CELEBRATING GAY PRIDE MONTH

Here where I am in Edmonton, AB Canada the month of June is GAY PRIDE MONTH. 

And I almost forgot about it!

Yesterday while watching Global News I was reminded of an announcement that I honestly would have forgot to make this Sunday, June 4 th.  I was reminded that June is Pride Month! Gay Pride Month. So, like Mothers Day, and Fathers Day we should acknowledge this special occasion and month. 

 Now of course, this is not hard for us at Rabbit Hill Baptist Church to do, as our church loves gay people. In fact our church loves homosexuals, adulterers, fornicators, liars, criminals. We welcome all those caught up in sinful lifestyles to come and visit our church, and then continue to worship weekly.

Why? Because we want all to experience deliverance from sin. After all, deliverance from sin describes the state of all true believers. Come and experience this yourself! You will have the opportunity to meet other sinners here.  We who attend Rabbit Hill Baptist Church, were and are, all sinners. And so if you have not been here before we want you to hear - along with us - the gospel. To have an opportunity to respond to the gospel and be saved by the blood of Christ.  

 We are committed to preaching the Gospel as the Bible commands us to. Last week in our message we read how Jesus came ... 
 …  proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”  Mark 1:15 ESV. 

 We as the church of Christ call all people to repentance and faith.  

 However, we must in all honesty declare that there is a problem with the Gay Pride movement. A problem that we must acknowledge. The problem is in the title: Gay Pride. The problem is not with the word Gay – we already acknowledged that. And besides, we are not homophobic – we here at Rabbit Hill are cool people, and cool people are not homophobic. We here are "woke" people. We are "progressive" here at our church. We love, as I have already stated, all gay people. Thus we do not have a problem with the word "Gay" in celebrating Gay Pride Month.  

 The problem is with the word "Pride."  As your pastor at Rabbit Hill I admit that, that word, "pride" bothers me, as it does all true believers. In fact that word, Pride, terrifies me. I cringe, I cower, when I hear the word "pride." I admit to being "prouda-phobic." Phobia means fear, and we here at Rabbit Hill Church are afraid of pride.  Terrified of pride. The very word makes us tremble, shudder in fear. We are afraid of pride more so than sin. After all, sin  we can be delivered from. 

 How do we know that? Because of what the Bible tells us in 1 Cor 6:9-11  ... 

 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.    

 Again, the latter part of verse 11 … 

  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 
 
That verse tells us that there will be many repentant homosexuals, and other sinners, in heaven. Thousands, hundreds of thousands, more likely millions. 

 Do you know how many unrepentant proud people will go to heaven. Statistically speaking of course? 

 Zero. Zero proud people. None. Nada,. Zilch. Christian and non-Christian – be afraid, be very afraid, of pride. 

 So at Rabbit Hill Church we acknowledge that we love gay people, and the lgbqt2+ community. We are an affirming community. We want to fill our church, so that all who visit us from all nations and walks of life can along with us continue to ...

"repent and believe in the gospel."  

 All that we ask, is that when you come  check your pride – as all who are in attendance are required to do - at the door.  

 Again, to reiterate – The problem with the Gay Pride movement is not with the word "Gay"  - God can deliver all of us  from all our sins.  The problem with the "Gay Pride Movement" is in the second word – "Pride." Hang on to that word, and God will not deliver you, as He will not do with any of us. How do we know that? His Word tells us that ... 

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.   Proverbs 16:18. 

So on this special month, Gay Pride Month – let us celebrate the deliverance that we all can have from the one thing that can truly send us to hell – Pride. Deal with pride in our lives, your life and mine, – professing brother and sister in Christ – and God, not you or I, will take care of my and your sinful behaviors. He will transform your life.  

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.    Romans 12:1-2 NIV 

 Are you celebrating "Pride" in anything or in anyway this month, other than what God can has done for us? We at our church hope not. We don't want you to go to hell.  
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If you want to learn how to become a follower of Christ watch our new sermon series "ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST  ... or Are You a Progressive Christian?
 
Better yet, if you are in the area, come and visit our Church every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM.

Our loving, gay affirming church, would love to meet you,  worship with you, and get to know you. Come join with other sinners saved by Christ. And  when you come please stay and interact with us in the coffee fellowship that follows each Sunday Service. 


Blessings to all,
Pastor Laurie

( please let me know your thoughts and comments)