Compassion, Condemn or Condone? A Biblical view of ‘Pride’

Introduction

This month as many of you know is what has become known as ‘Pride’ month.

According to my reading, Pride month is celebrated in June because of the ‘Stonewall’ Riots’ where in June of 1969, police raided a gay bar in Greenwich Village in NYC. This sparked a riot and began the ‘gay pride’ marches that followed there a year later.

Our Federal Govt. first recognized Pride month in June of 1999 when then President Bill Clinton declared June “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”. (Go figure it would take a sexual degenerate to get the party started).

Then in 2009, then President Barak Obama declared it LGBT Pride Month (expanding you see)

Then in 2021, the man who holds the office of President declared it LGBTQ Pride month.

I expect the next Democratic president to declare it LGBTQ+, then ++, then +++

But this being what it is, it’s important that we have the proper outlook on the subject. I think it’s important to address it properly.

As most of you know, this is not a topic that I speak about often. I find that for many preachers, it’s a weekly occurrence, it’s one of those things that oftentimes will get a lot of ‘Amen’s from the pews… but the reason I don’t go down the road of ‘gay bashing’ is because ‘pride’ itself doesn’t effect directly the majority of the church.

God didn’t place me here to get Amen’s, He placed me here to help you.

That being said, this message will hopefully lay out the Biblical basis on how we should approach the ‘Pride’ movement that we are inundated with.

The Scripture that I chose might seem strange to you. Many on this subject might have used Lev. 20:13 or Rom. 1 - but I chose this passage it speaks of Compassion, which is by and large the mindset we need as we deal with this topic.

The first thing to examine is ‘The Acknowledgment’

I. The Acknowledgement

As I go through this point, I have each sub-point labeled ‘pride’. I did that to cast as large an umbrella as possible to address. In other words, I’m not just talking about the homosexuals, but the transexuals, pansexuals, inter-sexuals, pedo-sexuals, extra-sexuals (and terrestrials) - any and all ‘sexuals’ that do not fall under the classification of adult, married, heterosexual, monogamous relations.

‘Pride’ will Stay

The effect of this ‘acceptance’ upon America is hard to quantify - impossible in fact until we get a generation or two down the road (providing the LORD tarries).

As it stands right now, Gallup polling showed:

3.5% - 2012

4.5% - 2017

5.6% - 2020

7.1% - 2021

This report stated that among adult Gen. Z, 21% of that age group identified as such.

The more our country vers into socialism and embraces sodomy and rejects the Bible, the more prevalent this will become.

‘Pride’ is Celebrated

What I want you to understand is that we didn’t get to where we are by accident. The process that led us to Target selling ‘tucking’ bathing suits and Walmart blazing queer Mickey Mouse clothing has been in the works for years.

This was what is known as the Homosexual Agenda, and it came in two parts:

Part I: Indifference

The homosexual agenda includes desensitizing the public: "The first order of business is desensitization of the American public concerning gays and gay rights.....To desensitize the public is to help it view homosexuality with indifference instead of with keen emotion. Ideally, we would have straights register differences in sexual preferences the way they register different tastes for ice cream or sports games....At least in the beginning, we are seeking public desensitization and nothing more. We do not need and cannot expect a full 'appreciation' or 'understanding' of homosexuality from the average American. You can forget about trying to persuade the masses that homosexuality is a good thing. But if only you can get them to think that it is just another thing...then your battle for legal and social rights is virtually won" “The Overhauling of Straight America." Guide Magazine. November, 1987

Part II: Affirmation

The Creation of ‘Hate’ Crimes

Gay Marriage Rights

‘Equal’ Benefits

You see, it’s not enough for you to accept it today, you must celebrate it. If you DON’T celebrate pride month as a major corporation, then you demanded to know why you won’t support human rights. You are in essence bullied into it.

Shame on corporations for not standing against it, but what do you expect from a pig but a grunt?

‘Pride’ has Cause

The next thing that I want to acknowledge is that ‘Pride’ has a cause. What I mean by that is, prior to the recent social contagion factor, people didn’t typically just ‘choose’ to be gay.

I know this statement goes against most of what we have been saying forever - but I don’t mean it as it sounds. Hear me out.

There are factors that lead to the development of unnatural attractions.

Abuse

“A new (2022) study at Vanderbilt found that 83% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer individuals reported going through adverse childhood experiences such as sexual and emotional abuse, and worse mental health as adults when compared to their heterosexual peers.”

I can only imagine being a child and experiencing the trauma of sexual abuse. I can imagine the confusion, anger, resentment - and everything that goes on with it causing you mental issues.

This is why I have little patience for child abusers. If I wrote the laws, child abusers would be hung. In fact, what should be done is what Jesus said: Luke 17:1–2 “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

Neglect

Many young girls that veer off into sexual deviancy, whether it’s pornography or sodomy, etc have father issues.

Social Contagion

Another is the social aspect.

Today, the fact that being gay or different sexually will get you attention. Attention that you wouldn’t normally receive.

(Ill.) Here in this small town, we have school guidance counselors, and the Boys & Girls club celebrate it on social media!

Born that way

What I mean is that we’re all born sinners. We all have sin and the propencity to sin within us - that’s not an excuse, but that’s a cause.

‘Pride’ is still Sin

Regardless of Cause, ‘Pride’ - be it in whatever form - is still sin in the eyes of God, and there’s no excuse that is acceptable unto God for it.

And it’s sin, not because I say it is, but because the Bible says it is.

Leviticus 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

Some will say ‘Well that’s OT and it doesn’t matter to us today’ - but that’s where you’re wrong:

There are ceremonial laws that are not applicable to us today, but this is not a ceremonial law, it’s a moral law - and the precept still has value today as well. The precept being that it’s still sin. God never said anything to overrule this precept.

