“Pride is defined by desire, not by love. It is above all, the presumption that my desires should be fulfilled and that it is an injustice, a crying shame, and an injury if they are not.“

Dallas Willard

Table of Contents

1. Pride Month

2. Fauci’s Admission

3. 40% of “Christians” Don’t Evangelize

4. Other news you should know

5. Share this newsletter

Pride Month

“Pride Month” kicked off on Saturday, June 1, beginning a month-long nationwide celebration of the LGBTQIA+ culture and lifestyle. In March of this year, USA Today reported that the number of US adults identifying as LGBTQ has more than doubled over the last decade. On the first of the month, drag queens hosted a children’s story time in partnership with Philadelphia Gay News and Visit Philadelphia, allegedly setting a Guinness World Record. 

Pride month has been nationally recognized since June 1999 when President Clinton declared June a Gay and Lesbian Pride month to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots. Pride month will be marked by parades and large swaths of support from businesses, corporations, politicians, and celebrities alike. 

Before we speak to the tragic reality of the celebration of sin (anything said, done, or thought that does not please God) that is Pride month, we want to first speak to something else. One of the reasons "pride month" is called that is because, for a long time, people facing "non-traditional" sexual desires were told by society (and especially the church) that they were not "normal" or "lovable." Pride month was born from a collective effort to encourage people to take pride in who they are. It took (and still takes) a lot of courage to practice confession, especially of something that was ostracized or treated as an especially gross sin. It has always been true (Ecclesiastes 1:9) that men inherently do and long for that which is not good for them (Proverbs 14:12, Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 6:14). Sexual perversion has marked mankind since Adam and Eve were no longer naked and unashamed in the garden (Genesis 3:7). When the church condemned and counseled those with same-sex attraction differently than those with heterosexual perversions, it failed to fulfill its proper function. Pride month is another more widely held and nationally embraced failure. Any attempt to respond to a person's self-destructive choices by encouraging them to further explore and celebrate those desires while demanding others do the same is a tragic failure (Romans 1:32).

Love has always been opposed to pride (1 Corinthians 13:4b). Love embraces humility (Philippians 2:3-4), seeks understanding gently (Proverbs 18:2), speaks against sin courageously (1 Corinthians 13:6), and does not bow to the whims of a crooked and perverse generation (Philippians 2:15). Where Pride Month encourages individuals to identify by their sexuality, Christianity invites people to identify themselves as sinners saved by grace and heirs to abundant and eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 10:10). Where pride month demands self-gratification, love seeks self-denial and sacrifice (Luke 9:23). 

A viral organization posted on their social media this quote, "Pride is important because someone tonight still believes they're better off dead than being themselves/gay/trans/etc." This is a poignant reminder to the church that as we stand firm on the truth, we must do it in love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) because sin, hidden or not, has the habit of leading to depression, despair, and even death (James 1:15). Scripture states that "the hand of the Lord opens and satisfies the desires of every living thing" (Psalm 145:16). This is true for men and women facing desires of every kind… single, same-sex attracted, and otherwise. 

Meanwhile, for a month, our country will be daily reminded through the cowardly support of corporations, celebrities, and the like that we have forgotten, or never really knew, the good way, where life is (Jeremiah 6:16). May the remnant be proud of the King they serve, who died for all men indiscriminately (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) and seeks to include all who would forsake their sin and turn to Him in His Book of Life (Proverbs 28:13, Revelation 21:27). 

_{By: Kirby Mankin}

Fauci’s Admission

Dr. Anthony Fauci's recent testimony suggests that he may have fabricated the six-foot social distancing rule and other COVID-19 measures, admitting they were not supported by evidence. Republicans released transcripts of their January interview with Fauci just before his public testimony, intending to scrutinize his pandemic decisions. Studies cited by the National Institute of Health reveal the adverse effects of pandemic measures on children's learning and mental health. Revelations about Fauci's former aide, Dr. David Morens, and their secretive communication, along with Fauci's admission of disregarding grant details, have intensified the scrutiny surrounding Fauci's leadership during the pandemic. Fauci is expected to speak to all of this further at a hearing with a House Committee later today.

