Pride in Christ Alone

The White House recently offered an official proclamation, declaring the month of June as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month.” Specifically, the President exclaimed, “I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to wave their flags of pride high.” Even before such a proclamation from the highest office in our land, most of us have become increasingly aware of such a movement in our culture. Rainbow colors upon flags and an increasing number of products has come to mean a celebration of a lifestyle that is diametrically opposed to God’s Word. These conglomerations of colors have come to represent a brazen choice to flaunt God’s design for human sexuality and His loving care for the family. As parents who take seriously our calling to disciple our children to follow Jesus, the constant bombardment of a message intent upon undermining the truths of Scripture is nothing less than completely offensive. Often, our first reaction is to remove any semblance of such a message from the view and vocabulary of our children. However, it increasingly permeates every part of our culture, from advertising to even politics. When such flagrant immorality is so shamelessly promoted, how should Christian parents (or any believer) consider such a message as that of “gay pride”?

1. Understand that the celebration of sin was started by our first parents.

In the Garden of Eden, that wily serpent slithered to the side of Eve and tempted her to disregard God’s clear command (Genesis 3:1-5). In an act of gross insurrection, she and Adam chose together to rebel against their Maker and High King. They represented us all, so that we now live in a world which brazenly flaunts the law of God. Their act resolutely proclaimed, “We will be our own gods; we need nor desire God over us.” Though such an act sent they and us spiraling into moral and eternal ruin, this same defiance marks our natures even today. So, when sinners revel in their rebellion against the righteousness of God, we should at least know that this is our pattern. And we have all participated in the celebration of sin to one degree or another.

2. This world has turned the definition of “love” upside down.

With every declaration of the movement of “gay pride” is the addendum that it is a message of love. Acts of love, however they are defined, should be accepted and celebrated by all. This implication is so pervasive that any opposition to such an idea is labeled as hatred. However, since “God is love” (1 John 4:8), He alone has the authority and wisdom to define it. In 1 Corinthians 13, we are instructed that love has several defining marks. One such is that “it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). So, when one goes against the command of Scripture, yet names it “love”, that one is in fact in the delusion of sin. Make no mistake, when Christians oppose the celebration of “gay pride”, we will be branded as hatemongers. However, we must resolutely decide upon the world’s definition of love, or that of a loving God.

3. Pride is not an action that ends well.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Even those who brazenly celebrate sin would rarely admonish the celebration of such an egregious attitude as that of pride. Yet, those advocating the glories of a sexual revolution have actually given this very moniker to their debauched merriment. Yet, like countless who have spurned this biblical principle, and are now upon the ash heap of history, those who celebrate willful rebellion against God will eventually come to personal, and even eternal, ruin. If God’s mercy through faith in Christ does not intervene, their destruction will be eternal.

4. Such celebration of sin should embolden believers with compassion.

The flagrant disregard of God’s law as expressed in “gay pride” should appall the follower of Christ. Such sin (as with every sin) breaks the heart of a loving and holy God. Disobedience to the command of God leads to overwhelmingly brokenness. When sin is promoted, people are separated from God and are destructive to one another. However, we must be careful that we do not stand against gay pride with another form of pride that is just as atrocious in the eyes of God—that pride of self-righteousness. Remember, God did not save us because of our own goodness, but only because of His great mercy in Christ (Titus 3:5-7). When Jesus came to our world, He did not come to bring condemnation, but rather, salvation (John 3:16-17). In the same manner, He now calls us to reach out in mercy and compassion to those trapped in sin, even as we once were. May every gay pride march and celebration cause us to consider one who is broken in sin and for whom Christ died to save.

5. Boast in nothing but Christ alone.

Living in such a culture can be accompanied by great fear. Parents want to shield their children from such immorality. Churches bemoan the oppressiveness of spiritual darkness all around. We all wonder what will become of a nation which increasingly spirals into moral and spiritual depravity. However, do not be convinced by what reason exclaims; rather, take note that God’s Word invites and commands us not to fear! “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). We are called to boast and take pride in one thing—Jesus Christ and His cross (Galatians 6:14). Yes, we are weak. However, our weakness becomes the very thing which God uses to celebrate His power in us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). While our culture takes pride in independence from God, let us take pride in our complete dependence upon Him!

It is rather curious that the very symbol for which the gay pride movement has chosen for their message is that of the rainbow. It is not the first time such a beautiful mixture of colors has been chosen as a symbol. God declared to Noah that the rainbow would always be a reminder of His great wrath against our sin, as expressed by the Great Flood. Yet, even in wrath, God remembers His mercy. The rainbow reminds us that God is faithful and longs to forgive our sin if we will come to Him through Christ. So, even as you see the rainbow colors meant to represent that which breaks the heart of God, remember also that this symbol is first the Lord’s. He is a God of great wrath. He is a God of great mercy.

Jason