By Jennifer Moodie
6/3/2022
*
taking deep breath and letting it out slowly*
It’s June again. Which means it is “Pride Month”. Which also means Christians are once again up in arms. They are angry. They are making fun. They are voicing their distain for homosexuals and their "need" for pride and celebration in their sin. They are more angry than the other 11 months over how “the gays/queers/sodomites” are seemingly shoving their sin in our faces and forcing us to acknowledge and accept and see it. They lament that our entertainment is brainwashing our kids and we need to guard them from seeing homosexuality depicted. They wish to go back to an unnamed point in time where homosexuality remained a secret sin. Because secrets sins are better than public ones I guess... The sin seems to be not as big of an issue as the attitude surrounding it. And they post memes- some depicting hellfire raining down in Sodom and Gomorrah, and others like this:
While I certainly understand some of the concerns, as a woman who struggles with same-sex attraction (SSA), it is a very difficult month for me. I have written about that a bit more
here. My goal in this blog post is not to discuss whether homosexuality is a sin—I believe the Bible is clear that it is—but rather to talk about the Christian’s reaction to the sin of homosexuality in general, and specifically to pride month.
We don’t fight pride with pride… *shrugs shoulders*
I cannot express how much I appreciate what John Fonville says in the first part of his series in 1 Corinthians 6:9-20,
“Did You Not Know?”,
“Because all men by virtue of being God’s image bearers and therefore still possessing intrinsic human dignity, even though the image has been scared and marred by sin, there is no place in the church for discrimination or dehumanization of any individual who is trapped in any form of sexual, extramarital sexual, illicit sexual behavior.”
“All humans are image bearers of God and therefore this demands respect for all human life regardless of one’s relation to Christ.”
John Stott says in his book, “Same Sex Relationships” (which I highly recommend reading!):
“We are all human and we are all sexual. If we stereotype and stigmatise one another, then we do not treat each other with the respect that each person deserves. After all, as far as the Bible is concerned, there is no such phenomenon as “a homosexual” or “a heterosexual”: there are only people made in the image of God. We all share in the glory and tragedy of being human and we share it in our sexuality as well as other areas of our lives. Whatever our ethical perspective on homosexual practice, we have no liberty to dehumanise [sic] those who engage in it. We are all frail and vulnerable and nobody has been sexually sinless apart from Jesus. Although we must not shy away from making judgments about what is right and wrong in the light of Scripture, we are not to be judgmental. We shall be judged by the standards by which we judge others. Nobody has the right to be morally superior. Besides, sexual sins are not the only sins, nor even necessarily the most sinful; pride and hypocrisy are surely worse.” “Christians should not therefore single out same-sex sexual intercourse for special condemnation. The fact is that every kind of sexual relationship and activity which deviates from God’s revealed intention is ipso facto displeasing to him and under his judgment.”
I am afraid that come pride month, Christians forget that they are sinners, too. They forget that the ways of the cross are foolishness to those who don’t believe; that without Christ opening their eyes, they were as lost and happy in their sin as anyone else; that their sins aren’t any better or less heinous than anyone else’s and that their sins all equally deserve God’s wrath and sent Him to the cross.
Jerry Bridges has this to say in his book, “Respectable Sins”:
“Sin, you see, is more than wrong actions, unkind words, or even those bad thoughts we never express. It’s a thing deep inside of us. I call it a principle. You can also think of it as an inner force or a tendency, even a chronic disease. Our sinful actions, words, and thoughts are simply symptoms or expressions of this sin thing, which Paul called the flesh. (Some Bible versions translate this as “sinful nature.”)
Don’t get confused and think “the flesh” just refers to bodies or sexuality. Biblically speaking, it’s the term for our basic, selfish impulses and desires. It’s such a powerful reality within us that Paul sometimes spoke of it as a living person (see Romans 7:8-11; Galatians 5:17). And it unfortunately sticks around after we become believers. Even though our hearts have been renewed, even though we are saints set apart for God’s purposes, our flesh still fights for control.
If we fail to understand that, we make it easy for the sin in our lives to metastasize. Even our sneaky, respectable sin. Maybe especially that kind of sin, because we tend to ignore it.
The disease of cancer can be tricky, even deceitful. It can lurk unnoticed for years and reappear when you think you’ve beaten it. That’s exactly the way respectable sin operates in our lives. Its effect on us is subtle and easily overlooked.
Subtle is the very opposite of obvious or in-your-face. That word can be used in a good sense to mean delicate or refined. But it can also mean wily, crafty, or treacherous — yes, sneaky. Subtle sins deceive us into thinking they are not so bad … or thinking they’re not really sins … or not even thinking about them at all. It’s easy to live in denial about this kind of sin or gloss over how bad it really is.”
