"No, We’re Not ‘Thick’: A Loving Defence of Biblical Conviction"

A Response to Justin Welby: When Conviction Is Dismissed as “Thick”

Recently, former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby made headlines after confessing at The Cambridge Union that he had been “thick” to once believe in the traditional biblical view of sexuality. In that moment, he didn’t just discard a theological position—he insulted countless believers around the world who have walked a hard, beautiful road of obedience to God, often at great personal cost.

To those who have experienced same-sex attraction and chosen to submit their desires to Jesus, Welby’s words are a slap in the face. These believers are not naïve. They are not backward. And they are certainly not “thick.”

They are courageous.

Many have discovered, sometimes through years of tears, prayer, and community, that God does not shame them—but He does call them. He calls them to trust Him with their whole lives, including their sexuality. In doing so, He doesn’t leave them empty or repressed—He fills them with new identity, new purpose, and yes, real freedom.

The idea that God’s love simply affirms us as we are is incomplete. His love goes deeper—it changes us. Scripture is clear: God’s design for sexual expression is within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. This isn’t a cultural artifact or a temporary guideline. It’s woven into creation and reaffirmed by Jesus Himself.

To now say that believing this is “thick” is to undermine the integrity of the Bible, the testimony of the saints, and the lived reality of those who’ve found healing by surrendering to God’s will.

Welby’s comments hurt because they aren’t just theological—they’re personal. They imply that the blood, sweat, and tears of those who have resisted cultural drift and trusted Scripture were the result of ignorance.

That’s not true.

These believers are not relics of a past era. They are the quiet heroes of today’s Church—those who chose Christ above self, holiness over ease, and truth over comfort.

Some will defend Welby by saying he’s just being compassionate. But real compassion never abandons truth. Jesus showed us that love and truth are never at odds. He welcomed the sinner but never affirmed the sin. He extended grace while calling people to “go and sin no more.”

Blessing same-sex relationships, no matter how “faithful and stable,” crosses a theological line that even Welby himself once acknowledged. To bless what God has not called good is not compassion—it’s confusion.

If you’ve felt mocked or marginalised for holding to biblical sexual ethics—take heart. You’re not thick. You’re not behind. You’re standing in a long line of faithful witnesses who believed that God's Word is true, His design is good, and His grace is enough.

Don’t let go of that.

Yes, it may cost you something. But the reward is eternal—and the presence of Jesus on this journey is worth everything.

This moment with Justin Welby isn’t just about one person’s shift in theology—it’s about what kind of Church we’re going to be. One that reflects the culture or one that reflects the cross?

Let’s be bold enough to believe what God says. Let’s be compassionate enough to speak the truth in love. And let’s never be ashamed to say: Jesus changes everything.