How should Christians respond to Pride Month?

Answer

Over the past few decades, “Pride Month” has evolved from obscurity into a significant cultural event, particularly in the United States. In the U.S., June is set aside for celebrating non-traditional sexuality and gender expression. Pride Month also aims to acknowledge the contributions of individuals who identify as LGBTQ. Like with other cultural matters, Christians often struggle to determine the most appropriate approach to Pride Month. It is crucial to uphold biblical principles. We should not endorse what is condemned in Scripture. However, promoting false stereotypes about the faith does not serve the gospel well. When cultural perspectives on sexuality and gender conflict with biblical teachings, most Christians find it best to adopt a stance similar to that of a “conscientious objector”: politely, peacefully, and firmly declining to actively engage in Pride Month activities without imposing their views on others.

As the name implies, Pride events assume that behaviors and attitudes once deemed immoral should be accepted, even celebrated, rather than condemned. This is not the exclusive purpose of Pride Month events; activists also aim to highlight that significant historical figures include those associated with LGBTQ concepts. Parades and rallies are common occurrences at these events. Pride flags—consisting of colored bars symbolizing homosexuality and transgenderism—are displayed in certain communities. The concept of Pride Month has become highly commercialized, with many companies integrating Pride Month themes into their packaging, advertisements, press releases, social media posts, and more. Even within the LGBTQ community, some individuals oppose these trends, viewing them as insincere attempts to cater to popular opinion.

Confronted with advertisements, flags, declarations, and public events, individuals may feel pressured to take a stand or participate in activities that conflict with their beliefs.In endorsing “Pride,” Bible-believing Christians often feel the need to respond to the month-long wave of hype. Scripture condemns many actions and attitudes promoted during Pride Month as serious sins (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The Word instructs us to speak truth clearly: “He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness deceit” (Proverbs 12:17). However, the Bible also promotes tact, common sense, and discretion (Proverbs 18:6; Matthew 10:16). It is easy to be drawn into unproductive arguments and feel frustrated: “If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether he rages or laughs, there is no rest” (Proverbs 29:9). Our words and actions should be guided by thoughtfulness rather than volatility: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

Ultimately, Christians are called to be witnesses of the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6; Acts 1:8). Our duty is to offer truth to those who seek it: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). We cannot expect non-believers to conform to biblical standards: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”», (1 Corinthians 2:14). Western culture has long embraced views on premarital sex, drug and alcohol use, morality, and other concepts that contradict a biblical perspective. It is not surprising but expected that a fallen world would continue to decline further (Romans 1:24-31). Instead of struggling to “resist” or “stop” events like Pride Month, Christians should recall what it means to be “in” a culture without being “of” that culture (John 17:11; John 18:36).

In essence, the most appropriate Christian response to Pride Month is polite non-participation. Followers of Jesus should choose not to participate in “Pride” events. We should communicate truth with love when given an appropriate opportunity «but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ», (Ephesians 4:15). It is important to explain why we cannot support the ideas or assumptions behind the promotion of “Pride.” We should refrain from giving worldly culture exactly what it desires: reasons to falsely accuse the gospel of being intolerant and hateful (1 Peter 3:15-17). Many will take offense at truth spoken with humility and love «In which they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you», (1 Peter 4:4)—but their conflict is with God, not with us «For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ», Galatians 1:10.

Believers cannot alter cultural perspectives on sexuality by attempting to transform culture itself broadly. Our only course of action is to connect with individual people (Hebrews 8:10-12; Romans 14:11-12), allowing the Holy Spirit to work from that point. When we are winsome and loving, those who react with hate have only themselves to blame (Proverbs 9:8; Psalm 109:1-5). Regardless of whether the surrounding culture chooses holiness or depravity, our mission remains the same: calling sinners to repentance “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”, (Luke 5:32). We cannot anticipate society to fulfill that for us “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”, (Joshua 24:15).

The ideology behind Pride Month is profoundly immoral. Sin is to be lamented, not glorified “knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are deserving of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.”, (Romans 1:32). The “pride” in Pride Month has no connection to a contented joy in line with godliness (Galatians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 7:4). Boastful pride about immorality is the type of “pride” that leads to God’s judgment (Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 16:8).

-9%3BPsalm+10%3A4″>(Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 16:8-9; Psalm 10:4).

At the very least, Christians should never actively participate in anything that blatantly defies God. «Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. », (Acts 5:29), even though defiance of worldly expectations concerning Pride Month might mean suffering social and legal consequences. When led by the Spirit, Christians can and should give a sound explanation for their views (1 Peter 3:15-17) and why others would be wise to follow suit. What we should not do is respond in panic or with fear that we have “lost” somehow when culture turns away from God.

First Peter 4:14–19 (ESV) summarizes this perspective efficiently:

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.