Finding a Solution for The Dilemma Between Conservatives and LGBTQ Supporters
The pushback on celebrity and corporate support for the LGBTQ movement continues to intensify, even in Christian circles.
Dove Award-winning Christian musician Plumb is receiving flack from her fans for a social media most that reveals Plumb’s celebration of Pride Month and for changing her bio and now indicating that she is an “ally” of the movement, Christian Headlines reported.
In an Instagram post, Plumb wrote: “Happy Pride month! To all my LGBTQ+ siblings, I see you and I love you!” She accentuated the post with a rainbow graphic.
One fan replied: “Loving people and supporting their sin are two different things. If you really loved them you would not only love them, but tell them the truth about what God says about homosexuality and how it’s wrong; not wish them “happy pride month” and posting rainbows that were originally given to us as a promise from God. We’re too afraid of offending people these days when we should be worried about offending God. True Christians don’t hate gay people. We just want them to have a relationship with Jesus as well.”
Another fan wrote: “Tiffany, I have listened to your music since your 1st songs. We are about the same age and so are our kids. I often felt if I knew you we would be friends. I have seen you in concert and also gone through the same things in my marriage as you did at the same time and now also rebuilding as a single mom. But as a Christian, this post made me lose a little respect. There is a very big difference between loving everyone and supporting pride month. Sick, actually. Love and support the people but do not celebrate something as sinful as pride month. Disappointed here.”
And yet another post, read: “I just unfollowed you. This post made me sad. As a Christian Music Artist, you should not be supporting the LGBTQ.”
Other Christian artists that have shown their support for the LGBTQ movement are DC Talk’s Kevin Max, who now refers to himself as an “exvangelical,” a term used to define someone who has left evangelical Christianity.
Then there is Amy Grant, who is winning over LGBTQ supporters for hosting the lesbian wedding of her niece earlier this year. Franklin Graham responded charitability but uncompromisingly:
“We are to love God and love each other. But if we love God, we will seek to obey His Word. Jesus told us, ‘If you love Me keep My commandments,’ (John 14:15). God defines what is sin, not us, and His Word is clear that homosexuality is sin. For me, loving others also means caring about their souls and where they will spend eternity. It means loving people enough to tell them the truth from the Word of God.”
In recent weeks and months, the conservative public has responded to corporate support of the LGBTQ movement, specifically to Target and Bud Light, among other companies. Charisma News reported that Target stores across the country transferred “pride” displays to the back of the store or removed them altogether.
As Charisma News also reported, other companies like Starbucks, Disney and Adidas have faced financial pitfalls for their involvement in the promotion of the LGBTQ agenda.
So, what is culture saying through all of this? Is it rejecting the ideal that failure to celebrate LGBTQ Pride has serious professional and societal consequences? Is it beginning to reject the ideal that you will be labeled a “homophobe” if you don’t confirm your lesbian friend, or nurture your transgender colleague’s new identity?
Many LGBTQ supporters think this way, including an advocate group called The Human Rights Campaign. This week, the Hill’s Brooke Migdon reported on HRC’s latest effort, “Human Rights Campaign Declares National State of Emergency for LGBTQ people.” HRC cites the passage of over 75 laws in a dozen states that explicitly target the community. And this during an entire month when gay pride is being “celebrated” throughout the entire country? Never has the gay community been more celebrated or protected than it is right now.
Charisma News columnist and author Dr. Michael L. Brown continues to preach the principle that when it comes to LGBTQ people and issues, we must reach out with compassion and resist the agenda with courage.
Brown says there are Christians who avoid the culture wars because they are too toxic and fearing that any involvement will only turn LGBTQ-identified people away from the faith. But then there are other Christians, he says, that believe their children are being indoctrinated and our most fundamental freedoms and rights are being undermined.
It is a conundrum. Brown asks, “How can we love people in such a way that they recognize our love for them while we reject their personal perceptions and most fundamental values? And how can we love people in a genuine, Christlike way while openly opposing the things they fight for?
“As I have often said, we need hearts of compassion and backbones of steel,” Brown wrote. “On one hand, if you cut us, we should bleed love. On the other hand, we will not be moved.”
The Christian artist Plumb will do well to recognize that principle, as well as Kevin Max and Amy Grant. And corporate executives might devise more creative marketing strategies that won’t offend both sides of the issue.
As Brown says, may God give us all the grace to reflect His heart and mind. {eoa}
Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
