I Prayed have prayed
Father God, we repent of pride and ask You to grow humility in us.
Reading Time: 6 minutes

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.

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)

  1. 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.

  1. 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)

  1. 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?

  1. 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

 

 

Comments (37) Print

Comments

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

6987689
June 28, 2023

Pride is a hard heart w/o guilt or shame so without boundary because it says nothing is wrong. I have done no sin. The lack of boundaries is clearly seen in the parades with people dressed as dogs in assless pants panting at children and the like. Pride indeed has no boundaries to wrongs and is an affront to those under the chastisement of the Lord. Even should they be gay. There is certainly a silent and scared element of LGB who are in horror at what the T+ movement is doing having sort of hitched a ride with them, and in shame of being associated with it. They should speak up more. Don’t fear men, fear God.

Guilt and shame are there with humility. As are boundaries, efforts, desires, though you fall often and not be “clean”. That’s the chastisement of the Lord, who chastises every son he receives. The proud are cast off as bastards. But the Lord casts off and gathers up. And will tear peoples proud stoney hearts from them, and give them a heart of flesh, one that is made to feel shame, guilt, and harbors humility. The chastisement of God is not to be hated, it has great purpose, but neither is it pleasure to receive.

How much shame and guilt do you really want to live with? We all have our measure. If you remain in pride how greatly it accumulates the precursors to it which will certainly convert into exactly that.

James
June 5, 2023

You lost me at saying the “lifestyle (It is NOT a “lifestyle” or a “choice” is “wrong.”

yourmomawhore
April 20, 2023

STOP HATING ON LGBTQ PEOPLE YOU HOMOPHOBIC PIECE OF SHIT PEOPLE CHRIISYTAINS ALLLK YOUR RELGIOUS PEOPLE DONE IS CAUSE MORE HATE VIOLANCE MORE WAY MORE STARVATION POVERTY YOU JUST SIT THEREE ELECT IDIOTS DO NOTHING LIKE LOYAL STUPID SHEEP YOU RELGIOUS IDIOTS ARE. THIS WHY WE ATHEIST TIRED HATEFUL BULLSHIT ON NOT JUST HOMOSEXUALS BI AND TRANS PEOPLE ALSO WOMENS RIGHTS LIKE RIGHT ABORATION NO KID WANTS BE BORN INTO FAMILY LIK YOURS FULL OF HATE TOWATRDS THOSE PEOPLE. TIME YOU BIBLE THUMPERS LEAVE YOUY KIND NOT WELCOME HERE.

Ray Clark
August 8, 2019

Genesis 18:20-33, 19:1-26 Sodom was destroyed for her many sins including sexual perversion. Notice that not only did God destroy the sexual perverts, but also those who condoned them. Romans 1:18-32 tells us that God will turn the lgbtq+ and their supporters into reprobates = (without judgement.) Lgbtq+ are the most insidious, disease infested, haters of God, and those who support and admonish them are no better.
Lgbtq+ have been a blight on every society world-wide for the past 5 thousand years, but that’s changed in the past forty years, and now our government is telling Americans to accept lgbtq+ as a normal lifestyle.
We may lose our judgement, but God has not His and He will judge America less He has to apologize to Sodom.

I will tell lgbtq+ sexual perverts the Truth about God’s love, pray for them, and then get away from them. Remember…”choose your friends wisely, because you always turn out like the people you hang around.” Buzz Aldrin once said…show me your friends and I will show you your future. Love what God loves, and hate what God hates and we will do well.

1
Kathy
July 28, 2019

Thank you for your comment. I do believe I should speak truth in love. God bless!

Connie
July 23, 2019

I as a mental health student did research into the etiology of same-sex attraction and transgenderism and while no one factor leads to a certain behavior there was a significant factor and that was a history of being molested as a child. 1 in 4 females and 1 in 6 males will be sexually molested in the US. The statistics vary but most sexual abuse goes unreported. We as believers must have knowledge and compassion when dealing with LGBT individuals. We must show love but also speak truth in humility and PRAY for God to open their eyes and soften their hearts as well as pray against the agenda and its effect upon our society.

    Beth
    July 28, 2019

    And who hasn’t been molested. That’s an excuse! Being molested does not make you desire the same sex? Get a grip! You are justifying perversion.

