Pride Without Sin

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” — 1 John 4:18 

Every June, many Christians raise objections to Pride Month. One of the most common arguments is that “pride is a sin.” At first glance, that may seem like a reasonable concern. After all, Scripture repeatedly warns against pride. Yet the word pride can mean very different things depending on how it is used.

The pride condemned in Scripture is arrogance, self-exaltation, and the belief that we are better than other people. Proverbs warns us, “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). James echoes this teaching when he writes, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

This kind of pride places self above God and above others. It is rooted in ego, superiority, and self-glorification. Christians should reject this kind of pride because it stands in opposition to the humility that Christ taught and embodied.

However, LGBTQ+ Pride is something very different.

For generations, LGBTQ+ people were taught that they should be ashamed of who they are. Many were told they were broken, unworthy, sinful simply for existing, or somehow less deserving of love and dignity than others. Shame became a burden that countless people carried throughout their lives.

Pride Month arose as a response to that shame.

LGBTQ+ Pride is not about declaring ourselves superior to anyone else. It is about rejecting the lie that we should hate ourselves. It is about accepting ourselves as God created us and affirming the dignity that God has placed within every human being.

Pride Month is not about placing ourselves above others. It is about standing up after generations of being told to bow our heads in shame.

This understanding fits beautifully with the message of 1 John 4:18. Fear and shame are close companions. Many LGBTQ+ Christians know what it is like to fear rejection, fear condemnation, fear abandonment, and fear that God could never truly love them. Yet John reminds us that God’s perfect love casts out fear.

When we truly embrace God’s love, we no longer have to live in fear of being rejected by Him. We no longer have to carry the shame that others have placed upon us. God’s love frees us to live honestly and authentically before Him.

Paul reminds us of this truth in one of the most beloved passages in Scripture:

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:38–39

Nothing can separate us from God’s love—not prejudice, not rejection, not misunderstanding, and not the labels others place upon us.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently restored dignity to people whom society marginalized and shamed. He welcomed tax collectors, spoke with Samaritans, touched lepers, defended women condemned by others, and invited all people into relationship with Him. Again and again, Jesus moved toward those whom society pushed away.

He also gave His followers a simple command:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34–35

Notice that Jesus did not command us to shame one another. He commanded us to love one another.

As Christians, we are called to reject both sinful pride and destructive shame. Humility does not mean thinking poorly of ourselves. True humility means recognizing that every good thing comes from God and that every person bears the image of God.

God calls us to humility, but He does not call us to self-hatred.

When LGBTQ+ Christians celebrate Pride Month, many are not celebrating arrogance. They are celebrating survival. They are celebrating authenticity. They are celebrating the freedom to live without shame and fear. Most importantly, they are celebrating the truth that they are beloved children of God.

As we enter Pride Month, may we remember that God’s perfect love casts out fear. May we reject both arrogance and shame. May we walk humbly with God while embracing the dignity He has given us. And may we never forget that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

In a world that often teaches fear, rejection, and shame, God’s message remains one of hope, acceptance, and love. We are known by God. We are loved by God. And through Christ, we are invited to live not in fear, but in the freedom of His perfect love.

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Moment of Zen: Jockstraps

For reasons that probably need no explanation, gay men have long had a fascination with jockstraps. Part athletic gear, part celebration of the male form, the humble jockstrap has become an enduring symbol of confidence, masculinity, and a little bit of playful flirtation.

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TGIF and Good News About Isabella

Usually, Fridays are my work-from-home days, but I switched my remote day to yesterday because my coworkers needed to be out this afternoon. So today, I’m at the museum instead. I don’t mind, though. It means I’ll have the museum to myself for most of the afternoon, and quite honestly, I like being the only one there. It’s quiet, peaceful, and a good opportunity to catch up on things without interruptions.

I also wanted to give everyone an update on Isabella. She seems to be doing great and, from all appearances, has forgiven me for yesterday’s trip to the veterinarian. She coughed a little this morning, but nothing like she had been, and she didn’t cough at all last night. I was so relieved to hear from the veterinarian that she is otherwise the picture of health. Thank goodness!

