The month of June marked a month-long celebration of Gay Pride. The question we should be asking ourselves as Christians is “How do I respond?”

We live in a day in which many Christians have adjusted their theological and moral barometer to be more “inclusive” regarding this issue. However, a group of churches in a small town in Oklahoma responded with a “Humility Picnic” this past weekend. It was an event, open to the public, calling for greater humility, repentance, and revival in our land.

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One of the keynote speakers at the picnic, Stephen Black, lived an active homosexual lifestyle for eight years before giving his heart to Christ and turning from that lifestyle. He is now the executive director of FirstStone.org. Of the event he stated:

“The purpose of the humility conference is that we have so much pride as Christians. We need to first humble ourselves before the Lord and repent. What is the opposite of pride? Humility. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (1 Cor 13:4) True love is not proud.”

What was the humility picnic? It provided the message and opportunity for the Church to repent so we can be an offering to LGBTQ and show the love of Christ. People who identify as LGBTQ already know deep down that the lifestyle is wrong. (Ro 1:18-23) As Christians when all we do is point the finger at them, denounce them and shame them, we simply reject them further. The Humility Picnic is a message about how to humble ourselves first as well as how to accept the individual without condoning the sin of the lifestyle.

Organizer Travis Dunlap explained, “Humility is an event to foster an important civil dialogue on human dignity, sexuality, and what implications the Christian gospel has on those topics. We believe that hope and freedom is found in the truth of the gospel message. By hosting this event, we hope people will find ultimately find this hope.”

Stephen Black, who boldly speaks out about the LGBTQ+ movement from which he emerged, commented. “It is an attack on women, femininity, and children. They talk about the importance of making the world ‘safe’ for them, yet in doing so, it puts our children and families at risk.”

Why? Because it is not just about acknowledging the gay lifestyle, but about eroding ours.

The LGBTQ+ is continuing to grow in influence as well as the letters behind their name. The plus sign at the end stands for pedophilia, bestiality, and other sexual perversions which the ACLU is working hard to get protected as minority groups to make it illegal to speak out against or take action against the perversity.

However, it is important to note that sexual preferences are not the same as a racial minority group.

As Christians we need to recognize that speaking out against the LGBTQ+ lifestyle is not judging. The Word of God has already judged it and declared it a sinful lifestyle. Our silence is acceptance. But it is important that we speak out with the right motives, not to condemn or shame the people caught up in this lifestyle, but to love them in Christ.

Probably everyone reading this has a family member or close friend who is engaged in this lifestyle. Unfortunately, because of this, some Christians have adjusted their plumb line on this issue so that it no longer aligns with biblical truth because they do not wish to offend or alienate that individual. But we can love and accept that individual without accepting their sin. Many Christians are loving their LGBTQ friends and family and not compromising truth. How? Through the day to day guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

When Christians buy into the lie that to speak out against the homosexual lifestyle is “intolerant” “hateful” or “judgmental,” in reality they have been silenced against speaking up for purity, righteousness and godliness. At the same time, sometimes “Christians” are hateful and judgmental in how they speak and what they believe about LGBTQ people—I have seen it on my Facebook page.

So how should we respond? This is a WWJD moment. We must remember it is the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. It is about loving people even as we are clear that we do not agree with the lifestyle. It is about accepting and loving them as people.

As we continue to grapple with this growing issue and our response as Christians, perhaps it is time that the Church rises up with more Humility Picnics across our land in which we gather together with our faces to the ground to repent not only for our pride, but our acceptance of sin and ask for wisdom.

1. Repent of pride and pray for humility.

There is a word for when we are preoccupied with the sins in our culture and blind to what is going on in our own hearts. That word is pride. I don’t think there is a Christian alive who doesn’t struggle with pride. Follow the example of the “Humility Picnic.” Confess your pride and ask God for humility.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Lk 18:9-14)

2. Speak up in love.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Eph 4:15)

As with any sin in which someone is involved, we are remiss if we do not give warning of the danger in continuing to walk that path, yet it should never be done in a hateful, condemning, or judgmental way. The Word gives life and hope.

3. Love the individual without accepting the lifestyle.

Jesus loved the sinner, but always called them to righteousness. Of the woman caught in the act of adultery, when the crowd wanted to stone her he said, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (Jn 8:9-11)

4. Pray for revival and holiness.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Heb 12:14) When we are silent on the necessity of living a holy lifestyle and turn our head away from sin, we not only hinder revival, but we condemn the individual to an eternity without Christ. That may sound like a harsh statement, but if you truly love someone, why wouldn’t you speak up in love?

5. Recognize deception.

Each of us deals with pride whether we recognize it or not. And the issue with pride is that it opens the door to deception which blinds us to the fact that we are actually walking in pride! So how can we know?

We can pray this simple prayer. “Holy Spirit, if there is any pride in me, please reveal it and remove it, so that I can walk blameless before You.”

Regarding this issue, the depth of deception has gone so far as to declare that people are born that way and that there are numerous genders that we must accept. Neither is true or biblical.

The Bible is clear: So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Gen 1:27-28)

When man was alone and there was no suitable helper for him, God didn’t create another man. He created a woman. “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Gen 2:23-24)

The Hebrew word for wife in that verse is “beishtow” which means wife, woman, female. God created two genders only–male and female.

Lord, help us to love with both our words and actions so that the love of God in us draws those caught in this lifestyle to You. May the veil be removed so that they can find their true identity in You and true acceptance of who they are.

ABOUT:

Karen Hardin is an intercessor, author, minister and literary agent. Her work has appeared on USA Today, World Net Daily, Intercessors For America, Charisma, CBN.com, The Elijah List, etc. For additional information you can contact here at www.prioritypr.org or www.karenhardin.com