by Ricky Chelette, Executive Director
You might have noticed that June is Pride Month. For many Christ-followers, the month may be confusing, and rightly so. The name of the month, “pride,” is part of the confusion.
For most Christians, pride is a sin, as clearly pointed out in scripture.1 In the sixth century, Pope Gregory the Great codified the seven deadly sins as Pride, Envy, Avarice [Greed], Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth. St. Thomas Aquinas, the author of the landmark thirteenth-century Summa Theologica, reaffirmed that pride (or “vainglory”) is rebellion against God’s authority, a condition from which all other sins, therefore, emanated.2 I am inclined to agree.
Interestingly, the term’ pride’ has been adopted by various entities, each with its own interpretation. The dictionary, for instance, lists’ pride’ with multiple definitions. The first one, contrary to popular belief, is not about an inflated sense of self but rather about the ‘recognition of LGBTQ identity, affirmation of equal rights, and celebration of visibility, dignity, and diversity in the LGBTQ community (formerly referred to as Gay Pride)’
Words Have Meaning
Imagine you are a non-English-speaking person looking for the meaning of pride. You would be very confused about its actual meaning when the first definition, generally understood to be the most commonly accepted understanding of the word, is defined as the recognition of LGBTQ+ identity. What?
But that is not all. If you are a child in many public schools in America, you might be taught a curriculum written and recommended by the Human Rights Campaign, the largest pro-LGBTQIA+ non-profit organization in the world, that pride is a wonderful thing to be embraced and celebrated by everyone. To further secure their argument in the hearts of children, they also instruct children that “the opposite of pride is shame.”3 And when they say “shame,” they mean the hatred of oneself. However, shame is not the antonym for pride; humility is, according to the same dictionary that lists pride as the recognition of LGBTQ identity.4
The LGBTQ+ community has played a significant role in redefining words and beliefs, leading to a shift in societal understanding of life, reality, and truth. This transformation is a testament to their influence and the power of social change that has transpired over the past thirty years.
A Game of Words
Just think of the influence and impact this word exchange can have on a student. If shame is the opposite of pride, why would any child (or person) ever embrace the opposite of pride? However, we know that humility is pride’s opposite and with humility comes peace. Humility is the very posture necessary for anyone to be willing to conform to the image of Christ. 1 Peter 5:6 states, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” No wonder our world is having such a difficult time accepting the sovereignty of God when we believe to humble ourselves in need of a Savior is to believe that we are to be shamed. This may be why LGBTQ+-identified people parade their sexual inclinations like major league trophies of accomplishment. If who you are, all you do, and how you feel is something to be proud of, you can never identify sin or your need for a Savior. No wonder LGBTQIA+ people believe that when Christians say that LGBTQ+ identity is a sin, we are saying that they should hate themselves. We are not saying they should hate themselves (“shame”), but they, like all of us, need repentance, humility before the sovereign Lord, and His forgiveness and grace accomplished through the blood and work of Jesus.
You Can Make A Difference
So, what must Christians do in this month filled with rainbows inappropriately co-opted, or culturally appropriated, and redefined to further a cause God clearly forbids?5 Here are three suggestions:
- Pray – First, we recognize that every person is God’s image-bearer, worthy of grace, mercy, understanding, and forgiveness, though born in sin and in need of repentance. We must examine our hearts and lives, repent, and believe the gospel. Secondly, we should be heartbroken over the confusion so many are experiencing about who they are and who God is. The father of lies continues to confuse the hearts and minds of people so that they worship the creature rather than the creator.6 We must pray that our eyes would be opened, our hearts receptive to the truth of God, and our lives would be transformed by the Holy Spirit.7
- Speak – We must speak the truth in love. The only truth that transforms is God’s truth – His Holy Word. We cannot hide our light under a bushel or be silenced by the fear that someone will be offended. The gospel is offensive, but only to those who refuse to believe it is life and truth.8
- Invite – Seek to establish relationships with those who may hold to an LGBTQ+ ideology. Invite them to your home for dinner or out for coffee. Get to know them and allow them the opportunity to get to know you. Ultimately, invite them to know the One who defines you and the One who gave His life for them, Our Savior, Jesus.9
In a world that seeks to cancel the voice of Christ in this month called PRIDE, may we, His followers, be faithful to show the love of Christ in how we live, all we do, and what we say. I pray that we will be the hands, feet, and spokesperson for Jesus, pointing others to the One who has given His life for ours and set us free from the bondage of sin. To Him be the glory!
1 Proverbs 8:13: “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 16:5: “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”James 4:6: “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5: “Young men, in the same way, be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Luke 14:11: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
2 https://www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-and-religion/christianity/christianity-general/seven-deadly-sins, accessed 2024.
3 https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/welcoming-schools/documents/Welcoming-Schools-Lesson-Plan_-What-is-Pride.pdf, accessed June 2024.
4 https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pride#american-pride, accessed June 2024.
5 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:12-17, ESV.
6 Romans 1:25.
7 2 Corinthians 3:18
8 1 Corinthians 1:18.
9 Matthew 28:19-20.