In a recent address commemorating “Pride Month” (the month-long celebration in June of all things LGBTQ), President Joe Biden revealed that nearly 14% (about 210) of his “1,500 federal agency appointees identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.” This is just one example of the frenzied celebration of all manner of sexual perversions as individuals, corporations, organizations, and, sadly, even some “Christian” groups trip over themselves trying to be the most enthusiastic in their LGBTQ activism. But what are they really celebrating?
Obviously, on the surface, they are celebrating sexuality identities and sexual diversity—really, what the Bible calls lust and perversion of God’s original design. But that’s not ultimately what those waving rainbow flags in a Pride parade are really celebrating. Their celebration is reveling in the sin at the root of sexual perversions and a myriad of other sins—pride!
Pride is the quintessential human sin—we think we can be our own gods (Genesis 3:5) and do whatever is right in our own eyes (Judges 21:25). It doesn’t matter what our Creator—who designed us, knows what’s best for us, loves us, and died for us—says. To the proud heart, what matters is simply what we want—what sinful, fallible human beings who don’t know everything, are in rebellion against God, and have depraved minds and desires— want. Pride always leads to more sin as we arrogantly think more of ourselves and less of God and his revealed Word. It’s really people shaking their fist at God to declare they are autonomous and can do whatever they want. But . . .
The Bible spills much ink warning against pride. Our culture, and those “Christians” who want to join in celebrating sin, would do well to heed the warnings in the Word of God:
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5)
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
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)
Love is . . . not proud. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
According to James 4:6, God is actively opposing those proudly waving colorful banners and chanting “love is love.” That should strike fear in the hearts of those who have not repented and trusted in Christ, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
But James 4:6 continues, “[God] gives grace to the humble.” There’s grace, freely available, for all who will humble themselves, turn from their sin, and trust in Christ alone for salvation. You see, Jesus died in our place, taking God’s just wrath against sin for us, and freely offers forgiveness and eternal life to proud sinners of all kinds: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
SOURCE