      Mary M
      August 7, 2019

      Hello Beth,
      I’m a mental health counselor. I have counseled numerous LGB’s, unfortunately all were sexually abused. Does this mean that every person sexually abused will be LBG? No. But as a Biblically based counselor, I believe a spirit of perversion may have been present at the time the child, who struggles with the gay lifestyle, was abused opening them to this perversion.
      I further believe the rapid rise in this lifestyle in the past 40 years is a direct result of the insidious cultural Marxism that has pushed its way into our institutions and indeed changed culture. The normalization of homosexuality through T.V, movies, the media has certainly been a part of the Leftist march we have experienced but our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Our prayers must be against this. We must all put on the whole amour of God and pray, love and trust Jesus.

      1
Carol Hedrick
July 21, 2019

Father, I ask that You open the spiritual eyes and ears of the people who are in the LBGTQ lifestyle. I ask that You remove the confusion from their minds and that You convict their hearts and woo them to Your Son Jesus Christ.
Father, I also pray that You will give Your people who are called by Your name, the wisdom, and love to speak to the LBGTQ community and not in a condemning way but in love the way You loved us when we were confused and walking out of Your will.
Father, I thank you for the many many people in the LBGTQ community who are going to see the Light and turn from the darkness and are going to be beacons of light for others in that community. I thank You and praise You for the witness they will be for each other and also how they will help each other to step onto the correct path to life and hope.
Thank You,
In Jesus’ name I pray Amen

1
    Amy Herndon
    July 21, 2019

    Amen!!

    1
    Karen Hardin
    July 21, 2019

    Amen!

    Jane
    July 22, 2019

    I agree with this perfect beautiful prayer, O Lord. You said in MATTHEW 18:19, “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.” Please honor this Promise for this powerful prayer.

    2
    Mary M
    August 7, 2019

    Thank You Carol. Beautiful prayer.
    Knowing Jesus and His redeeming grace is the only answer for the sinner, of which we all are, every single one of us. No one sin is greater than another. For the Christian it is truly Love that will open the ears and soften the heart for a sinner to hear about Jesus. It is His work to redeem and correct, not ours. Ours is to pray for those lost, or confused, bruised, battered or even rebellious. We were once lost in our own sin and rebellion and a caring and mature Christian, we may not even known, took the time to pray for us, and build a relationship of love with us and showed us the love of Jesus enough for us to want to know and love the Lord too. This took time. Once we met the Lord, we wanted to have a relationship with Him. The Lord took it from there and we began to grow in our faith, confessing from the heart and seeking Him even more. It is the Lord who transformed us into a new creation in Him.
    This kind of transformation takes time, and commitment of the faithful to be open, humble and willing to Love, Love, Love patiently without judgement
    All Praises and Glory to Our Lord and Savior.

    1
Lowell
July 21, 2019

I agree, Karen, entirely with your statement to me and what you said above. I wasn’t criticizing anything you said, just have seen the abandonment of Biblical truth steadily advance in the churches as it attempts to conform to the world’s philosophy while using deceptive disguise methods to still appear as though following God. I wrote out of frustration about this.

    Karen Hardin
    July 21, 2019

    I understand! It is a shared frustration, but one we can certainly pray into that the Church united will return to the plumbline of His Word and truth.

    1
GM Casey
July 20, 2019

The transliteration for man in Gen 1:26 is: h120 Adam. For consideration, I believe the following. God’s image is righteous and holy. The last Adam, Christ was born righteous and holy and He IS the image of God. Col 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. We were born sinners in the image of Adam as was his son Seth. Gen 5:3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. Psalm 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. At the moment of salvation, we become righteous and holy just as Adam and Eve were originally created, in order for the Holy Spirit to indwell Christians. Romans 3:21 & 22 – But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 5:19 – For just as through the disobedience of the 1 man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the 1 man the many will be made righteous. 2 Cor 5:17-Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come 2 Cor 5:21- He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Eph 2:10- For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Eph 4:24- and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

1
Ken Budz
July 20, 2019

Lord thank You for loving us. Please help us to love others. Lord You are Holy. Please help us to be Holy and humble. Lord help us to be what You want us to be. Help us to be like Jesus. Fill us daily with Your Holy Spirit. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

1
Lowell
July 20, 2019

I appear to be the only man who has responded. It seems to me that not standing on the truth of the Scriptures when it is really necessary is pride in itself. We’re dealing with the LGBT issue because many other foundational truths have been ignored for a long time but not all at once. It has happened a bit at a time over many years. There’s not much left but the sinner’s prayer for salvation from damnation, guaranteed if one leaves this life without Christ. Or is this also about to to become discarded? Or changed to mean something different than how we have understood John 3:16? Most, if not all, Christian truth opposes the way the world, under satan, wishes us to be conformed to. Backing down from any portion of Biblical truth, expounded especially in the New Testament, aids the plans of the enemy of God in Christ and brings much confusion into the Body of Christ. It also makes evangelism and discipleship much more difficult.

