17. A Christian guide to pride

"Your pride is good news," touted a graphic posted on Instagram at the start of LGBT+ Pride Month, to thousands of likes. Another announced, "Pride is still a protest," referring to the Stonewall Riots of 1969, which Pride Month commemorates.

A few variations on the theme included "Pride is love"; "Pride is good news"; and "Peace in pride."

Yet there is no biblical basis—no truthful basis—for embracing pride or celebrating pride in the context of what the world calls "sexual identity" or even "radical inclusivity." On the contrary, the Bible speaks repeatedly of the destructiveness of pride, and even identifies pride as the sin before all sins. It was Lucifer's arrogance that had him cast out of heaven, after all (Isaiah 14: 12–15). The Book of Proverbs is filled with tough language about pride, warning famously that "pride goes before destruction" (16: 18), that pride leads to disgrace (11: 2), and that God detests the proud (16: 5).

Despite these dire warnings, there is a time and a place for Christians to feel pride and even to boast in that pride. The key is how—or toward whom—that pride is directed.

The upside of pride

Paul had a lot to say about pride and also about boasting, which is one of pride's outward expressions. He makes clear that the righteousness offered through faith in Christ, given freely to any and all, is never to be a source of competition:

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded.

—Romans 3: 27

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

—Ephesians 2: 8–9

This is not to say, however, that all forms of pride are wrong. On the contrary, pride and even boasting are appropriate in certain situations. For example, Jeremiah informs us that when one knows and understands God, it is right and good to boast in this knowledge:

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

—Jeremiah 9: 23–24

Likewise, the psalmist tells us that boasting in the Lord is a form of praise and blessing, and suggests that we should, in fact, boast in the Lord constantly:

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

—Psalm 34: 1–2

The boasting expressed by this pride does not, however, focus on ourselves or on our achievements as a part of some community or collective, but rather directs full attention to God and what He has done or is doing. This is found throughout scripture. Psalm 113 is a great example. In it, the psalmist makes boastful declarations about what God has done and clearly takes pride in His sovereignty:

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, you his servants;

praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be praised,

both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations,

his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God,

the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look

on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

he seats them with princes,

with the princes of his people.

He settles the childless woman in her home

as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

–Psalm 113

In the New Testament, Paul quotes Jeremiah when he advises the Corinthian church to boast in the Lord, if they boast at all:

But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

—2 Corinthians 10: 17–18

He offers this advice as part of a bigger picture about boasting within proper limits. In other words, we may boast in the good work God accomplishes through us by declaring God's power and faithfulness (not our own), but not in things that were never ours to accomplish:

We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us...

—2 Corinthians 10: 13

Within the boundaries of the tasks set before us, it is appropriate to boast (feel pride) in what God has done, is doing, and will do:

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

—Romans 5: 1–2

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

—Galatians 6: 14

One way to look at boasting is to acknowledge what God has done or provided, and to be honest about what He has not. In other words, we must be truthful about our abilities and limitations. Christian author Flannery O'Connor was once asked "Why do you write?" and she replied "Because I'm good at it." What might appear to be arrogant or conceit on her part was a proper sense of God's gifting and provision.

So why not Pride Month?

Some Christians argue that Pride Month falls in step with all these biblical takes on pride. They say that all forms of human identity—including sexual attraction—are God-given and therefore reflect God's handiwork and are worth celebrating. They may also see Pride Month as an expression of joy in response to God's deliverance from the discrimination and alienation that LGBT+ people have experienced around the world. Christians who support Pride Month are generally motivated by a "radical inclusivity" they perceive in the gospel. Many lift up Pride Month as a response to church hurt they have experienced that is very real.

Increasingly, however, Pride Month is a protest in which people engaged in habitual sexual sin collectively trumpet their defiance to nearly every form of biblical morality. This defiance has little to do with the civil struggles LGBT+ people have gone through to gain legal protections, instead focusing overwhelmingly on asserting different forms of sexual freedom, which now includes "reproductive freedom."

But no well-meaning attitude of radical inclusivity or strength in diversity can establish pride as a civil, social, or moral good. Or as something worth celebrating. Church history is filled with celebrations, but these have always been celebrations of victories God has promised. Apart from these, scripture shows us that no act of pride ends well. Surely that includes a month dedicated specifically to pride.

Christians must not be fooled by lofty messaging and imagery associated with Pride Month. Though Pride Month celebrates some important civil victories, the emphasis on human achievement and the approval of sin degrades these celebrations. Pride must never elevate man (or woman) or things they have achieved by their own power, but rather must praise God for the many things He has done and is doing in our lives.

For discussion:

1. If you don't know the original purpose of "Stonewall Day," first celebrated on June 28, 1970, look it up. How has "Stonewall Day" evolved into "LGBT+ Pride Month" since 1970?

2. Look over Psalm 113 again. How is the psalmist's posture before God different from that of a person who boasts in the riches and blessings that God has given them?

3. To whom should "boasting in the Lord" be directed? To the Lord only? To fellow believers? To folks on social media?