June 2021 has been proclaimed by US President Biden as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month. (whitehouse.gov) It is a month to glory in the LGBTQ+ Community and its supporters. Many celebrations will take place including formal affairs, street parades, and intimate parties. The LGBTQ+ community and its supporters will raise their rainbow flags and glory in their right to make their own decision and do all their heart desires.
The diversity of the LGBTQ+ Community is encouraged and embraced. Their rights and inclusion is requested of all US Citizens. In the month of June, the spotlight is put on these individuals and their community so “they will sparkle for the whole world to see.” Pride month is promoted and loved for three reasons according to nationaltoday.com:
– It is for everyone.
– It is fun with a capital F.
– It shines a light on the LGBTQ+ issues.
Pride month encourages awareness, acceptance, and allegiance of the LGBTQ+ community. We perceive participants and their supporters as people with the right to decide what is best for them. LGBTQ+ community members seek acceptance and want others to agree to their way of thinking. Everyone is asked to give their loyalty to this community and glory in their way of seeing things.
As a follower of Christ, what should be our perspective on Pride Month? What should we think? How should we respond? What should we conclude?
The word pride is a close associate of the word glory. LGBTQ+ Pride Month gives glory to the flesh. When the Apostle Paul was presented with an opportunity to take pride in flesh, he took a more excellent way saying, “far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
Paul, in this one short statement said, replace pride in humanity or human ways with pride in the cross of Christ. The Pride we have in the cross of Christ puts Christians on a whole different parade route than the LGBTQ+ community’s parade. It doesn’t stop their parade, it provides a more excellent pride than the glory of the LGBTQ+ community.
As Christians, our pride should be in the cross of Jesus Christ. We should promote awareness, acceptance, and allegiance to this important event in history. It was at the cross of Christ a great demonstration took place. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) As believers in Christ, we commemorate that demonstration with high honor and praise every moment of every day.
The awareness that we need this cross is paramount in this pride discussion. We understand from the scriptures that we all fall short of God’s greatness. (Romans 3:23) As followers of God, we believe God became flesh and lived among humanity. (John 1:14) We believe Jesus Christ was the very nature of God. He was flawless and, in His perfection, willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for all the ways we did not agree with him. (Philippians 2:6-8) He died and was buried. Then on the third day, God raised him to life to never die again. (I Corinthians 15:4)
Once we become aware of our vulnerable condition, we recognize we need to accept the help of this King of Glory. Psalm 24:10 provides the solution. “Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.” We accept God, maker of Heaven and earth as the ruler of hosts, the one in charge. He is the measuring stick for all decisions. We accept His rule in our lives. We choose not to think anything but what aligns with His greatness, power, and authority.
Thirdly, we give this King of Glory our allegiance. We are loyal to Him. We are submitted to Him, and boasting only in His action on our behalf. Our pride is in Him. Our promotion is of Him. Our praise is due to Him.
A more excellent pride is for everyone, fun with a capital F, and shines a light. Romans 10:13 says “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” A definition of fun is “enjoyment”. Psalm 16:11 speaks of God saying “You will make known to me the way of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” We, as followers of God, will never have to shine a light because Jesus, the One who died on the cross, is the light. “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)
The lyrics of “At Calvary” written William Newell and put to music by D. B. Towner is an excellent picture of what every true follower of Christ experiences . . a more excellent pride. It was said of William Newell as a young college student, “I never saw a young man with more problems.” Read the full backstory of the song origin here.
AT CALVARY (Newell/Towner)
Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me He died… on Calvary.
Refrain:
Mercy there was great, and grace was free; pardon there was multiplied to me; there my burdened soul found liberty… at Calvary.
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned; then I trembled at the law I’d spurned, till my guilty soul imploring turned… to Calvary. (Refrain)
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything, now I gladly own Him as my King, now my raptured soul can only sing… of Calvary! (Refrain)
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span… at Calvary! (Refrain)
As LGBTQ+ Pride Month is occurring all around us, please consider a more excellent pride than that of the LGBTQ+ community. Pray for the light of the knowledge of God in the presence of Jesus Christ to be exposed all around us. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Written by Anne Gurley (6/27/2021)
