The Elevation And Worship Of ‘Pride’ In A Society That Has Abandoned Biblical Truth

There was a time when America’s most recognizable symbols were the American flag, the bald eagle, and the Statue of Liberty. These images represented freedom, opportunity, and the values upon which the nation was founded. Today, however, another symbol is increasingly being elevated in public life: the pride flag.

The pride flag has moved beyond being merely a symbol of a social movement. In many places, it is being treated with a level of reverence that resembles religious devotion. Pride flags are raised at government buildings, schools, businesses, sporting events, and public gatherings throughout the nation and around the world.

Why does this matter? Because human beings were created to worship. The Apostle Paul explains in Romans 1 that when people reject the Creator, they do not stop worshiping altogether. Instead, they begin to worship created things rather than the One who created them. History repeatedly demonstrates that when societies abandon biblical truth, they inevitably replace it with alternative belief systems, symbols, and sources of authority.

One recent example involved a gathering where participants prayed over a pride flag, asking that it become a symbol of hope, a blanket of protection, and a cape of power. Those descriptions are striking because protection, hope, and power are qualities that Christians have historically attributed to God.

The issue is not merely about a flag. The deeper issue is what the flag represents and the authority it is increasingly given within our culture.

At the same time, pride-related events and ceremonies often place children at the center of public celebrations and promotional campaigns. Many parents are asking important questions: Why are children so frequently involved? Why is parental authority often challenged when it comes to conversations about sexuality and gender? Why are these topics being introduced at younger and younger ages?

Many believe the inclusion of children helps present these movements as wholesome and beyond criticism. By placing children at the forefront, critics argue that difficult questions about sexuality, morality, and cultural change become harder to raise without being accused of intolerance.

From a biblical perspective, the concern extends far beyond politics or culture wars. The foundational questions are: Who defines truth? Who determines right and wrong? Who establishes the purpose of marriage, family, sexuality, and human identity? Who deserves our ultimate allegiance? Scripture gives a clear answer. God alone is the source of truth and authority.

Isaiah 42:8 declares: “I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another.”

When a culture rejects God’s authority, it inevitably seeks substitutes. History has seen replacement religions, replacement moral systems, and replacement ideologies. Today, many Christians see the pride movement functioning as one of those substitutes—a belief system with its own symbols, doctrines, celebrations, and expectations of public affirmation.

This does not mean Christians should respond with hatred, fear, or hostility. The Bible teaches that every person is created in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity and worth. Every individual deserves to be treated with kindness, respect, and compassion. At the same time, Christians are called to remain faithful to God’s Word, even when cultural pressure demands compromise. Love does not require agreement, and compassion does not require abandoning biblical convictions.

The reality is that no flag can save. No political movement can redeem. No cultural revolution can forgive sin or offer eternal life. Only Jesus Christ can do that. He alone provides forgiveness, hope, transformation, and salvation.

As believers navigate an increasingly hostile culture, the challenge is clear: speak the truth in love, stand firmly on Scripture, and remember that our ultimate allegiance belongs not to any movement, symbol, or ideology, but to Jesus Christ alone.

Brandon Holthaus serves as the lead Pastor of Rock Harbor Church in Bakersfield, California, in addition to hosting “Tip Of The Spear,” sitting down with Pastors and cultural voices to explore current issues through a Biblical lens.