“I once heard someone describe sin as cosmic treason. That may sound over-the-top, especially when we’re talking about “little” stuff like being sarcastic or holding a grudge. But think about it. God is absolutely pure, absolutely transcendent, the absolute Ruler over all creation. When we violate His law in any way, even with our “minor” sins, we’re really rebelling against Him. Our sin really is cosmic treason. It’s a rebellion and an affront”
“When we indulge in any sin, big or little, we are despising not only God’s law, but God Himself. Think about that the next time you are tempted to blow off some “minor” sin!”
“And don’t let the sneaky nature of sin fool you into thinking that sin doesn’t matter because God forgives it. God does forgive, but He never overlooks or tolerates sin. He always judges it. The difference for believers is that God has judged our sin in the person of His Son. Do we really want to presume on His grace and tolerate in ourselves the very sin that nailed Christ to the cross?
And don’t forget that your every sinful thought and word and deed is done in the presence of God. Paul told us that God even understands our inner motives, that He “will disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5). When we sin, it’s like we’re acting it out right before God’s royal throne.
It doesn’t matter whether our sin is scandalous or respectable. It’s still sinful, only sinful, and altogether sinful, and it’s heinous in the sight of God. God forgives our sin because of the shed blood of Christ, but He does not tolerate it. Instead, every sin that we commit, even the sin we don’t even think about, was laid upon Christ as He bore the curse of God in our place.
Christ suffered because of our sin. That’s the bad news about our sin, and, as you can see, it’s really, really bad.”
(Excerpts From Respectable Sins Student Edition
Jerry Bridges)
Christians somehow believe that their sins aren’t quite so bad as these “gays”, and that as long as they aren’t holding parades and celebrating it, they aren’t in the same league. While I am against celebrating sin in any form, I read this on Twitter and thought it was a thought provoking statement (*disclaimer: this isn’t an endorsement of this entire thread, nor of this man). I recently wrote about this more in this blog post: "Self Fulfilling Prophecy?"
Having same sex attraction isn't the same as living the lifestyle, and yet it is treated as such. If one says, "I am sexually attracted to someone of the opposite sex and I have lustful thoughts about them, and even indulge in pornography", people may say that the porn use or lust is wrong, but it is understandable and not abnormal. Many, MANY authors, pastors, and other public figures have been pretty blatant that it is normal for men to lust after women and that never really goes away, even after salvation... Christian men are almost expected to lust, all the time, but they are to fight the flesh...yet that desire never goes away.
However, if that same person were to say "I am sexually attracted to my own gender", regardless of whether or not they have or intend to act upon it, they are told that they cannot be saved, that their desires are a sin in themselves, and that if they would just surrender to God, they would no longer have those desires. And to that I say *blows raspberries* God never promises to take away sinful desires. He does, however, promise that with the temptation He will provide a way of escape. The temptation itself isn't the sin, but the indulging of it is. And unfortunately, we in the church tend to have this warped view that the temptation to homosexuality is the same as the indulging of it. The thought of the temptation is so disgusting to so many, that we treat it differently than sins we struggle with. And that is heartbreaking. It pushes away those who desperately need to hear that they are still loved and loved by God. We become obsessed with changing them and forget that God is more concerned with the heart than he is with anything else.
I have shared this before, but am sharing it again from Jackie Hill Perry's book, "Gay Girl Good God", because I love it so much and it is so relevant:
“God was not calling me to be straight, He was calling me to Himself. The choice to lay aside sin and take hold of holiness was not synonymous with heterosexuality. From my prior understanding of God as told me by Christians I had met, to choose God was to inevitably choose men, too, even if the liking of them would help me to chase away the gayness without God’s help. I figured That’s what He wanted most. That when He looked at me, He saw a wife before He saw a disciple. But God was not a Las Vegas chaplain or an inpatient mother intent on sending a man my way to cure me of my homosexuality. He was God. A God after my whole heart. Desperate to make it new. Committed to making it like Him. In becoming holy as He is, I would not be miraculously made into a woman who didn’t like women, I would be made into a woman who loved God more than anything.”
Are we looking at the homosexuals during Pride Month (or during the other 11 months) and seeing people who need Jesus because of their sexual orientation, or because they, like you, are sinners in need of a savior? Do you look at them and desire that God changes their sexual desires, or that He sanctifies them to Himself, which may or may not change who they are sexually attracted to? We as Christians are able to fins our identity in Christ, but without Him, where else would we find that identity? In our profession? In our political affiliation? In our career? As a wife, mother, husband, father, our denomination...? Or even in our sin? Unfortunately, even as children of God, we all too often forget that our sole identity is in Christ, and we still seek to find our identity in the things mentioned above... so maybe let's not be in such a rush to cast stones to those who are without Christ and who are seeking to find their identity and purpose apart from Him.
