Just to find out about the Southend Pride parade and event taking place today (13/07/24) then skip to towards the end, else read on.

My city, Southend-on-Sea, will soon be holding several Pride events (Google “Southend Pride 2024” for more info), which for the past few years have been regular feature in the City’s cultural calendar and these days is supported by many agencies and organisations in the City as well as by many from among the general public.

Today, I shared a meme on my Facebook page that tried to make the point that the rainbow symbol, these days often associated with Pride events, was one that really should be associated with the promise God gave to Noah after the Flood. Some Christian friends liked the share and at least one other Christian friend objected, posing the question “Why can’t they also just use the rainbow for their hope for their basic human rights to love who they love”?

I have taken an interest in matters to do with LGBT and seeking to find the right Christian response on the issue of homosexuality for some time now and for an assortment of reasons. Rather than make this posting longer than I want, I suggest to folk who want to know more that they check out my “The Gay Conundrum” (see here) and “Sexual identity and sexual orientation” (see here).

Before I get going, I would like to consider the case of a hero of mine: Alan Mathison Turing OBE FRS (23 June 1912 – 7 June 1954) who according to Wikipedia “was an English mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher and theoretical biologist. Turing was highly influential in the development of theoretical computer science, providing a formalisation of the concepts of algorithm and computation with the Turing machine, which can be considered a model of a general-purpose computer. He is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science”. To cut a long story short, despite his monumental contribution in turning the tide by deciphering the German Enigma code in World War 2, which rightly elevates him to the hero category, he also suffered much because he was openly homosexual. But how times change, including these days with those with power and influence supporting Pride events and evidenced by Turing’s portrait now appearing on a British £50 note and that a 50 pence piece has been minted that promotes Pride.

Before those supporting my position get too elated and exuberated and those opposing it get to deflated and downcast I feel I should first set out my position, which is to try and take a balanced and biblically based view, but only after having considered the arguments by those on all sides, such as those from my two opposing friends who commented on my Facebook share, as well as what the Bible says. I do so with some trepidation as I could alienate those from either side, but like Ricky Gervais I am past caring.

When the first Pride event took place in Southend, I recall meeting with some of the organisers. I had a good deal of interaction with the chief organiser in my community activism and it was he that had taken over from me organising Southend Community-in-Harmony events. Regarding, his deputy, also very active in the community, I recall our meeting over a coffee and him giving me a powerful reason for Pride events in the light of the global phenomenon of homophobia, such as occurred with Alan Turing, that needed to challenged. I was able to congratulate both for putting on a well organised event. During my time as a full-time community activist, I got to rub shoulders with many gay folk in a positive way, often finding many instances of sharing common ground, while still being associated with the very conservative Christians deemed as anti-gay.

It is not my intention here to give a full theological exposition here on what I believe concerning the rights and wrongs, whys and wherefores of homosexuality (check out my writings if you want to know), but I don’t want to fudge the questions of concerned friends who may or may not share my views. A few weeks ago, I was preaching in the Open Air and one heckler asked the question “was Jesus gay”? Not having the presence of mind at the time to give a suitable response, and mindful of those preachers that get arrested by the thought police for giving the wrong answer, I ignored the question. Afterward, I thought of an answer along the lines that Jesus was gay in the old-fashioned sense of enjoying life and in the modern sense of enjoying the company of both men and women. He also kept the Old Testament law (all 613 of them). One of those laws was: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” Leviticus 18:22. Was He tempted to break the law? The answer was most likely but we are told “we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin” Hebrews 4:15. As Jesus’ followers, we must follow His example.

But what about New Testament Christians where many of those 613 laws do not apply. Surprisingly, the Bible does not say too much about homosexuality (in my writings I discuss what it does say). But to give my views on pride, rainbows, promises, I go back to before the Law was given and before the time of Noah, right back to the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden. We read “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” Genesis 2:24. Marriage between one man and one woman is all that God ever sanctioned when it comes to having a relationship that involves sexual intimacy.  

A number of concerns are raised, however. There is the danger of liberal Christians exchanging the teaching of scripture to what the world considers acceptable, favouring what other people think over what God says. There is the danger of conservative Christians focusing on the “sin” of homosexuality and ignoring or down playing other sins and demonstrating their bias by favouring the latter group of sinners over the former. There are other sins of sexual immorality, sometimes found in churches, that need to be called out and repented off, such as adultery, lust and pornography. Moreover, in one’s zeal for the Lord, it should not be void of real love. It is to be lamented when liberal and conservative fellowships lose sight of the need for truth and balance. The Bible teaches marriage is between one man and one woman and is for life. It should be the only place for sexual intimacy and divorce and remarriage and polygamy is ruled out. There is a need for churches take all sin seriously, including the need for discipline, and to promote holiness. Lastly, sex is a wonderful gift of God as can be seen in the Song of Solomon, but only if it is accepted and used in the ways He allows.

Going back to pride, this has been humanity’s great error.

Going back to the rainbow, I have no hesitation of reclaiming the rainbow as a sign of God’s promise.

Update 13/07/24

Today, I attended the Southend Pride event following the parade through the High Street that I missed due to another commitment. This is just a brief account of what I found and I have kept it deliberately “low key” to avoid unnecessarily upsetting those on either side of the “pride events – good or bad” debate. There were a number of reasons for my attending, including: it is part of my remit as a watchman on the wall, professional curiosity – I used to organise similar events, albeit not Pride and I reckoned it would be a chance to catch up with old friends who might be there (and were). While I did not spend long at the event (these days, I am physically not up for it), all three of those objectives were realised. At the time of arrival, not long after the “Festival” begun, there was already a good many in attendance and most seemed to be having a good time. The venue, Warrior Park, is on the small side given the number of stalls that were running. Part of my decision, after checking out the stalls and greeting some old friends, to leave, was that I found it was not particularly disabled friendly (not helped by the large crowd for such a small area) but was grateful to and touched by those volunteers who helped me when I needed it. This event (aimed at the whole community and not just LGBT associated) was, as expected, well organised as well as well supported.

There was a Christian presence just outside the Park, preaching and giving out tracts although there were also Christians attending the event and supportive of its aims. Nearby was an LBGT activist friend (the same person who years gave convincing arguments for holding such events), theatrically registering his protest. I got to speak with both parties and it was amicable. I was rebuked, however, by one of the preaching band, who felt if inappropriate for Christians to attend the event, although I did give my reasons. I could say more but let this suffice for the now. Whatever one’s views on Pride events, and I know some/many from my own theological stable are against and see them as symptomatic of the godlessness of our times, yet there is considerable support by many in my city. Overall, despite my misgivings, including those related to the culture wars that I see taking place, which I discussed in my last blog, I was glad to have attended today. I congratulate organisers and volunteers for putting on a peaceful, successful and happy event that most who attended enjoyed, YET WITHOUT ENDORSING ANY ATTEMPT TO NORMALISE HOMOSEXUALITY or notions of pride, especially if in a wrong cause or idea. Meanwhile, I will continue to respectfully engage with my LGBT and Pride loving friends, while regretting when Christians go along with what God forbids. I will exalt the One we need to follow and stress the need to obey all His commands.