And this sin - LIKE ALL SIN - is not to be condoned, but is to be condemned.

We see the Acknowledgement. Next I want to examine the Affront

II. The Affront

Affront (def) an action or remark that causes outrage or offence. —origin Middle English: from Old French afronter ‘to slap in the face, insult’, based on Latin ad frontem ‘to the face’.

The sin of ‘pride’ is an Affront to God - it’s a slap in His face, for several reasons.

Pride - an Elevation of Self

You know, I understand why they call it ‘pride’, but you’d be hard pressed to fine a more ungodly premise under which to operate.

(Ill.) This past week during VBS, we had the lesson on humility. Now I’ve read my Bible pretty thoroughly, but one thing that escaped me till then (actually the day after) was the great stress that God put upon the importance of humility and the rejection of pride.

Over and over again, Jesus spoke of this principle:

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:4 “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Mark 9:35 “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

Luke 18:14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Matthew 20:25–27 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:”

You see, whenever you elevate self, you are minimizing God.

Pride is an Affront to God

Transexuals - a Rejection of God’s Creation

The Bible tells us: Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

We are made ON purpose FOR purpose. And God created us MALE and FEMALE, ON purpose, FOR purpose. Everyone of us is Created by God! Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

And when we reject the way in which God made us, we are in effect saying that we KNOW BETTER than God. We are saying that we’re SUPERIOR to God. We are REJECTING GOD’S CREATION.

Transexuals Reject God’s Creation

Sodomy - a Rejection of God’s Design

The Bible tells us: Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

God created sex for two reasons:

A bond of unity between married couples - in that, He made it a pleasurable experience

Also for Procreation - to give rise to the next generation.

Since God doesn’t honor or recognize marriage of the same sex, then the purpose of the bond is not valid

Same sex relations cannot produce offspring, so that’s of no use either.

Therefore, Sodomy is a Rejection of God’s Design.

Enabling / to Condone - a Rejection of God’s Word

Those who condone, excuse or enable the practice of ‘Pride’ are just as sinful and guilty as the offenders.

You may not be guilty of the sin of Sodomy, but you’re guilty of the sin of unbelief because you’re rejecting God’s Word. God’s Word clearly says it’s wrong - and you’re choosing to reject that an accept sin.

If you fall into the ‘Love is Love’ trap, then you need to rethink your position.

“Love is love” is wrong for the same reason as “sex is sex” is wrong. Some will say Love is love and it doesn’t matter if that’s between a man and woman or two men, or two women - but that’s a stupid argument. Is love still love when it’s between a man and a child? Is love still love when between a man and an animal? (You know, God spoke about that too - is that still wrong, or not? Did God get the one right and mess up on the other one?) In order to determine whether it’s right or wrong, we must understand the context.

If we CONDONE it, then we are ENABLING it.

If we’re ENABLING it, then we are EXCUSING the behaviour that led up to it - and in many instances, an accomplice to crime.

How about instead of ‘accepting them the way they are’, we find and punish the perverts that contributed to their suffering?

We’ve seen the Acknowledgement and the Affront. Lastly, we’ll look at The Approach

III. The Approach

Condemn the Sin

We have no choice but to condemn sin.

We have no authority to accept what God condemns

We have not authority to pick and choose which sins we agree with

We do not MAKE the rules, we simply must PLAY BY them

(Ill.) Let’s say I was playing golf - (I’m bad at gold btw), but because I’m bad at golf, I decide that the MOST number of strokes determines the winner, not the least. You’d say ‘Well that’s stupid, you have no authority to change that’ - to which you’d be right, but I have more authority to change golf rules, than you do to change what God deems as sin.

We must condemn the sin. Now notice I didn’t say the sinner. Most will not speak to me, because they don’t like what I have to say. But I don’t hate them & I don’t want them to go to Hell either.

So what do we do? We Demonstrate Compassion

Demonstrate Compassion

By and large, these people are hurting. They are hurting:

Because they’ve been hurt

Because they feel lonely or abandoned

They’ve been lied to and sold a false bill of goods. They’ve been told ‘Embrace the gay - and it will get better’: yet the suicide rates don’t decline. They tell them ‘Change your sex - that will solve everything’, then they do, but it doesn’t. We must show them compassion

But here’s the thing: What does compassion look like in this situation?

Most seem to think that affirmation is the way to show compassion - but they are wrong. The way you show compassion is to say ‘Listen, I know you’ve been hurt, I know what it’s like to feel lonely. But there’s someone who has felt that too, His name is Jesus. This society has sold you a lemon - but Jesus can save you from the penalty of sin and from the power of it as well! THAT’S COMPASSION!

(Ill.) You don’t walk past a house burning to the ground and wave and say ‘God bless you’ and keep walking. No, you warn them of the danger that they are in! James 2:15–16 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”

We demonstrate Compassion

Care Enough to be Counted

Care enough to do what’s right, not convenient.

It’s convenient today to ‘go along to get along’.

For the Afflicted

We do our part to help those draw into this sin and being destroyed by it.

For the Innocent

I don’t know about you, but I want less of this perversion, not more. I have a grandson that will have to endure the stain of sin that’s blighting our country. I don’t want to leave him a worse world than what was left to me.

For our Future

It’s been said that two things precede the destruction of a civilization: Socialism and Sodomy. Once those two blossom fully, the end is nigh.

America is there, church. With the open prosecution on such frivolous charges that was brought against not only a former president, but the leader from the opposing party, we have ‘Jumped the Shark’. We must do what we can until the return of the LORD.

Conclusion