The task of the Christian is not to whine about the moment in which he or she lives but to understand its problems and respond appropriately to them.
Carl R. Truemen
If you spend any amount of time on social media lately you’ve no doubt been exposed to the pushback Target is receiving as they ramp up for LGBTQ Pride Month. Below is a sampling of the headlines from Google.
Before I dig into why I believe the backlash is taking place, let’s pull out a much needed lesson from one of the most influential books of all time, Stephen Covey’s, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Habit #5 – Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
The fifth habit is an oft neglected habit in our modern times – “seek first to understand, then to be understood”. I begin this blog with what I’ve uncovered related to Pride Month in my goal of understanding. One of the things I believe too many people have forgotten in our society today is listening BEFORE speaking. It reminds me of a proverb from the Bible:
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 18:2
Before I get off my soapbox and discuss Pride Month, take this proverb to heart when posting on social media, speaking about any controversial topic with coworkers, friends, etc.
Know that It’s okay to state, “I don’t know.” or “I don’t have a particular opinion on that right now.” You don’t have to respond to every issue that comes up in the media or your social feed. In fact, I would suggest our world would be a far more civil place if we would educate ourselves BEFORE we speak. This would lead to far more intelligent conversations because not only would you be able to share your opinion, you could also craft it such that it addresses the key aspects of those who have the opposite opinion.
In 2023 there is no excuse for not fully understanding all sides of an argument (e.g., an hour’s worth of Googling will educate you on most issues). When you can’t state the position of those who oppose your view it’s a sign of laziness on your part to not truly want to understand before being understood. You become the “fool” referred to in the aforementioned proverb.
For reference, the image below is the definition for the English translation of fool for the Hebrew word ksil (the book of Proverbs was originally written in the Hebrew language). Don’t be ksil!
What is Pride Month?
The month of June is when Pride Month takes place around the world. From Wikipedia, “Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests in 1969, and has since spread outside of the United States. Modern-day Pride Month both honors the movement for LGBT rights and celebrates LGBT culture.” This makes it 54 years since Pride Month originated, much longer than I assumed it was taking place. June was also the month of the Stonewall riots, making it a reason why it is celebrated in that month.
The month has also been recognized by many past presidents including Bill Clinton, Barak Obama, Joe Biden, and even Donald Trump!
From Wikipedia, “In June 1999, US President Bill Clinton declared “the anniversary of [the] Stonewall [riots] every June in America as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”. In 2011, President Barack Obama expanded the officially recognized Pride Month to include the whole of the LGBT community. In 2017, however, Donald Trump declined to continue the federal recognition of Pride Month in the United States, though he later recognized it in 2019 in a Tweet later used as a Presidential Proclamation. After taking office in 2021, Joe Biden recognized Pride Month and vowed to push for LGBT rights in the United States, despite previously voting against same-sex marriage and school education of LGBT topics in the Senate.” Clearly, Pride Month has received presidential support, albeit primarily from the Democratic side of the aisle.
What is being celebrated?
Andrea Wurzburger writes in a People Magazine article what is being celebrated during Pride Month stating, “Pride Month is an entire month dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ voices, celebration of LGBTQ culture and the support of LGBTQ rights. Throughout the month of June, nationwide, there have traditionally been parades, protests, drag performances, live theater and memorials and celebrations of life for members of the community who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. It is part political activism, part celebration of all the LGBTQ community has achieved over the years.” She sums up nicely that it is political in nature, but also part remembrance of those who have lost lives and loved ones to diseases often associated with the LGBTQ community.
So, what’s the problem with Pride Month?
Pride Month has been taking place for 54 years so why all the fuss now? I would argue, the problem facing the Target backlash, and Pride Month in general, has been building over the last several years. However, a line has been crossed recently, leading to the eruption of emotional backlash being taken out on Target.
Before I discuss the line that’s been crossed, let’s look back at what has lead to the “stepping over” taking place today.
Somewhere in recent history society has begun a redefining of identity and truth.
Identity has shifted from an external focus (e.g., we are all created in God’s image – see Genesis 1:27) to an internal focus (e.g., sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation), and truth has moved from absolute to relative.
Digging a bit deeper, an argument can be made there’s a connection between identity and truth. If you don’t believe me, have you ever heard someone say, “You have your truth, and I have my truth“? This is an example of subjective truth, and that truth in many cases is based in one’s identity.
The line that has been crossed in recent times causing tempers to flare has to do with children and their involvement in identify and truth issues.
