What Does the Word of God Say About 'Pride Month'?

DURING the month of June, rallies and rainbow-colored parades with mostly gay and lesbian celebrities in floats, with picnics and parties, are expected to be among the principal components of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, also called "Gay Pride."

Although "Pride month" is not mentioned in the Bible specifically, it does make clear references to pride and sexual immorality. God commands believers to humble themselves and submit to His truth, not their own desires or societal trends, and declares pride to be a sin that leads to destruction.

Those who want to embrace this cultural trend, including so called “Christians” who want to join in the chorus of "celebrating Pride", would do well to follow these warnings from the Word of God:

"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate." (Proverbs 8:13)

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)

"Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished." (Proverbs 16:5)

"The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'” (Obadiah 1:3)

"The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day." (Isaiah 2:11)

"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” (James 4:6)

"Love is . . . not proud (arrogant)". (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Thus, the very idea of pride goes against the very nature of humility that God desires from His people (James 4:6).

In the context of Pride month, we must approach the celebration of pride with prudence and discernment. We cannot support or celebrate actions that contradict God's plan for human relationships, even though we are obligated to show love and compassion for everyone. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul expounded on this with clarity:

"For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due" (Romans 1:26-27).

While we are called to love all people regardless of their status in life, we cannot condone or celebrate behaviors that go against God's design for human relationships. Instead, we are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and point others towards repentance and reconciliation with God. Early on, Jesus fully understand this need for real and radical change of heart.

"When Jesus heard it, He said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.'” (Mark 2:17)

As Christians, we are obligated to treat everyone with compassion, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). However, we must also uphold the truth of God's Word and not compromise our beliefs in the name of tolerance or acceptance of sin.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)