Post 33: Pride Comes Before The Fall
Image: Biblical flood scene with Noah's Ark and the rainbow in the clouds. Also shown is part of a bible verse with scripture reference and the words "bytesofsalvation.com, 2026" in the bottom left corner.
Summary: This post will discuss the sin of pride in it's biblical context, how that relates to the cultural LGBTQ pride movement, and the biblical meaning of the rainbow.
What is Pride?
In order to understand what pride is, it is helpful to first provide a definition of the word. Mirriam Webster defines "pride" as "1. the quality or state of being proud: such as a reasonable self-esteem : confidence and satisfaction in oneself : self-respect; 2. pleasure that comes from some relationship, association, achievement, or possession that is seen as a source of honor, respect, etc.; 3. exaggerated self-esteem : conceit."¹
According to Wikipedia, pride is "a primary emotion characterized by a sense of security with one's identity, performance, and/or accomplishments".² Wikipedia also notes that pride may also "refer to foolhardiness or an unearned, irrational sense of one's personal value, status, or accomplishments" and can even be described as vanity or self idolatry.²
By these quick definitions, we can see that pride can have both a positive and a negative meaning. On the positive side, pride can be seen as having a reasonable sense of self-worth, and personal satisfaction in your life and/or achievements that does not elevate yourself above others. On the negative side, we can develop an excessive pride, or an inflated ego or sense of self-worth which can lead a person to think they are better than others.²
What does pride look like in today's culture?
Culturally, use of the word "Pride" has been adapted to often refer to LGBTQ+ pride² and the Gay Rights Movement.³ The Gay Pride Movement asserts that those who align or identify themselves with this community should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity.² The gay rights movement seeks to provide equal rights for and end discrimination against LGBTQ people in many different facets in society.³
Modern gay pride, as we know it in the US, is thought to have began as an act of resistance, that traces back to the June 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. During this incident, the community protested against police harassment that was said to have occurred at a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn, which was raided by police and resulted in a riot that followed.³
America, as well as many countries all over the world, hold an annual, month-long celebration known as Pride Month, which honors LGBTQ culture and the community's lasting impacts on society.⁴ Pride month occurs in June in America, However, there are some countries, mainly Muslim countries, that have criminalized same sex activities, making offenses punishable up to death.³
What does the bible say about Pride?
Not all "pride" is condemned in scripture. The bible says that believers in Christ ought to have a joyful pride, as satisfaction and gratitude that He is our deliverance from death itself. The believer can show this pride in rejoicing in our daily laboring (Ecc. 3:13), expressing confidence in what God is doing through His people (2 Cor 7:4), and even taking pride and gratitude in the work of Christ and the power of the Gospel (Gal 6:14).
On the other hand, sinful pride, which the bible often describes as putting one's own desires, wisdom, or self-sufficiency above God’s desires, is condemned by scripture. The bibles says this type of pride as boastfulness, self-reliance, self-worship, arrogance, haughtiness, vanity, refusing to recognize God’s role in their life, and/or acting with a sense of superiority over others. Those with sinful pride think they are self-sufficient and do not seek after God nor believe they need Him or His salvation, which leads to spiritual ruin (Rev 3:17).
Scripture describes sinful pride as the root of all sin, having originated with the devil (Lucifer/Satan), linking his fall from Heaven to his pride and desire to be equal to God (Isaiah 14:13-15, Ezekiel 28:17). In the Garden of Eden, the serpent (the devil) tempted Adam and Eve by telling them that eating the forbidden fruit would make them "like God" (Genesis 3:5), introducing human pride into the world.
God's word tells us that He detests the prideful (Proverbs 8:13) and actively opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). The scripture also gives a stark warning about sinful pride, indicating that leads to our downfall (Proverbs 16:18). In 1 Timothy 3:6, the Apostle Paul also warns church leaders not to be "puffed up with pride" so they do not fall into the "same judgment" as the devil. Jesus describes this final judgement as "eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
How is Biblical pride linked with homosexuality?
In my reading and researching homosexuality in the bible, I have not seen anything that explicitly links "the sin of pride" to the modern cultural LGBTQ+ pride movement as we know it today. I have also not seen any bible passages that suggest homosexual acts are a "worse" sin than other sins, but instead groups them alongside many other human failings, including greed, gossip, and drunkenness (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
The scriptures generally categorize pride and homosexual acts as separate sins that stem from the same root of turning away from God's design. The bible does clearly state that all sin separates us from God and the sin we all have makes us fall short of God’s perfect standard (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Since pride is defined as putting one's own desires, wisdom, or self-sufficiency above God’s, engaging in any behavior that the Bible defines as sinful—whether it be homosexual acts, lying, or greed—is seen as a manifestation of pride, because it elevates human will over God’s commandments. The bible does also identify the “pride of life” as the root of sin, a fundamental opposition to the ways of God (1 John 2:16).
In the creation of man in Genesis 1, God instructs man to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen 1:28). God also decrees that "man should not be alone" and determines to make a suiable helper for man (Gen 2:18). From the rib of man, God makes woman to be man's helper (Gen 2:21-22). God also commands that man should consummate his union with his wife, saying man should "hold fast to his wife and they shall be come one flesh" (Gen 2:24). Here, God is defining the created order for man and woman, and the homosexual union is unable to produce offspring.
