I promise that’s not a snarky question.
It’s simply one of many questions I’ve been asking myself these past few weeks.
See, a month or so ago I made a Facebook post about the “Equality” and “My First Pride” baby onesies I saw in the Pride section at Target. I was deeply bothered by it, and I decided to say something.
The Post
Now, to keep this in context… here are the exact words from my post:
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I’m hardly ever in Target anymore… But I found myself standing there yesterday looking at their very proud PRIDE display…
Why?
The onesies. That’s what caught my eye. I normally walk by and just try to ignore the whole thing…. but the onesies. And above them the children’s t-shirts.
This “community” isn’t simply selling apparel for adults who are consciously choosing to accept and embrace what their Creator has called evil. This is not a political statement worn only by those old enough to understand and take responsibility for their decisions and world views. This is a heavy, dark discussion that ought to have nothing to do with young and impressionable minds.
Children were never meant to carry this torch. They were never meant to fight this battle.
Children are not only sacrificed in the womb but now also on the alter of “political correctness”… for the sake of “virtue signaling” (though there is no virtue)… and in order to vindicate the adults around them calling evil what God has called good and calling good what God has called evil.
Children need to be protected and loved, not used, abused and exploited. Children need to be reminded that they are fearfully and wonderfully made from the moment they were conceived. Children need a mom AND a dad. Children need to be taught what is good… not turned into billboards for the evil that could be their very destruction.
May God have mercy on us.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
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End quote.
The Comment Section
I wrote down my thoughts and concerns for our younger generation, dropped the photo with it, hit post, and moved on with my day.
But, let’s just say that when I checked back later on, the post had been shared and I’d received a little more response than I bargained for. Some responses rang with agreement… some, not so much. Here are a few examples:
“Ma’am, your homophobic traits are showing.”
“Stop using your faith to be judgmental and close minded.”
“This is the kind of crap that grinds my gears.”
“Stop using your religion as an excuse for your hate.”
““Their creator,” who makes NO mistakes, created all of us, black, white, yellow, brown, gay, straight! Unfortunately, he couldn’t have prevented homophobic bigots who choose to be willfully ignorant!”
“STFU.”
“People like you cause their children to commit suicide.”
I sat back and took a deep breath. Wow. That last one was painful.
Maybe I’d better stop reading the comments, I thought.
When I’d created my post I never really imagined getting any backlash on it. I knew anything regarding the LGBTQ+ community was a triggering topic, but I can’t say I knew just how triggering.
Why Bring It Back Up?
What’s the point in going back to this?
Well, I didn’t take those comments lightly and they sat heavily on my heart and mind. It’s not easy knowing people think of me this way. And it’s hard to discern what to say and how to say it in these times.
I want to love well, but I’m also given to people pleasing and I fear I sometimes people please to the point of displeasing God. And it complicates things knowing that to even disagree with someone is considered hate these days.
I questioned myself. Was I really hateful? Or just honest? Was I Fearful? Wrongfully judgmental? Should I have said it differently? Should I have said it at all?
(Side note: I’ll admit there is a whole discussion to be had on whether social media is the place for these discussions. But I will also say that since there is an abundance of wickedness being pushed across every social forum, there must be some value in speaking truth whenever possible.)
The whole thing seemed to bother others as well as I received private messages and sentiments of agreement, disagreement, concern, and empathy.
These messages made one thing clear. I wasn’t the only one realizing that speaking out with anything but support for this “community” is not easy… it’s not fun… it’s not safe.
I mean, the name calling and hurtful comments are really just child’s play in comparison to other stories. We’ve all heard countless reports of Christians who have lost their livelihoods and reputations for the sake of standing up against the ideals of the LGBTQ+’s broad and over reaching agenda (gay marriage, transgender ideology, child indoctrination, etc.)
Because of this, even with God’s design, Scripture, history and science on our side, it can be easy to question ourselves on whether it’s worth the cost to speak out on such a triggering topic.
LET ME BE CLEAR: I am not encouraging every Christian who has an unbelieving gay friend to run up to them and tell them how wrong they are. I am speaking about Christians calling out the harm the LGBTQ+ agenda is causing as a whole. I’m speaking to the moments when approving or disapproving is unavoidable. I’m speaking to when we feel the need to speak a warning for the ultimate good or protection of another person, but back away out of fear or uncertainty.
Maybe I’m not the only follower of Christ questioning myself. Maybe I’m not the only one asking… Should I say things that make people call me hateful? Should I just speak truth in the church or to the world at large? Should I just leave well enough alone?
