“I have ever found it, when I have thought the battle was over and the conquest gained, and so let down my watch, the enemy has risen up and done me the greatest injury.โ This quote, by Presbyterian missionary David Brainerd (1718-1747), seems awfully fitting this year as yet another celebration of โPride Monthโ arrives. While Brainerd was most likely speaking about his own spiritual battles with which he wrestled, it seems quite relevant to our current social environment heading into the annual fervor over LGBTQ Pride.
The warning in Brainerdโs quote above is a reminder that the second you let down your guard against an enemy tends to be the very same moment when that same enemy will attack, causing the most harm.
As the month of June arrives each year, I find myself bracing mentally for the flood of rainbow flags on display, announcements of parades that celebrate perversion and ungodly lifestyles. However, this year feels somewhat different compared to the last few years. It almost seems as if there is a subtle reversal happening towards traditional views, family values, and even Biblical truth.
Rather than accepting Pride activism as the norm, some cities, states, and individuals are beginning to push back against its symbols and events.
Signs of Cultural Pushback
Take, for example, Arlington, Texas, which announced the cancellation of one of the largest Pride events in Northern Texas this year. Similarly, in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan, a ban on LGBTQ+ flags on public flagpoles was upheld in September by a U.S. District Judge. In Florida, the city of Clearwater decided to abandon the recognition of Pride Month in favor of โFaith and Family Month.โ At the state level, Oklahoma, Idaho, and Utah have advanced or implemented laws banning Pride flags from being flown on government property, and in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee signed a resolution declaring June as โNuclear Family Month.โ
Praise God for victories like these and others like them! But, even if Pride activism appears less prominent this year, it most certainly has not disappeared, nor has the broader cultural embrace of sexual immorality. More likely, LGBTQ activists and organizations are regrouping until new opportunities arise to promote and normalize their beliefs and values. Just as David Brainered warned about his enemies rising when he let down his guard, the same principle is true regarding the LGBTQ Pride agenda. Becoming complacent will only cause it to roar back stronger than ever.
Public Opinion Still Strongly Favors LGBTQ Causes
Despite recent pushback, public support for LGBTQ causes remains extremely strong, especially regarding anti-discrimination laws. In March, the results from a survey conducted by the Public Religious Research Institute (PRRI) stated that, โThe survey finds that strong majorities of Americans support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ individuals (72%) and favor same-sex marriage (65%), although support for both measures has decreased slightly over the past three years (down from 80% and 69% in 2022, respectively).โ
On the one hand, these survey results show a declining trend related to offering legal advantages for individuals identifying as LGBTQ. On the other hand, there clearly remains an overwhelming majority of people who endorse these efforts.
Recently, NBA player Jaden Ivey criticized the leagueโs promotion of Pride Month. Ivey, who is Christian, posted a video saying Pride Month is a celebration of โunrighteousnessโ and opposing the NBAโs promotion of it. In response, the Chicago Bulls released a statement saying Iveyโs behavior was โconduct detrimental to the teamโ and immediately released him from their roster on March 30, 2026. This incident demonstrates that backlash against those willing to speak truth about sexual immorality is real, swift, and costly! I commend Ivey for his courage to publicly speak Biblical truth when so many others remain fearful.
Another notable example of continued support for Pride Month involves the Stonewall National Monument, the site often considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement. In February, the Trump administration called for the removal of the Pride flag which has flown at the monument ever since it was installed in 2022 under Joe Biden.
Unfortunately, after a lawsuit challenged the decision, the flag was restored, which supporters viewed as another victory for LGBTQ Pride representation. The monument was established in 2016 by former President Barack Obama to commemorate the 1969 police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. The protests that followed became a major turning point in the modern LGBTQ rights movement and is closely tied to the origins of Pride Month.
