Navigating a Culture of "Pride" as a Christian

 June has been known as Pride Month ever since President Bill Clinton announced it back in 1999, and it has gained more and more steam since, particularly in the last 5 years.  It has made its way into small towns, into schools, and into the faith community as well.  In many ways it has become the loudest voice of the culture we live in, especially in the month of June.  It is a topic all over social media, the film industry, and media itself.  The agenda to normalize issues such as homosexuality and gender identity is pervasive.  You can hardly watch a series on main stream television, much less cable tv, without being confronted with these issues.  Some of the most prominent influences and influencers are now targeting children as their primary audience.  All of this has quickly shaped our culture, and anyone who thinks that the bombardment of these influences do not really have an effect on people, I would challenge them to learn about marketing.  The developments in the past 10 years are concerning, but often many Christians are left with the question, "How do I respond to all this?"  It is a question that I have had to wrestle with in my own heart as a pastor.  One one hand, I believe all people are image-bears of God and need to be treated with dignity.  On the other hand, I see the destruction it is causing in the lives of others, particularly young people.  Additionally, my main purpose in life is to point people to Jesus as their deliverer, and I am firmly convinced from the Scripture that what people need is not a behavior change, but a belief change.  Until people truly turn to the Lord Jesus for deliverance from sin, they will still live the the kingdom of darkness.  This also means that I do not expect someone who does not adopt a Biblical Worldview to think like me or celebrate the things I celebrate.  So I desire to reach all people with the Gospel and not be distracted by a cultural war.  However, I am also a shepherd and will be held accountable for how I lead the church through these issues.  As a father and grandfather, I also am angry at the constant voice of our culture introducing confusion and chaos into the world of young people who are already going through the stressful process of puberty.  It has introduced a layer of confusion and chaos that their minds are not designed to handle.  According to an article published in 2022, teen suicide is up 29%.  Even CNN recognizes that mental illness is a huge issue.  Depression is at an all time high according to this recent Gallup article.  So how does a Christian navigate this cultural reality?  Here are my thoughts and I hope you find them helpful or at the very least thought provoking.

1.  Remind yourself what is true!  Recognize and affirm in your mind that the issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community are a result of the fall.  They are a shift away from God's design and therefore sin.  I don't have the time to defend this thoroughly from the Scriptures in this article, but here is a thorough treatment of the issue from the Gospel Coalition.  One of the schemes of the enemy is to introduce doubt and confusion into the minds of Christians with the goal of them questioning God's goodness, authority, and ultimately His love for them.  We see this in the garden with the original sin.  Jesus calls Satan the father of lies... the Deceiver.  The clear teaching about these issues in the Scripture are under attack in churches everywhere.  Do not get sucked in to this deception because it seems culturally expedient.  Hold firmly to the plain truth of the Word of God.

2.  Demonstrate love without affirming sin, even if it is unintentional!  There is a big push in our culture to use the pronouns of a young person's choosing.  If you don't, then you have disrespected that person and are in danger of sending their self-esteem spiraling down.  This is something I have wrestled with over the past 4 years and have concluded that to even use their preferred pronouns is an unintentional act of affirmation and encouragement of their dysphoria.  What our kids need are adults who love them enough not to encourage them in a direction away from God and His design.  Is the pressure to use those pronouns strong?  Absolutely!  However, I fear that you will be doing incredible damage to them, even though the desire would be to support and love your child.  Is gender dysphoria a real thing?  Yes, but it is a condition that has been created and exasperated by the Fall and our culture.  I would recommend you read Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier.   Shrier dives into this world and reveals the damage and alarming trend relative to gender identity among young girls.  She does not appear to be a Christian, but handles this issue in a fair and helpful manner.  Being a parent in this culture is a challenge and the tensions are real, but I would encourage you to love your kid with the long view in mind.  Don't think about what seems best for them now, but rather what is best for them in 10 years from now.  

3.  Look to Jesus!  Remember that He is our deliverer from all the brokenness we see and experience.  If you're a parent, go to battle in prayer for the mind and heart of your child.  Point your child to Jesus by affirming what is true and affirming that the God of order desires to give them peace.  Empathize with what they are feeling, yet lead them to what is good, pure, and true.  

4.  Show grace to our young people!  Being a teenager is not the same as when i was that age.  The most formidable years of my life did not include social media nor the pervasive agenda in the filming industry.  Yet our young people are in this spot.  They are constantly exposed, shaped, and even targeted with the message to not just normalize LGBTQ+ issues, but to celebrate them.  They are confused and constantly stressed as they process this pervasive agenda.  What they need is loving and grace-filled adults who will point them to Jesus and not ostracize them as if they have a disease.  The reality is that they have the same disease as you and I... sin.  We are broken and messy and deeply affected by the Fall.  We need to understand where the battle is and get into the trenches to contend for the mind and soul of our kids.  This necessitates that we show grace and love, while we point them to Jesus.  We all need truth, but not with the absence of grace.  

5.  Start early and be consistent!  Parents, it is on you to shape your kids worldview about what is true.  You are charged with teaching your kids and modeling a life that has an undivided allegiance to God and a deep affection for Jesus.  Teach often and model it with consistency.  Investing in a firm foundation is critical, although not guarantee that your child will grow up to follow the Lord.  

My heart grieves over this issue for many reasons.  I am tired of the enemy seemingly winning the battle for the heart and mind of our kids.  June is not a month that I celebrate, it is a month I have come to lament because of the constant push of an agenda that will lead others, especially our kids, away from God and His good design.  Regardless, I hope this is helpful as you navigate this pervasive cultural reality.