PRIDE MONTH – HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS RESPOND?

If some of you are not aware, today marks the beginning of “Pride Month” in the LGBTQ+ community. It is a time that this particular segment of our society, and those that support them in various ways, celebrate their sexuality. They celebrate through events, parades, social media posts, parties, and more. We will see many companies coming out of the woodwork in support of Pride Month. We will see and hear commercials expressing LGBTQ+ pride. And a whole lot more.

Obviously, they chose the word “Pride” because they are proud of their sexuality despite many years (if not decades) of some pretty rough treatment by those not in their community.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not on board with it – but I won’t sugar coat it either – many of these folks have endured quite a bit. They are still humans. They still have hearts and emotions that get wounded. And sadly, it’s often been at the hands (or lips) of Christians.

Unfortunately, it’s during this month that I will see many Christians take to social media to shoult down Pride Month, put homosexuals on blast, and make statements about “American Pride” or “Christian Pride” over “Gay Pride”. All the while they will say they are simply standing up against the tyranny of the sexually rebellious trying to ram their sexuality down the throats of Americans.

No doubt – Pride Month was designed to make a big deal out of the sexuality that the LGBTQ+ community ascribes to. It will absolutely be in your face. It will be around every corner, on every radio, and on every television.

And while we may not agree with it, is this really how we ought to spend this month as Christians? Should we really spend the month pointing the finger at everyone else’s pride while ignoring our own (Matthew 7)?

Or should we find a better way to spend the month that shows the LGBTQ+ community that they are loved, and that the same God that died for us died for them as well? Can we reflect on our own shortcomings and seek the Lord on how we can do better as children of God? Can we find a way to share the gospel with them in a way that communicates the need of a savior in the light of sin without dehumanizing them?

While I will not be taking this month to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride, I will be taking this month to reflect on the fact that pride is a major problem for every single human being in the world (self included) – and is one of the (if not the only) primary causes of the fall of man and seeking to share the gospel in ways that communicates to this community the love God has for them and His desire that no man (or woman) should perish – them included.

After all…

Pride is what leads us all in to some pretty murky sin territory.

Pride is what separates us from God.

Pride is what keeps us from humility.

Pride is what keeps us from kindness.

Pride is what keeps us from compassion.