A Nation Divided
Although attitudes toward Pride may be shifting somewhat toward traditional, Biblical values, itโs clear that widespread support for LGBTQ lifestyles still remains. All things considered, what we have are two very divergent views over a contentious topic that continue to divide our country. While one segment of Americans champion LGBTQ Pride, the other segment vehemently stands against it. The recent push toward conservative values may largely reflect the current Republican political climate. If so, those cultural shifts could quickly reverse should political power change in future elections.
Division Within the Church
The divide over LGBTQ Pride isnโt one which the American Church has escaped either. Many mainline Protestant denominations have moved beyond tolerance and now openly affirm LGBTQ identities and relationships. Denominations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Presbyterian Church (USA) affirm same-sex marriage and ordain LGBTQ clergy. In contrast, denominations like the Southern Baptist Church and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod remain strongly opposed to same-sex marriage and refrain from ordinating LGBTQ ministers.
In between these opposing ends of the spectrum, there are countless churches that struggle over this issue. One such notable example of a larger denomination is the United Methodist Church. The UMC has seen many of its affiliated local churches renounce their membership after a vote in 2024 which removed anti-LGBTQ bans, solidifying a divide within the denomination. This schism isnโt unique to the Methodist Church. Individual churches across the entire spectrum of the Christian faith find themselves having to evaluate where they stand on the subject of โPride.โ
The Importance of Biblical Interpretation
Churches with a high view of Scripture generally oppose LGBTQ Pride and related cultural shifts. These churches are known for interpreting the Bible literally, grammatically, and historically (as they should), and therefore align with the Biblical view that all forms of sexual perversion are sinful and wrong. They believe God meant what He said and said what He meant. Churches that follow other methods of interpretations arrive at vastly different conclusions. This highlights an important truth: how someone interprets Scripture directly shapes their views on cultural issues like LGBTQ Pride.
Standing Firm Without Compromise
While it may feel like a breath of fresh air as we witness a pullback on Pride for those of us who stand on Biblical truth, we canโt stop fighting for righteousness in our country. Christians must continue defending Biblical principles such as traditional marriage, the nuclear family, biological sex, and sexual purity. Advocating for righteous ideals like these isnโt simply limited to discussion either. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is where and how you spend your money. As Iโm sure many of you remember, just a few years ago, companies like Budweiser, Target, and Disney all experienced significant financial setbacks caused by their customer base due to their promotion of LGBTQ Pride related campaigns. Today, these same companies have scaled back on these initiatives to avoid further financial declines. There is truth to the phrase โmoney talks.โ So, donโt just speak with your voice, but let your actions speak as well knowing that they can be just as powerful!
Truth Spoken in Love
As followers of Jesus, we must never forget His love for every person, regardless of their views on “Pride.” Those within the LGBTQ community and those who support and affirm Pride are still our neighbors and not our enemies. Our disagreement isnโt with the individuals themselves who embrace these views, itโs with the ideology that has captivated them and leading them to ruin. Knowing this, standing for righteousness and speaking Biblical truth should never be motivated by spite, hatred, or vengeance. Instead, defending Godly values should be driven by love, compassion, and a desire for all to have a saving relationship with Christ.
This doesnโt mean that our words or actions will be graciously received with acceptance or perceived as caring by those who affirm Pride, but it does mean that when we stand for truth, we are doing it with a heart that aligns with Godโs.
Remaining Vigilant
Sadly, the divide caused by LGBTQ Pride wonโt be resolved anytime soon. On the contrary, we know from Scripture that society will continue to worsen and hearts will be darkened as we approach Christโs return (Ro. 1:20-32, 2 Ti. 3:1-5, 13). But knowing this shouldnโt discourage us.
Instead, it should help us to understand just how great the need is to shine the light of Jesus in an ever-present darkness. For now, let us give thanks to God for the victories we have seen in the battle against Pride, and let us not lower our guard nor cease in our efforts to uphold that which is good, moral, and just.
Instead, I encourage us all to remain vigilant, rooted in Scripture, and committed to shining the light of Christ in a world that increasingly celebrates darkness over truth.