Many of us are well aware that there is a deep and dark danger lurking beneath that inclusive, bright, “friendly” rainbow flag… but is it really our job to call it out?
And if so… how do we do that?
What Does Scripture Say?
As we strive to navigate these tumultuous waters, where do we look but God’s unchanging word?
These four thoughts below are by no means exhaustive, but simply my immediate takeaway when I go to the Scriptures.
1. We Need To Remember Our Own Need
Ephesians 2, James 4:6, 1 Corinthians 15:10, John 1:16, Romans 5:8
Before we ever approach the sin of others, we must always search our own hearts. We need to be like the tax collector who was painfully aware of his own failings before the Lord (Luke 18:9-14). We need to remember that it is by grace and not our own works that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). We need to remember it is God who mercifully opened our eyes to our own desperate need. We need to remember that the only difference between a Christian and an unbeliever is the precious blood of Christ to cover our sins and change our hearts before a Holy God, it’s a redemption we never earned… it’s the life giving Gospel that we should desire to humbly share with anyone and everyone we meet. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. We Need To Grasp The Gravity
Leviticus 18:22, Proverbs 31:8-9, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Jude 1:7
I’ve often heard that “sin is sin” and we shouldn’t treat homosexuality differently from any other sin. Yes, every sin has gravity. Yes, there are much more “common” transgressions listed in passages that condemn homosexuality… but here are a few reasons that we need to be cautious in altogether backing down from calling out the danger of it:
- God refers to homosexuality as “an abomination” (a thing that causes disgust or hatred). Homosexuality is particularly named (among other things) in Scripture as detestable to God. And when a society begins to be taken over by it, it means that God has given them over to it. Civilizations fall when the created decide that they know better than their Creator. Homosexuality is a sin that tears at the very fabric of society as it turns it’s back on God’s design. God created men and women, marriage and sexuality to create LIFE and the moment we step away from his good and perfect intent, we are in grave danger.
- The LGBTQ+ agenda is not simply about “consenting adults”. Young and impressionable minds have become the targets of something truly evil and damaging. Adults are having sexual conversations with children and their parents are kept in the dark. (On what planet is that ok?) Children are being told they were “born in the wrong body” and are being encouraged to mutilate themselves to “fix it”. These are stark but true statements. God does not take lightly the harm or death of the innocent… and neither should we.
- And while sin is sin… a huge issue is that Christians are being tempted and are sometimes falling to the temptation to cease to call homosexuality a sin at all. The church needs to be paying special attention and giving urgent warnings on the dangers at play, particularly because so many within it are failing to do so! We’ve swung the pendulum from self-righteous hatred for those living a homosexual lifestyle, to full out acceptance and approval (though we are warned about this in Romans 1:32).
3. We Need To Speak Truth In Love
1 Peter 2:17, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4:29, John 17:17, 1 Corinthians 13,
Friends… I’m not always good at this. Sometimes I don’t say enough but sometimes I say too much. Sometimes I’m self-righteous. Sometimes I care more about being right than about loving the person I’m trying to warn. But what I desire, and what I hope you desire, is to speak truth in LOVE. We’re an obnoxious, noisy, clashing cymbal if we speak with any other motivation.
We can’t go at this in hatred or disgust for another human made in the image of God. We are to show honor and respect to our fellow man, and if we don’t have love for them, then Christ is not in us. We should speak truth out of a desperate desire for the receiver of that truth to know the grace and hope that has been given to us. We need to help them see their great need so they can know our great Savior… the Savior we need just as much as they do.
(One friend who messaged me let me know that she was praying for me as the comments rolled in but even more than that, she was praying for the people who had been so angered by the post. She said we were blessed that God had given us the names and faces of people who need Him. That’s loving people, friends, and I needed the reminder.)
4. We Need To Fear God… Never Man
Proverbs 9:10, Matthew 10:26-33, Acts 5:29
Living in the world we do, the most immediate reason that any of us might not want to face this one head on are the possible consequences if we do. Whether we fear being called names, or being considered hateful, or the impending loss of a friendship, dream, job or livelihood… It’s so important to remember that this world is not our home and pleasing God matters a million times more than pleasing people. The fear of man leads to destruction, while the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
To Close
There’s no way to exhaustively discuss this subject in one blog post. And I’ve gone on long enough.
I was just saddened by the response to my original post and felt that perhaps it was worth discussing.
Maybe you needed the same encouragement I do to be discerning of our hearts and words, but also to keep speaking truth in love no matter the cost.
May we stay humble, love people, fear God alone, and be brave enough to be honest.
My Family Freedom 