Let me begin with my thesis: if pride is a sin and pride feeds on attention, then attention is the last thing we should give it. This is why I do not typically respond to Pride Month—not out of hate, but out of love for a community that is celebrated for wedding itself to the vice of pride, a sin the Bible clearly condemns (Prov. 8:13; 16:18; James 4:6).
This will be my one and only statement on Pride Month, and I want to explain why.
The most important thing for Christians to know about Pride Month is that it should serve as a reminder to pray for the LGBTQ+ community, people who are just as much God’s image-bearers as anyone else (Gen. 1:26–27). Many of our neighbors, our friends, our coworkers, and, for some, our families are members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Bible is clear: if we cannot speak with love, we are only adding to the noise (1 Cor. 13:1–3). If you cannot speak with love on this issue, it is often best not to speak at all (Prov. 17:27).
When I see Pride Month celebrated through parades, corporate campaigns, and social media accounts draped in rainbows for a month, my heart breaks because what Scripture identifies as sin is being openly celebrated. A broken heart can have sharp edges, and so I am careful to ensure that my words do not carry anything less than the truth and love of God. I have absolutely no hatred for the LGBTQ+ community, but I do have deep concern for their souls and for what this celebration means for our culture.
This is a community of people who should experience the love of Christ from Christians. But to be clear, I mean the love of Christ, not the world’s definition of love. Though we use the same word, they are not the same thing. The love of Christ includes words of truth, and often those are words we do not like or want to hear because they confront our beliefs and even our identity.
The world’s definition of love excludes love for enemies and love for God. Christ’s love extends even to enemies (Matt. 5:43–48). As Jesus taught, “If you love those who love you, what reward do you have?” (Matt. 5:46).
Likewise, the world’s definition of love is often unconditional affirmation of personal identity and personal choices. This stands in stark contrast to Christ’s love, for He told even those who were forgiven and restored to “go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11).
Some will argue that Pride Month is not about self-exaltation but about self-affirmation. In my observation of this month, I find that distinction difficult to maintain. The messages I consistently hear are, “Celebrate who you are” and “Never change who you are.” Those are not calls to humility, repentance, or submission to God. They are calls to esteem, affirm, and celebrate the self—often accompanied by very public displays and even parades.
Christ welcomed all people into His fold, but to follow Him meant more than acceptance—it meant repentance. Jesus taught that those who believe in Him must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23; Matt. 16:24). He called sinners not merely to be affirmed, but to repent and turn to God (Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32). His love was both compassionate and transformative, calling people to receive His grace and repent of their sin (Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32).
As Christians, we should be deeply concerned whenever a movement encourages people to glorify themselves rather than glorify God, whether under the banner of self-exaltation or self-affirmation. Scripture consistently teaches that our boast should be in the Lord, not in ourselves, our desires, or our identity (Jer. 9:23–24; Gal. 6:14; 1 Cor. 1:31).
Christians should speak out of care for their neighbors, not criticism of them.
Christians should speak from the truth of God, not from the tolerance of sin.
If members of the LGBTQ+ community think their Christian neighbors hate them, that should be a call for Christians to reexamine their approach. If members of the LGBTQ+ community think their Christian neighbors celebrate their pride, then we have failed to be clear.
The best we can do is pray and speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). If pride has blinded some from seeing our love through our convictions, then we must remain consistent in our charity, kindness, and care toward them, yet never at the cost of truth—for there is no true love where truth is absent (1 Cor. 13:6).
Finally, here is why I will not be making another statement on this.
Again, I am speaking about this only once because pride thrives on attention. Pride is a vice condemned throughout Scripture (Prov. 16:18; James 4:6; 1 John 2:16). Christians cannot support what God calls sinful, and continually giving pride attention only feeds what should be repented of (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5).
Second, the only reason I am even making a statement at all is to remind Christians of our calling. We are called to love God and love others (Matt. 22:37-39)—including our friends, family members, neighbors (Luke 10:27), our enemies (Matt. 5:44), and members of the LGBTQ+ community (Gal. 6:10; Gen. 1:26–27).
Like the rest of the world, those celebrating Pride Month need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we, as ambassadors of Christ, are entrusted with that message as we show the love of Christ and shine the light of Christ, letting the Spirit work on hearts. Now is not a time to speak carelessly or with misguided compassion, and so, as Scripture says, let all that we do be done in love (1 Cor. 16:14), and let us pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).
