June officially marks the beginning of Pride Month. For many Christians, this may be a worrying time. Christians should not accept homosexuality, but they should not be mean or hateful towards them. Jesus wants us to love everyone as He loves us, and this includes homosexuals. Because this is true, we Christians need to know how to respond biblically during Pride Month.
How should Christians respond to Pride Month?
As Christians, we need to respond to Pride Month in a Biblically accurate manner. This means that we need to love and care for those involved, while also pointing them to Christ. There is no need to be rude, hateful, or mean to those involved in Pride Month. Instead, we need to demonstrate Christ in our actions. The apostle John tells us: “Dear children, let us love not in words or words, but in deeds and in truth” (1 John 3:18). As John says, we need to show our love for them through our actions.
This may lead to the question, “How do I show love to my brother or sister who is struggling with homosexuality?” There are two elements to this answer. For one thing, we can show love by being kind, considerate, and wishing for the best for our brothers and sisters who are struggling with homosexuality. You should not use derogatory words or make fun of them. All this is harmful and cannot turn someone back to the Lord. If the person already knows the Lord, your hurtful words and comments can push him further away from repentance.
Second, we can show love to our brothers and sisters who are struggling with homosexuality by pointing them to the Bible. We need to do this in a way that doesn’t seem like we’re trying to criticize them or say anything negative about them. Rather, we should point out what the Bible says and allow the Bible to convict individuals. It is worth mentioning that there will be many people suffering from homosexuality who will not respond to the teachings of the Bible. They may see that you are trying to impose your faith on them, which will only push them further away from the Lord. Nevertheless, it is important to honor God and use the Bible to show the truth to others.
Choose to form friendships with people who struggle with homosexuality and foster bonds of trust through friendship. Once they trust you and understand that you want the best for them, they may be more willing to listen to the Bible. However, some people may not care about what the Bible says at all and choose to continue living a life of sin. If something like this happens, don’t think of yourself as a failure. Instead, share the Bible and do your best to let the Holy Spirit and the Bible convict you. If you are sharing Bible truth and the message of the gospel, you are doing something right.
Building relationships with the LGBTQIA+ community
As we move further into June, there may be a number of Pride parades and festivals taking place. In my hometown, the Pride Parade is a huge event that draws thousands of people. While it can sometimes be heartbreaking to see so many people turning their backs on God and celebrating sin, going to Pride parades and festivals can be a great opportunity to meet people, build friendships, and help you learn Bible truths. Yes, this may be difficult and scary, but God wants us to help those who don’t know Him or are living a life of sin.
Therefore, we must respond to Pride Month in a way that honors God. There are many extremes among Christians, including those who hate people who suffer from homosexuality and those who embrace sinful behavior. As Christians, we need to approach this situation with prayer and consideration. We need to be loving, caring, and helpful, but we also need to share the words of the Bible. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by the task at hand, turn to the Lord and ask for His help.
God wants everyone to know Him, including those who struggle with homosexuality. He is anxious to save their souls and lives. God never wants His children to remain in a life of sin. God wants all of His children to know, love, and obey Him as written in His Word. People who suffer from homosexuality should not be considered “worse” sinners because all sins are equal in the eyes of God. As such, Christians need to stop trying to categorize certain sins as worse than others, including homosexuality. There is hope for those struggling with homosexuality, and this hope is found in Christ.
Photo credit: ©Brielle French/Unsplash
Vivian Bricker earned a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and then a Master of Arts with an emphasis in Theology. She loves theology, ministry, and all things helping others learn about Jesus. Check out more of her content on Cultivate.