The Bible also teaches that Satan fell from Heaven due to his pride, in that he desired to usurp God's absolute authority and sit in God's place in Heaven (Isaiah 14:12–14). In his pride, Satan coveted the adoration and sovereignty that belongs only to God (Ezekiel 28:17). In the Garden of Eden, Satan (as the serpent) tempted Adam and Eve. Appealing to the pride of man, Satan enticed them to disobey God, deceiving them to question God's authority and promised that they would “be like God” (Genesis 3:5).
In Romans 1:26-27, the bible describes same-sex acts as "unnatural" and contrary to the created divine order. In the preceding verses (Romans 1:21-25), this behavior is rooted in the pride and arrogance of humanity. The text argues that because humans became prideful in their own understanding and rejected the worship of the Creator, God gave them over to their own "depraved" or misdirected desires. Also, in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul discusses various behaviors that will prevent someone from inheriting the kingdom of God, and among those is homosexual practice.
In summary, we can see that the Bible shows that pride is an underlying fallen spiritual attitude, while homosexual practice can be seen as specific behavioral expressions of that fallen spiritual condition.
The Biblical Rainbow vs Rainbow as Gay Pride Symbolism
In the Bible, the rainbow appears after the Great Flood as a sign of God's covenant with Noah and all living creatures. Genesis 9: 11-17 tells us that God set the rainbow in the clouds as a sign of the promise that He will never again destroy the earth by a flood.
The rainbow flag, created by Gilbert Baker in 1978 for San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day, was adopted to represent the diversity and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community.⁴ Many people who identify and align with the use of the rainbow flag as a symbol for gay pride say that the multi-colored stripes are meant to reflect the diversity of human sexuality, gender, and the broader push for equal rights, acceptance, and dignity.
In my research for this writing, I've come across two sides to this discussion. There is the more traditional view⁶ across various denominations, shown with biblical support, that same-sex sexual activity is sinful (Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13). One major point to mention can be accurately seen in the following quote about the pride flag from this creation.com article titled, Reclaiming the Rainbow, which says:
"The flag is portrayed as a symbol of sexual love and diversity, but it misrepresents the true form of Christian agape love, which is self-less and giving, and where sexual love is confined to monogamous marriage between one man and one woman (see: 1 Corinthians 13:4–7)".⁵
I believe this falls in line with a more traditional view on this topic that many Christian denominations hold to. Some traditionalists think that the LGBTQ+ movement has twisted the use of God's covenant rainbow by using it in the rainbow flag which symbolizes being proud about living a lifestyle that the bible describes as sinful. Because the Bible often warns against the spiritual danger of pride (Proverbs 16:18, James 4:6), many believers feel the movement's name is a direct opposition to the Christian virtues of humility and grace.
In contrast, there are some more liberal and progressive Christian denominations who hold a different view on homosexuality. Many mainline protestant churches such as the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America support and affirm same-sex behavior and same-sex marriage.⁶ Many of these churches see the rainbow’s modern meaning as an extension of God's inclusive and unconditional love. Their perspective emphasizes God's promise of solidarity, unconditional love, and protection for marginalized groups, and argues that celebrating diversity and human life aligns with biblical principles of grace.
The issue here is that any churches that affirm homosexuality rather than condemn it, as the bible does, is not really teaching the full truth of the bible. Instead, these churches only teach certain parts of the bible so as not to offend those who live such lifestyles but also wish to identify with Christianity. John 8:31-32 tells us that those who listen to Jesus teachings will know the truth, and the truth will set them free. But the truth cannot set a person free if they're not actually hearing it.
Conclusion:
I believe God's word is the objective truth of mankind, how we got here, and how we ought to live. God's word says that homosexuality is a sinful lifestyle. I also believe that the rainbow, which God did set as a sign of his covenant with mankind (as discussed earlier) was misappropriated to represent affirmation of a sinful lifestyle. That being said, I love the person involved in such lifestyle and would point them to forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ, but cannot affirm or support the sin that such lifestyles represents.
The truth of the matter is that the bible says that all of mankind has sin (Romans 3:23), and the wage of this sin is death (Romans 6:23), culminating in eternal separation from him in a place called hell (John 3:18, 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9, Revelation 21:8). God loves us but hates our sin, and this sin separates us from Him. In order to get to heaven, we have to be sinless, but since we all have sin, only someone who is sinless can pay that wage of sin for us so that we can be forgiven and go to heaven one day after we die.
The bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22). Without forgiveness, we cannot be reconciled to God, and remain condemned forever. The good news is that Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died on the cross to pay the wage of sin that we all owe to God because of our sin. He did this so that we could have forgiveness for all of our sin (Acts 10:43, Ephesians 1:7) and be in heaven with God one day (John 14:2-3, Philippians 3:20).
In order to be saved from condemnation of hell and granted eternal life, we must believe that Jesus died on the cross as the atoning payment for our sins (Isaiah 53:5-6, John 3:16, 1 Peter 2:24)! When we believe, the bible says we are forgiven of all sin and reconciled to God forever (Ephesians 2:16, 2 Corinthians 5:18).
If you are someone who is in this type of lifestyle, my plea is that you repent, that is, turn away from your unbelief or rejection of God's truth to believe on Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and be saved!
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