1
    Karen Hardin
    July 21, 2019

    Hi Lowell, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that when we back down or away from biblical truth we “aid and abet” the Enemy. That being said, there is a spirit of deception in our land that says the way to love someone caught in this lifestyle is to accept them and all they do. That is the deception. Jesus does love them and as Christ followers so should we. But Jesus always called people to walk out of their sin and then left them to make the choice. Yet his goodness and kindness toward them drew them to mske the right choice. When churches go against scripture and declare it’s ok to be gay and a Christian, they nullify scripture. But worse it allows those caught in a lifestyle of sin to continue without consequence. The Bible is clear there IS a consequence. The most loving thing we can do is to mirror how Jesus responded. May we learn to do that.

      Amy Herndon
      July 21, 2019

      Yes, Karen, we do need to shine the light of Jesus. In order for Christ’s light to shine through us or reflect off of us, we must be spending time with Him throughout all we do daily. Walk with the Lord at all times. 🙂

    Beth
    July 28, 2019

    A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land. 31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?”

    I think you might want to start praying for the church?

Karen
July 20, 2019

Kathy, I would ask the question…hasn’t my gay loved one helped me? Hasnt she been to my home for meals or parties…havent I received from her hand gifts for my children or myself…??? Shouldn’t my help to her be even greater than my assessment of her sins? I do not support the lifestyle, but I support my loved one 100% with love. If she needs help with life, I want to help her. My loved ones didn’t stop helping me when I was in sin,. To me, there is a difference in helping her to move into a home, and and supporting the lifestyle she pursues.

    CJ
    July 20, 2019

    If you have sought God in prayer….and have peace about it? You don’t need anyone’s permission. If you are agitated, frustrated or confused…..pray again. I don’t know what I would do in your position….beyond praying and acting as God tells me, quickly and in peace.

      Karen
      July 20, 2019

      CJ, yes, I submit that seeking God is always first. He hears and answers. Prayers for the body of Christ to love as He loved all of us.

    Kathy
    July 20, 2019

    Thank you❤

Brenda Dormann
July 20, 2019

Dear LORD help us to walk humbly before you letting the light of your truth shine through us dispelling the darkness so that they may be drawn to the JESUS in us and be set free

Bless Kathy and others in the same position with a servants heart to wash the feet of the sinners and show them the love of JESUS while praying out of that lifestyle

Kathy
July 20, 2019

How does a Christian respond when asked to help move your gay niece and family into their new home so she can pursue a position as assistant pastor at a church that obviously condons this lifestyle?

    Doris
    July 20, 2019

    Kathy, That’s so hard for you! But it’s not too big for God.
    2 Timothy 1:7 and godly wisdom will guide you. And I will be praying.

    Judy McDonough
    July 20, 2019

    Kathy, I pray that as you seek God on this, He will show you clearly. The verse that comes to mind is Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

    Kathy
    July 20, 2019

    Thank you❤

    Beth
    July 28, 2019

    IT’s called blasphemy! What you see, feel, think or hear is subject to change but the truth shall always remain. Whatever you touch will prosper, good or bad? You will eat the fruit of it. Then you are condoning it. Let’s don’t act dumb. Sin is sin. You don’t condemn them but you sure don’t touch it. Why can’t you say the truth. Saying the truth doesn’t have anything to do with love. You tell your kids right from wrong. You won’t tolerate certain behaviors. Do you still love them? Of course you do. Telling the truth does not mean that you don’t love them. Telling the truth means that you do love them. Quit being deceived and scared to stand up for what is right. You know how God feels, so are you a man pleaser or a God pleaser? Choose this day who you will serve, If God be God then worship God.

Partner with Us

Intercessors for America is the trusted resource for millions of people across the United States committed to praying for our nation. If you have benefited from IFA's resources and community, please consider joining us as a monthly support partner. As a 501(c)3 organization, it's through your support that all this possible.

Dave Kubal
IFA President
Become a Monthly Partner

Share

Click below to share this with others

Log in to Join the Conversation

Log in to your IFA account to start a discussion, comment, pray, and interact with our community.