This will likely be the only thing I will say during pride month about pride month. Yet, I feel it needs to be said. Now, before you accuse me of bigotry, consider that I have always stated what I believe:
I believe every single one of us is designed and created by God, and our value comes only when we reflect what He designed us to be. I believe Jesus came to save everyone who will call upon Him, repent of their sin and be baptized (Romans 10:13, Acts 2:37-38). I do not believe God makes mistakes, so whatever He assigned you at birth is what you are. I do not believe God makes exceptions to His rules because it’s done by someone He loves and we feel we are born certain ways, which is why Jesus says “you must be born again” (John 3:3). At the same time I believe that everyone has a right to pursue whatever they feel inclined to believe, but it won’t stop me from trying to persuade you with the truth.
I believe there is only one truth, and Jesus exclusively says “I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one gets to the Father but through me” (John 14:6). I believe we are all sinners who fall far short of God’s glory, (Romans 3:23) and I have seen people of all walks of life cast of their various rebellions and sins against God and come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. I believe everyone has value and worth because they are made in the image of God, but I believe God has standards for His creation (us) that He will not bend on. And Jesus died because He feels YOU were worth saving.
This all being said, we have nothing to be proud of. None of us. Pride is the antithesis of godliness. Pride is what causes our rebellion to begin with: we think we know what is best, so, come hell or high water, we’re going to do it, and then celebrate what we’ve done! But with pride always comes a fall (proverbs 16:18). We build our houses on our own understanding, not heeding the words of Christ. He says it’s like a foolish man building his house on a sand, when the rains come and the winds hit it, it falls, and great is its fall (Matthew 7:24-27).
None of us has any rights before God. All of us have offended Him and it is on our account that the one perfect man in all of history took the weight of sin upon Himself and offered His own body and life for our sake (and this does not get us off the hook!). Jesus bore the wrath of God on the cross, and nailed sin to the cross with his own flesh. He died and was buried and three days rose from death, exiting the tomb, proving death no longer need to be feared. There is nothing there we can take pride in. Instead, we should be like Jesus, humbling ourselves, submitting ourselves to God’s will, living sacrificially for the sake of others, that they, too may see Jesus. The Bible never says “have pride,” but says “humble yourselves” over and again. It is in the place of humility where we see our brokenness, and in brokenness find healing in Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:9-20
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
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