As we wrote last week when addressing the potential WHO agreement, we should be “slow” to (i.e., should NOT) yield our freedoms to anyone, especially so-called “experts” who are not directly accountable to us. One of the most concerning components of the “great” COVID-19 “crisis” was the ease with which so many otherwise discerning people were willing to go along with obviously inconsistent and easily disproved explanations for excessive mandates and solutions to protect ourselves from the aforementioned potentially deadly pathogens. There is a reason the psalmist cries out to the Lord to be saved from “lying lips and deceitful tongues” (Psalm 120:2). There is a reason the writer of Proverbs warns us “the prudent man sees evil and hides himself, but naive proceed and pay the penalty” (Proverbs 27:12) and also reminds us “the naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps” (Proverbs 14:15). By implication then, the sensible man must consider the “steps” of those who are quick to tell us what we should believe, especially when we see wildly inconsistent information being offered or fear is being used as a motivator.

As I wrote last week, while care for fellow man is a characteristic of the remnant (Proverbs 22:3, Matthew 7:12), manipulation via fear and the call to be “safe” or “love our neighbor” can be horribly misused by political elites always willing to “save us from ourselves” while increasing their own power.  Things will not be easier in the days ahead, whether the deception is related to another health threat or it is the promised coming spiritual deception (Matthew 24:4-12). “Once a large-scale mass formation happens in a society, it is quite difficult to prevent the next one.” The only hope against deceit is the consistent, courageous voice of God’s people, “the remnant of Israel who will do no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for they will feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble” (Zephaniah 3:13).

_{By: Todd Wagner}

40% of “Christians” Don’t Evangelize

A survey by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life found that nearly 40% of British Christians prefer not to disclose their religious beliefs. In contrast, 29% of Muslims felt similarly. The reluctance among Christians may be linked to "cultural Christians" who lack strong identification with their faith. The survey also highlighted generational differences, with younger people more enthusiastic about their faith. Only 36% of respondents viewed religion as a force for good in society. Despite these trends, 62% agreed that Christian heritage is vital to British culture. 

It's disheartening to see that in Britain, adherents of false religions exhibit more confidence in sharing their beliefs than those who profess Christianity. This trend would likely have pleased Richard Rorty and John Dewey, prominent 20th-century American philosophers. They advocated the notion that while one could be religious privately, religion should be left at the door when entering the public square. Unfortunately, this idea has taken root in modern society.

Another related lie many have believed is that it is not only improper but also unloving to impose one's views on spiritual realities, moral claims, and exclusive beliefs on others. These lies, however, need to be countered with the truth.

As Christians, we must remind ourselves of our calling.

• We should be unashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16).

• Jesus Himself stated that if we acknowledge Him before others, He will acknowledge us before the Father in heaven; the opposite is also true (Matthew 10:32-33).

• "Love for God" looks like keeping his commands (1 John 5:3).

• God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).

• We are called to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15).

Fellow believers, stand firm in the faith (1 Corinthians 16:13). Boldly share the truth (2 Timothy 4:2). There is nothing unloving about stepping out of your comfort zone to save someone's soul from Hell and connect them with the One they were meant to know and be known by. In fact, any love that we are able to show towards our neighbors is because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

_{By: Jamie Wilder}

Other news you should know

💻 Trump’s fundraising website crashes after donations rush in.

🇲🇽 Mexico will elect their first female president, but which one is it?

🤸🏿 She’s back.

🎈 North Korea says they’ll stop sending trash balloons south.

🙌🏼 Pandas expected back in America by the end of the year.

📱 Trump joins TikTok and got 3M followers in one day.

🇮🇱 Major developments happening towards a ceasefire.

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