How Should a Christian Respond to Pride Month?   

Whenever the month of June rolls around, I know we are about to be bombarded for a month with repeated rhetoric from companies promoting the LGBTQA+ movement.  It is strange that we designate an entire month to celebrate a small percentage of people’s sexual appetites and romantic attractions.

What is there to celebrate about a changing one’s gender?  Why should I celebrate putting a child on hormone blockers? Why should I celebrate a 16-year-old girl having her breasts removed because she believes she’s male? Why should I celebrate a lifelong regimen of hormones? Why should I celebrate something that causes people so much physical and mental pain, even after “transitioning?”  Not me.

This month many companies heavily advertising LGBTQA+ products on their websites, commercials, emails, and tweets.  We all feel the relentless barrage of messages, eager for your applause for a slice of the population’s sexual craving.  Many popular brands continue to incorporate rainbow colors to show their support and are donating the money you spend on their merchandise to LGBTQA+ charities.  To name a few: Abercrombie & Finch, Williams Sonoma, Yankee Candle, Skittles, 1800-Flowers, PetSmart, UGG, Kohl’s, Bath & Body Works, Levi Strauss & Co., Guess Watches, Bombas, Nautica, Converse, Ulta Beauty, Saks, Ralph Lauren, Peloton, The Body Shop, Olay, Fossil, Nordstrom, Crocs, Reebok, Adidas, Converse, Joanne Fabrics, QVC, Target, Toms, Vistaprint, Walgreens, Hershey, Microsoft, Apple, Walmart, Kroger, Home Depot, Pizza Hut, Disney, Discovery+, Lego, Oreo, Verizon, and the list continues to grow.  We all know that the bottom line for companies is stockholder wealth; profits are more important than morals.  Companies have quickly hopped onboard because they do not want to be viewed as anti LGBTQA+, that would mean negative publicity (less profits).  Also, they don’t want to disenfranchise a small percentage of their own LGBTQA+ employees.

Pride parades are scheduled throughout the world during June where thousands attend even families bringing their kids to witness debauchery on full display.  It wouldn’t surprise me, that in the near future there will be other parades: Polygamy Pride, Pedophilia Pride, etc.  or perhaps they will just incorporate them into the LGBTQA+ group.

What exactly does pride mean?  The dictionary says pride is, “a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority”.

C.S. Lewis had it right when he said, “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind…… it is Pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began.”

“If your pride causes you to exalt yourself, you are painting a target on your back and inviting God to open fire. And he will. For he has declared his determination to bring it low wherever he finds it, whether among angels or humans, believers, or unbelievers. It was pride that caused Lucifer to be cast out of heaven and Adam and Eve to be cast out of Eden. And it is pride that will be our undoing if we tolerate it in our lives. The danger of pride is a sobering reality that each of us needs to ponder. Truly, it is our greatest enemy.”

What does God’s Word say about pride? 

Here are just a few scripture verses mentioned in the Bible about pride.

“In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” Psalm 10:4

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  Proverbs 16:18

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace.”  Proverbs 11:2

What Does God’s Word Say About Homosexuality?

Scripture teaches that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God. When people continue in sin, God will give them over to even more wicked and depraved sin to show them the futility and hopelessness of life apart from God.  One of the fruits of rebellion against God is homosexuality.

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped … the creature rather than the Creator … . For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Romans 1:25–27

When wrong is seen as right, when evil is seen as good; you are looking at rebellion against God.  The Pride Parade’s draw people who celebrate sexual immorality and those who approve of this practice are also defiantly shaking their fist at God.

“Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”  Romans 1:32

Scripture says that those who practice sexual immorality, do not practice sound doctrine but more importantly, are not saved and will not go to heaven.

“the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine”.  1 Timothy 1:10

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9–10

Yes, Jesus Talked About it

Jesus says that what comes out of your heart that defiles you.   Jesus lists the sins of the heart, one being sexual immorality, which means all forms of sex outside of marriage.

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matthew 15:19  

Jesus also affirmed Genesis 2:24, that marriage is between one man and one woman for life.   He did not change or redefine marriage for other alternatives.

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

We are warned in Revelations that sexual immorality (and other types of sin) are a serious offense to God.  Sexual immorality includes pre-marital sex, adultery, and same-sex activity, which is described throughout the Bible.

“Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”  Rev. 22:15

In the Workplace

First of all, equality and respect are a must in the workplace.  I have personally trained several openly gay men in the workplace over the years.  They were funny, witty, caring, and smart.  I enjoyed talking and laughing with them.  However, their sexual choices were abnormal to me especially in light of knowing what God says … they have exchanged their natural desires for unnatural desires.  Honestly, I always felt sad for them.  I knew that God created them for so much more that what they have chosen, and they are missing God’s intended best for them.  In the workplace today, many hear a constant drumbeat with one message, that message is you better get onboard the ever changing woke culture ideology and that includes celebrating Pride Month.

Temptation Is All Around Us

The truth is, we are all sinful human beings living in a sinful world.  We inherently have weaknesses and temptations all around us. Every day our world is filled with more and more lures and entrapments.  What may be a temptation for one person, may not be a temptation for someone else.  God has an answer to sexual temptation.

“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”  1 Corinthians 7:2

How Can We Be Set Free from Temptations?

When we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live within your heart.  He will begin changing your heart and desires, to conform to God’s heart and desires.  Soon you’ll have the strength to resist your temptations.  The transformation in your life will happen.  I’ve never seen it happen instantly, but I assure you it will happen.

“We can resist temptation by walking by the Spirit so as not to “gratify the desires of the flesh”. Galatians 5:16

“When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand-new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Numbers Are Going Up

According to a recent Gallup 2022 poll the number of those who identify has LGBQ+ has increased to a new high of 7.1%, which is double the percentage from 10 years ago. Not surprisingly, the largest group is Generation Z (born 1997-2003) with 20% identifying as LGBTQA+.  Why the upward trend?  Some reasons … Gen Z has grown up amid the Supreme Court’s recognition of same-sex marriage, the increase of LGTQ activism, the disintegration of traditional family, and children not knowing God nor being taught the Bible.  So now we see a cultural drift in the acceptance of sexual perversion.  I don’t see the trend reversing, it’s only getting worse.

Who has a goal to destroy lives, relationships, and the family?  Satan, the master of deception and lies, the antithesis of God.  Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30   Which side are you on? God or Satan.  You can’t be on the fence, there is no in-between.

What Should a Christ Follower Do About Pride Month?

  • No need to get angry and say mean-spirited things.
  • Get to know individuals in the LGBTQA+ community. Pray for them.  God commands us to love others as you would love yourself (Matthew 22:39).
  • As a parent, take action if the schools/government are promoting and/or forcing the LGBTQA+ ideology on your children.
  • Ignore the parades. Don’t participate in celebrating LGBTQA+ activities.

When June comes around and Pride Month is celebrated by “the world”, instead of being angry, have compassion on those who identify as LGBTQA+.  Pray specifically that the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sin, that they become fully aware that God is not pleased with their choice, that they repent, turn from the path they are currently walking and follow the path of Christ.

In summary, God’s standards for sexuality are much different than those of our culture.  As a Christian, we do not reside in heaven yet.  We live in a fallen world where people will always be rebellious.  Sadly, there will always be people who intentionally turn their backs on God. When you were saved, God didn’t immediately take you to heaven.  Instead, you were left here on planet earth to tell those who have excluded God in their lives, about why Jesus came to earth and willingly died on a cross for their past, present and future sins.  Tell them that God desires for all people to be saved.

“God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:4