Pastor Talking Points: SB 934
"When the State Dictates the Soul: A Pastoral Word on Counseling Freedom"
For use in sermons, Bible studies, or small group settings
Pastoral Opening
God calls His people to speak truth in love — and one of the most sacred places that happens is in the counseling room, where broken people seek healing and hope. SB 934 would give the government extraordinary power to punish Christian counselors for doing exactly that.
Key Talking Points
●
California is considering a bill that would allow people to sue their former therapist or counselor — even for counseling that happened decades ago — if they later claim it tried to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.
●
This means a licensed Christian counselor, or even a pastor who holds a counseling license, could face a lawsuit for simply helping someone align their life with biblical values they themselves brought into the counseling room.
●
The bill creates an enormous lookback window — adults can sue up to ten years later, and people counseled as minors can sue all the way until age 40. Counselors have no way to defend against memories of conversations that happened twenty years ago.
●
This is not about stopping abuse. California already has laws for that. This bill specifically targets counseling that affirms what Scripture teaches about sexuality and God's design for human flourishing.
●
When the government decides what counselors are allowed to believe and say, religious liberty and the freedom of conscience — rights given by God, not government — are in real danger.
●
Proverbs 31:8-9 calls us to "open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute." Christian counselors need the church to speak up for them.
Scriptures to Reference
●
Genesis 1:27 — "God created man in his own image… male and female he created them." God's design for human identity is not a political position — it's a biblical reality written into creation itself.
●
Proverbs 31:8-9 — "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the poor and needy." We are called to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves — including counselors facing unjust legal threats.
●
Galatians 6:9 — "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." The pressure to stay silent is real. But faithfulness is not optional.
How to Pray
Invite your congregation to pray specifically for:
●
Christian counselors across California who offer hope grounded in biblical truth — that they would have courage, wisdom, and protection from unjust legal threats.
●
Lawmakers who will vote on this bill — that God would grant wisdom, and that those who know what is right would find the courage to stand for it.
●
Men and women seeking wholeness — that no political agenda would block their access to counseling rooted in God's truth and genuine compassion.
●
The church — that we would not grow passive as the state increasingly reaches into spaces that belong to God: the family, the conscience, and the counseling room.
Small Group Discussion Question
"If a Christian counselor in your community was being sued for affirming biblical values in a private counseling session, what would it look like for your church to stand with them — and what does Scripture call us to do when brothers and sisters face unjust pressure for living out their faith?"
A Gentle Call to Action
This bill is still moving through the California Legislature. You can make a difference by contacting your state senator and asking them to oppose SB 934. Visit californiafamily.org to find your legislator's contact information and learn more. It takes five minutes — and it matters.