How Did We Get Here?

During the youth retreat, I talked about Daniel 3. I have spoken in great length about the golden statue during Daniel’s time where majority of the people in Babylon bowed down to this golden statue.

One of the “golden statues” that society bows down to in the month of June is PRIDE MONTH.

What does this flag symbolize?

It can symbolize many things: inclusion, love, and acceptance within the LGBTQIA+. In other words, homosexuality and transgenderism and people who do not identify with any genders.

There are many examples of golden statues in our world, but I want to focus on this one not because I personally want to pick on this one, but because it’s pretty much a part of our culture and society. It’s all over your face. It is most likely supported by some of the public schools, clubs and extracurricular activities in Vancouver.

When I was on vacation, I went to West Edmonton Mall. Almost every single retail store had the pride flag in front. And there’s a big pirate ship in the mall, and it’s plastered with so many rainbow flag.

Perhaps for some of you who grew up in this society for the past 10 years, this flag may be pretty much a normal part of your life and you just go with the flow of our culture.

However, why is PRIDE normalized in our culture? I can say that none of you are old enough to understand what happened unless you do your own study and research.

On the outset, let me say that this lesson is about history. This movement did not come out of nowhere. There’s been stages of philosophy and worldview.

So, let me help you trace our history in the last 15 years or so and how this movement became a normal part of our culture.

Postmodernists rejected objective truth and morality in this pluralistic society. People define what’s true and moral based on culture and science. This position has taken a new form where culture and science don’t define them per se, but one’s personal feelings as the source of authority and authenticity for reality and redefinition of the old school teachings, such as sex and gender.

At the outset, homosexuality and transgenderism were always there. People have struggled with their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Generally speaking, transgenderism was not acceptable in society 15 years ago.

Actually, it wasn’t called transgenderism, but it was called Gender Dysphoria.

It was not part of the social norm.

Homosexuality, however, was at least tolerated.

Movement:

Tolerance: It is to respect behaviour and beliefs that are different from your own, although you might not agree with or approve of them.

In other words, society is told to respect this group of people. You should let them exist and let them live their lives and do their own thing even though you do not agree with them.

However, this movement started to shift society. You are not only to tolerate his group, but you’re told to accept it.

Acceptance: you are to agree with this group. You are to have the same view as this group that homosexuality and transgenderism is an acceptable behaviour.

And I think this shift started back probably in 2012. What might have caused the shift? This is just my guess.

In 2012, there’s an incident where a gay couple went to a baker’s shop and requested that the baker make a wedding cake that celebrates same-sex marriage. However, the baker refused to do it because it went against his religious conscience.

This incident made it to the news and it became a very controversial issue to the point that it went to the court. The gay couple sued the baker for being intolerant and unaccepting.

While this issue is complex, the point is that the baker rejected the couple’s request because his conscience did not allow him to accept such behaviour. By accepting such behaviour, it would go against his conscience.

However, this movement says now that by not accepting us, they would use language to label you as a hater.

Now, you’re being told that you cannot disagree with them nor critique them lest you be called a hateful person. Of course, people don’t want to be called a hateful people, so they bend towards this group of people and start accept them as a loving attitude.

However, this movement takes the society to another shift. Not only do they want people to tolerate them and accept them, but to celebrate with them.

Celebration: It’s a way to express admiration and approval for this group.

In the month of June, you may be aware that it is known as “PRIDE Month.” Initially, in 1970, it was celebrated as “PRIDE DAY.” Now, the movement has grown from a day to now a month. It’s a long observance.

PRIDE was celebrated through parades and parties within the group.

In the last, probably 5-6 years, this movement wasn’t just celebrated within the group, but it is now celebrated by different companies, from banks to retail, to grocery stores. They changed their logos to a rainbow colour. Some would continue to have the flag in their stores to stand in solidarity and support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

That was not the case when I was in university. I think it was unheard of.

However, this movement has shifted from tolerance, to acceptance, to celebration…to now…what I would called…Immersion.

Immersion: In other words, you must be immersed (and educated) about this movement. They want you to be involved. How do they want you to be involved?

They would have teachers in school equipped to educate children in the matter of sexual orientation and gender identity as young as kindergarden.

Some teachers are no longer educators, but political activists aim to teach children that homosexuality and transgenderism is a normal part of life in society.

BUT, this goes even deeper. They also teach children to question their own orientation and gender identity.

Let me draw our attention back to Daniel 3.

The Pride Flag, and all that it symbolizes, is one of the golden statues of our modern day.

It is an idol that is calling all people to bow down and celebrate (which is really worship) it.

Thankfully, we live in a democratic society, not a monarchical society where the king/queen rules society. We have the freedom of expression and conscience. We are not forced to bow down to it per se.

Now, let me be very clear about this.

When I bring this up, I want to be clear that the Bible does not teach us to hate this group NOR to affirm, accept and celebrate this group.

What the Bible does tell us is that the LGBT group is living in sin and are experiencing the judgment of God according to Romans 1.

At the same time, the Bible does command us to love them, but we are not to bow down.

In the beginning, God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman. And God only designed two genders: male and female.

However, to say what the Bible truly says about this subject and to stand firm on it will cost us as Christians.

There might be a day when I, as a pastor, preach and teach this topic, I might get arrested for 5 years.