Dr. Edward E. Moody, Jr., Executive Secretary
Every June, “Pride” Month comes along. It can be hard to know what to do and how to handle these situations. Perhaps it is possible we can use “Pride” Month as an opportunity to go on offense by preparing people to teach truth and minister to those who find themselves entangled in sexual sins. Here are a few principles that might help us.
Do no harm. First and foremost, let us not harm others or ourselves or push someone away from the gospel. We are careful about our posts on social media, always asking, “Does it help convince others of truth or repel them from it?” We behave wisely and harmlessly (Matthew 10:16). We have a good podcast on this subject with Angy, a former lesbian who describes behaviors that were helpful and harmful during her struggle.
Don’t gossip, ridicule, or embarrass people struggling in these areas. All of us know people who are struggling with these issues. Rather than talk about them, we concentrate on listening to them and learning what we can (James 1:19). As we do, we look for opportunities to help them.
Bear burdens. We ask ourselves, “What can I do to help in this situation?” Perhaps we serve as an accountability partner. We gently work with them (Galatians 6:1-2) and take the time to be a confidential listening ear (James 1:9).
Teach what the Bible says about gender, the Fall, and sexuality. June is a good month to teach about God’s design for gender and marriage (Genesis 2:21-24). Often, people question why they have urges or impulses different from the design found in Genesis. So, teach about the Fall (Genesis 3) and how everything changed once sin entered the world. This is a good time to teach about sexuality in general. Though many will not struggle with same-sex attraction, there is ample evidence of pornography usage and premarital and extramarital sex. Let us not be guilty of only condemning homosexual sex. A good podcast for this is with Dr. Joe Malone, “The Sexual Integrity Scientist.” He describes the detrimental effects that the normalization of casual sex and “hookup” culture has on men and women.
Let us use June to look for ways to befriend those struggling with these sins, going to them as Jesus did to the Samaritan woman. Perhaps this talk about hospitality by Rosario Butterfield, a former lesbian, could be helpful.
May we do our best to foster the positive relationships found in Titus 2, helping us prevent and treat sexual problems. Perhaps this talk from Rosario Butterfield on Loving Lost Family Members will be helpful.
Finally, these are not easy issues, but in June and every other month, let us remember Jesus makes every situation better. Let us point people to Him, the only One who can truly help.