Matthew Grech, a former LGBT activist, is facing potential imprisonment in Malta after sharing his testimony of leaving behind a gay lifestyle to follow Christ. He spoke to CBN about his journey out of the occult and same-sex relationships, which led him to embrace a Christian life.
Grech was leading a life as a gay activist, but everything changed when he attended a church service and experienced the presence of God and the love of genuine believers. This profound experience led him to embrace Christianity fully. When he began to read the Bible, he came across verses on homosexuality that challenged him. He committed to prayer and decided to align his life with biblical truth. He realized that he did not have to wear the label of being gay anymore and felt hope and a sense of relief. He repented his past lifestyle and started exploring his identity in Christ.
“I did commit my life to Jesus Christ and it’s been an awesome journey of just growing in this new identity and life,” he said, noting how his faith also led him away from a gay lifestyle. “I stumbled upon Bible verses on homosexuality one day. I had never heard homosexuality addressed from a pulpit before, but I was really challenged and I remember just really wanting to be in the will of God.”
However, problems began when Grech shared his story with a local outlet in Malta, which led to accusations of violating Malta’s Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender and Gender Expression Act. The law bans attempts to “change, repress or eliminate a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression,” leading to fines or even jail time. Despite not inviting people to change sexual orientations or undergo therapy to do so, Grech’s discussion apparently did not sit well with some critics who heard it. The police pressed charges against him and the presenters, and the first court case took place last month.
“They wanted to understand why I view sexuality differently as a Christian, and why I would do such a thing … just leaving and forsaking homosexuality altogether as an identity practice,” Grech said. “So, we were discussing it. It was scientific, it was practical, it was spiritual, it was a really interesting conversation.”
According to Grech, the situation is intimidating for Christians like him and aims to discourage them from sharing their experiences. He plans to fight for his rights, though he faces an uphill legal battle. He would likely go to prison for five months or face a 5,000 Euro fine in Malta.
“It’s the first time in my life I have to face a criminal court for simply sharing my Christian faith,” Grech said. “That’s what it is … sharing the hope that we have and sharing the reasoning behind what we believe.”
Grech’s case calls for the need for a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding sexual orientation, gender identity, and religious beliefs. Christians should have the freedom to share their testimonies without fear of legal repercussions, and laws that stigmatize and intimidate individuals for sharing their beliefs should have no place in any nation. Grech’s case also serves as a reminder that there is still much work to be done to create a world where everyone can live and express their authentic selves without fear of discrimination or persecution.
“We’re preparing with our legal team and we do expect to see God move powerfully,” he said. “We believe we have a strong defense without a shadow of a doubt and we do believe that the present law allows for our testimonies to be shared.”
“I’m really looking forward to this day because I believe that it’s time for us to show the real face of what has been put into legislation, and we need to just really remain bold and uncompromising in our witness.”
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