his beloved disciples. He begins by washing their feet (13:4-12). He then shares many of the concepts that we hold dear to this day. He tells them that the hour has come for him to be glorified and prepares them for his betrayal. The intimacy between the group was so strong that Peter knew that John was the one who could ask Jesus who the betrayer was and receive an answer (13:22-26). Jesus gives them a new commandment to love one another and he has loved them (13:34). He tells them that he is going to prepare a place for them (14:3), and is sending them the Holy Spirit (14:16-17). He tells them that he is the vine and they are the branches (15:5). He reiterates his love for them as he says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (15:13) He warns them of the persecution to come and says a time is coming when “anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God,” (16:2b) and lets them know that he is preparing them to withstand the persecution (16:4). He assures them that even though they will be suffering sorrow like a woman in labor, their sorrow will be turned to joy (16:21-22). Jesus tells them to ask the Father for anything they need in his name and the Father will grant it (16:23). Jesus finishes up his last teaching session with his High Priestly Prayer in John 17. This is my favorite prayer in the Bible. Jesus shares his heart even more intently as he prays to be glorified, prays for his disciples, and prays for all who will ever believe in him. As soon as he finished this prayer, he and the disciples crossed the Kidron Valley and entered the Garden of Gethsemane where he would be betrayed (18:1).

The Lord gripped my heart with the most beautiful thoughts of intimacy as Jesus offered his body in Matthew 26:26. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’” The Lord showed me a contrast that was pretty blunt, but at a conference for men and women overcoming LGBTQ struggles, it fit. Jesus offers us his body in a holy, pure way. The Lord reminded me of the men who had offered me their bodies in a sinful way. Their offering did nothing but fuel my insatiable desire for sin. Their offering plunged me deeper into bondage and despair. Jesus’ offering of his body brings life. He offers redemption and transformation. Cleansing and freedom. He offers eternal life. There’s no comparison.

Freedom March Minnesota 2019

I pray that you know the love and intimacy that Jesus shared with his disciples at the Last Supper deeply in your soul. May you joyously receive Jesus’ beautiful offering of love, redemption, and transformation. May you live according to your true identity in Christ every minute of every day. May you experience Jesus’ offering to the fullest.

 

If you or someone you love is struggling to live according to your true identity in Christ, Reconciliation Ministries can help. Call us today at 586.739.5114. We would be glad to walk with you to Jesus, the one who offers you beauty for ashes. You can give him your mess, and he will give you his hope.

Videos for HOPE 2022 will be posted soon.

You can watch the conference videos from previous years conferences at https://www.youtube.com/c/RestoredHopeNetwork/playlists