And dare I say, if we are wanting to boycott entire companies because they depict homosexuality, and are scared for our children and feel a overwhelming desire to protect them from seeing this particular sin even implied, may I humbly and sincerely ask why we aren't also boycotting those same companies and protecting our children from seeing other sins? Why is homosexuality even in implication where we draw the line? Why do we allow entertainment that depicts couples who are unmarried having sex, or living together; children lying and disobeying but it somehow turns out ok in the end; westerns that portray murder, prostitution and drunkenness...you get the idea. Where is the outrage and calling for boycotts over the Breaking Bad show and merchandise, a show that glorifies drugs? Or Dexter, a “good” serial killer? Or Game of Thrones that is pornographic and shows incest and rape? Why do we decide that THIS is where we draw the line? We can support companies that fund slave and child labor and/or other political or moral ideologies than what we agree with, but homosexuality is where we draw the line. And if you are really strict and don't allow the aforementioned things, then I applaud your consistency.
If you say “Well, these other sins aren’t coming for our kids”, then I say that perhaps we should do a better job of equipping our children for the world they live on rather than trying to make the world a comfortable place, because that isn’t our job. Sin has and always will be a part of our world, and I hate to break it to you, but your children live with sinners in your home, and have sin in their very hearts. You cannot protect them from sin.
I implore those who are upset over Pride month to remember what you were without Christ-- dead in your sins, happy in them, and proud. And I ask you to examine yourselves to see if there is still pride. Are you looking at those celebrating this month saying "Thank you God that I am not like these people"? (Luke 18:11) Or are you praying that God would open their eyes the way He did yours, without which you would also be proud in your sins?
James 4:6 says that God resists the proud. This includes those who are "gay and proud", but isn't limited to them, for it also includes those who say they are better than 'those sinners', or who say "I have kept the law since my youth". We may not be guilty of the pride of waving our sexual sins on brightly colored flags during parades, but perhaps we are guilty of the sin of moral superiority. Jerry Bridges calls that a "respectable sin", and it is just as bad as blatant sins we see others doing. Sin is sin. Remember that the only reason we see our sins as sin, and work to mortify the flesh and do right, is because of the Holy Spirit living and working in us. The good we do is not because we are better than others, but because God is faithful to His children to conform them into His image.
Your and my secret sins in no way differentiate us from those who flaunt their sins in public. In fact, based on my social media experience, I would dare to say that many of you actually do flaunt your sins in public, loudly and boldly... *cough cough* The only thing that differentiates us is the blood of Jesus. And we should pray for the salvation of ALL those who have not yet believed.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (*note that this means man on the receiving end of homosexual relations), nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; bu you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.
James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
James 1:19-20
This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Psalm 5:5-6
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men.
1 John 1:8-9
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(dare I mention that if we are saying "yes, I have sin, but at least it isn't that one", maybe we don't actually understand our sins and how God views them...)
HC Q4: What does the Law of God require of us?
A: Christ teaches us in sum, Matt 22: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'
HC Q10: Will God suffer such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished?
A: By no means, but He is terribly displeased with our inborn as well as our actual sins, and will punish them in just judgment in time and eternity, as He has declared: "Cursed is every one who continues not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them."
HC Q11: Is then God not also merciful?
A: God is indeed merciful, but He is likewise just; His justice therefore requires that sin which is committed against the most high Majesty of God, be also punished with extreme, that is, with everlasting punishment both of body and soul.
HC Q12: Since then by the righteous judgment of God we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how may we escape this punishment and be again received into favor?
A: God wills that His justice be satisfied; therefore we must make full satisfaction to the same, either by ourselves or by another.
HC Q13: Can we ourselves make this satisfaction?
A: By no means, on the contrary, we daily increase our guilt.
HC Q14: Can any mere creature make satisfaction for us?
A: None, for first, God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man committed; and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin and redeem others from it.
HC Q15: What kind of a mediator and redeemer then must we seek?
A: One who is a true and righteous man, and yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, One who is also true God.
HC Q16: Why must he be a true and righteous man?
A: Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned should make satisfaction for sin, but one who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others.
HC Q17: Why must he also be true God?
A: That by the power of His Godhead He might bear in His manhood the burden of God's wrath, and so obtain for and restore to us righteousness and life.
HC Q18: But who now is that Mediator, who in one person is true God and also a true and righteous man?
A: Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is freely given unto us for complete redemption and righteousness.
HC Q19: From where do you know this?
A: From the Holy Gospel, which God Himself revealed first in Paradise; afterwards proclaimed by the holy Patriarchs and Prophets, and foreshadowed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law; and finally fulfilled by His well-beloved Son.
(Gal. 3:10; Rom. 1:18; Rom. 8:3-4; Job 9:2-3; Heb. 2:14-18; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:15-16; Heb. 7:26; Rom. 5:15; Isa. 53:3-5; John 3:16; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Cor. 1:30; Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:4; Gal. 4:4-5; Heb. 10:1; Acts 10:43; Rom. 5:8)
I think I have said enough, so I would just like to end with this quote from Chad Bird. May we as the church seek to show this kind of love to sinners such as ourselves, in June, and every other month.
Soli Deo Gloria
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