Hopefully, once she recovers from these asthma attacks, she’ll never have another one. But if she does, at least I know what to do, and we have a plan in place to help her. For now, I’m just grateful that she’s feeling better and that the visit brought such reassuring news.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Worried About My Girl

For the past couple of days, Isabella has been coughing. It’s not constant, but it seems to happen two or three times a day. This morning, I’m taking her to the veterinarian. I was very relieved that I was able to get an appointment so quickly.

I hope this turns out to be nothing serious, but I’ll be honest—I’m worried.

Isabella is 10 years old, and in all the years I’ve had her, she’s never really been sick. That’s one reason this has me so concerned. The good news—and I hope it’s a good sign—is that she’s still eating normally, drinking plenty of water, and using the litter box regularly. I’ve checked her ears, and they’re cool. Her nose is cool and wet. Other than the coughing, she doesn’t seem to have any obvious signs of illness.

Of course, cats are masters at hiding when something is wrong. It’s part of their nature to conceal vulnerability.

What worries me most is that I think the coughing is frightening her. She’s been coming to me more often and purring louder than usual. Most people associate purring with happiness and contentment, but cats also purr when they’re scared, stressed, or trying to comfort themselves.

This morning she was lying on my hip when she started coughing. The coughs seemed stronger than they had been before, and with each one, her claws dug a little deeper into my leg. It broke my heart because she seemed so scared and unsure of what was happening.

I’m grateful that I called the vet yesterday and that they can see her this morning. Hopefully, by this afternoon, I’ll have some answers and some peace of mind.

I’m worried about my girl, y’all. I’m scared that something might be wrong.

If you’re the praying type, please keep Isabella in your prayers today. If prayer isn’t your thing, please send some positive thoughts and good energy her way. She—and I—could use all the support we can get.

Thank you.

Isabella Update

First, thank you to everyone who kept Isabella in your thoughts and prayers this morning.

Other than screaming the entire way to the veterinarian’s office and the entire way home, Isabella did great at the clinic. The veterinarian examined her, took x-rays, and said everything looked good. They also checked her teeth and gave her a thorough examination. From all appearances, she is in excellent health.

The diagnosis is asthma. The vet is treating her with steroids and antibiotics, and they are optimistic that this treatment will resolve the problem. They also drew some blood for testing, but those results won’t be back until Monday. I decided to go ahead with the bloodwork so that we would have a good baseline for her health moving forward.

The most encouraging thing the veterinarian told me is that once she completes this treatment, she may never have another asthma episode. If it does become a recurring issue, there are inhalers available that can help manage it.

Needless to say, I am greatly relieved. After worrying myself sick for the past couple of days, it was wonderful to hear that my girl is otherwise healthy.

At the moment, however, Isabella is not nearly as happy with me as I am with the veterinarian. She is currently home, resting, and making it very clear that she has not forgiven me for today’s adventure.

Thank you again for all your kind thoughts, prayers, and positive energy. They mean a great deal to both of us.

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Facing the Day Centered and Ready

This morning, like yesterday, I took some time to slow down before starting the day. After breakfast and coffee, I spent about thirty minutes meditating. I know today is going to be stressful because of a meeting I have later this morning, but I wanted to begin the day centered and calm rather than anxious and rushed.

The meeting will require me to strongly advocate for my point of view. That is not something that comes naturally to me. I can be outspoken when I need to be, but it is rarely comfortable. Thankfully, I know that at least one of my colleagues feels the same way I do, so I won’t be alone in making the case. My colleague is generally more outspoken than I am, and that support is reassuring.

For now, though, I feel relaxed, focused, and ready to tackle the day. My in-office workweek is already half over, and I hope the next two days pass without too much stress. One thing at a time.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

P.S. The photo above also reminded me of something. A few years ago, there is no way I could have comfortably sat like that. Since losing weight and becoming more active, I can. It may seem like a small thing, but sometimes the little changes are the ones that remind us how far we’ve come.

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