Breaking Misconceptions: Why Pride Month is Not Demonic
In a world where misunderstandings often create division, it's crucial to break down the misconceptions surrounding Pride Month and recognize it as a time of celebrating diversity and affirming God's unconditional love for all. For many, Pride Month is an opportunity to honor the courage, resilience, and identities of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s important for the church to engage with this celebration in a manner that reflects the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.
There is a photo that is circulating around social media. It says Pride Month and then it highlights the word demon (see below). I wanted to approach this with a response. This photo has been posted by a few non-affirming Christians. Although, it may not just be them. It’s not hard to wonder why people keep the church at arm’s length.The truth is we need to educate ourselves and we must make space for the LGBTQ+ community. So, when you post things like this, it is disrespectful to humanity. Now, there are real demons that exist. Some demons we each face in different ways at different seasons of our lives, whether literal or metaphorical. However, I do not believe that Pride Month is necessarily evil or demonic. I believe the church zeroes in on this one particular issue (and sin) while dismissing so many other sins.
Understanding God’s Love for All
We can have different perspectives and beliefs regarding marriage and the theology about homosexuality. That is okay. Yet, we can still be in a relationship with one another and have these beliefs. But there is nothing in scripture that dictates disrespect or destroying their humanity by being violent or even oppressive.
Actually scripture commands the opposite. The Bible is full of verses that command us to love one another and live in unity. In John 13:34-35, Jesus tells His disciples, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." This call to love one another is foundational to the Christian faith. It transcends all barriers and invites us to see every person as a beloved child of God. For we were all created in the image of God.
Challenging Misconceptions
Unfortunately, there are misconceptions within the Christian community that equate Pride Month with sinful behavior or demonic influence. This perspective not only alienates the LGBTQ+ community but also misrepresents the heart of the Gospel. Jesus consistently reached out to those who were marginalized, offering them hope, love, and a place in His kingdom.
Colossians 3:14 reinforces this message: "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Love is the glue that holds us together, and it is through love that we can build bridges instead of walls.
Pride represents so much more than gay identity, rainbows, and parades. Pride actually is freedom, fighting for equal rights, human dignity, respect, loving yourself more than needing to be loved by others, feeling free, feeling alive, and having community. It is celebrating humanity. The church could learn a lot from the pride community. They are open and connected with one another. They are vulnerable with one another.
The Church’s Role in Loving the LGBTQ+ Community
Listen and Learn: Regularly examine your bases and privilege. Engage in open and respectful conversations with LGBTQ+ individuals. Listen to their stories, experiences, and struggles without judgment. This fosters understanding and empathy, breaking down barriers of ignorance and prejudice.
Affirm Their Dignity: Every person is made in the image of God and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Affirm the inherent worth of LGBTQ+ individuals and stand against any form of discrimination or dehumanization.
Create Safe Spaces: The church should be a sanctuary for all, a place where everyone feels safe and accepted. Develop ministries and support groups that specifically cater to the needs of LGBTQ+ members, offering them a community where they can grow in their faith and feel loved.
Advocate for Justice: Stand with the LGBTQ+ community in their fight for equal rights and justice. Support local LGBTQ+ businesses. Use your voice and platform to speak out against injustices and advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals.Condemn any anti-LGBTQ+ comments in public and private.
Reflect Jesus’ Compassion: Jesus was known for His compassion and His willingness to associate with those whom society often rejected. In Galatians 6:1-2, we are reminded, "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This scripture calls us to gentle restoration and burden-sharing, reflecting Jesus’ compassionate nature.
A Charge For the Church
As Christians, our primary mission is to love God and love others. 1 Peter 4:8 tells us,"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." By embracing the LGBTQ+ community with open arms and hearts, we not only follow Jesus’ command to love one another but also represent the transformative power of the Gospel. Pride Month is not demonic; it is a celebration of humanity.
Let us move forward with a commitment to love and unity, ensuring that the church is a beacon of hope, compassion, and grace for all people.
1 John 4:7–8
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love".