Most people have no problem with adults believing whatever it is they want to believe whether it’s true or not (ultimately, God will judge each of us based on our response to his truth – see Revelation 20:12-15). However, when children are brought into the picture people get upset, especially when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity.
The line many believe that has been crossed is the pushing or “affirming” that is taking place with children. Many states now provide legal means to children to make decisions without parental consent regarding things such as hormone therapy and abortion (California AB1184 is one example). Parental rights, many argue, are being taken away by the government, and if not challenged, a day will come when children have the right to do as they please regardless of what their parents want (this is in direct opposition to what God tells children to do – see Ephesians 6:1-3). Some would argue that day has already come based on President Biden’s recent words regarding children.
There is no such thing as someone else’s child. No such thing as someone else’s child. Our nation’s children are all our children.
President Biden, April 24 National and State Teacher of the Year Celebration speech
Target selling children’s clothing with LGBTQ slogans on them is just a visual tipping point that has set many people off because it’s easy to ignore words in speeches given by politicians most people, especially children, are not listening to. However, walking into a department store with your children looking for clothes is easy to see and can lead to parental emotional overload.
FYI – If you haven’t had a conversation about who “trans people” are you may want to prepare for it before walking into Target in June!
How should Christians respond to Pride Month?
Someone once said, “It’s far easier to act like a Christian than to react like one.” In other words, showing the love of Christ is easier to do when others agree with you and / or reciprocate the love, but far more difficult when they oppose you (e.g., call you a bigot, homophobe, transphobe). So how should Christians react to Pride Month? You can find many obvious suggestions on other sites I’m not going to write about (e.g., boycott retailers who support Pride Month). What I will offer is what I believe are alternative ways to engage with people who have a different opinion than you or I may have. I believe Pride Month is an opportunity to be taken advantage of in sharing the true meaning of identity and truth.
#1 Start a conversation with someone from the LGBTQ community.
This first recommendation might not seem like one you would have thought of first, but how can you seek to be understood if you don’t first understand? There are no shortage of opportunities to engage with Pride supporters in person or online. Start a conversation, but most important, listen.
Some questions to consider are:
- What does Pride mean to you?
- What lead you to believe you’re gay, lesbian, etc.?
- Have you ever had doubts about being gay, lesbian, etc.?
- If so, what’s lead to those doubts?
- What do you think could be done to have more civil conversations between people who may not agree with the LGBTQ community?
#2 Talk with other Christians about Pride Month.
This is a suggestion that will likely surprise you when you hear responses from other Christians regarding Pride. I’ve been surprised by how many are supporters of the LGBTQ community, and why they believe (I would argue an incorrect belief) Scripture supports same-sex relationships, transgenderism, etc. Consider starting with the question, “Why do you believe the Scriptures support an LGBTQ lifestyle?” Let them make their case before responding with your side of the argument.
When it’s your turn to speak take the opportunity to focus on the following questions:
- Who defines “truth”?
- Who defines “love”?
- Who defines what “marriage” means?
- Who defines what “gender” you are?
Notice each of my questions starts with “who”? The answer, as you might have guessed, is God. He defines truth, love, marriage, and gender. These are not “social constructs” we get to define. If you need Scriptures to support your answers consider the following:
Love: Matthew 22:36-40, 1 John 4:16
Marriage: Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6
Gender: Genesis 1:27, 5:1-2; Matthew 19:4-6
#3 Discuss Pride with your children.
Educate your children (if they are old enough to understand) what Pride Month means, and how to show love to those you may disagree with. This is perhaps the greatest opportunity for Pride Month.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Jesus, John 13:35
Teach them the true biblical meaning of pride – what the Scriptures say about prideful behavior.
When pride comes then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
Walk Like Christ
God is sovereign. Even if it looks like things are out of control and you believe people have gone completely mad. I’ll say it again, God is sovereign. He is in control.
It’s not about you, it’s not about me, it’s about God and his truth.
We shouldn’t be surprised by what’s happening in the world today. Looking back in history there has NEVER been a time when God’s truth was NOT being challenged. It started with Jesus and his ministry and continued on through the early church, and has not stopped ever since. You could even argue it started on day 6 with Adam and Eve rejecting God’s truth about the forbidden fruit!
In fact, I would argue much of the New Testament Scriptures suggest it won’t stop until Christ returns to set things right. In the meantime, our role is to live as Christ lived – to walk as he walked.
Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 2:4-6
The Great Forgetting 