The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a report about those who engage in homosexual activity. The report states:

…lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are more likely than straight adults to use substances, experience mental health conditions including major depressive episodes, and experience serious thoughts of suicide.

“We know that statistically, lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans face increased risks for mental health and substance use issues, which is often related to stress caused by stigma, discrimination and harassment,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., and the leader of SAMHSA. “SAMHSA is committed to addressing this issue by increasing services and supports for LGBTQI+ individuals.”

But is it true that for such people “stress caused by stigma, discrimination and harassment” is the cause of “depressive episodes,” thoughts of suicide, and “mental health and substance abuse issues”? That is certainly not what the Bible tells us. First, Jeremiah 17:9 says,

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

And the author of Proverbs says,

“The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:19).

So, far be it for a psychologist (of all people) to accurately diagnose a problem of the heart. They cannot possibly know what they claim. But it does seem quite obvious that the cause of this distress is certainly not stigma, discrimination, and harassment.

We live in perhaps the most immorality-affirming society in history. There is no record of a “Drag Queen Story Hour” at the Sodom public library. Sin could hardly be more affirmed in our culture than it already is. Homosexuality no longer has a “stigma”, instead, it is shoved down our throats and our children’s throats in parades, department stores, cartoons, and every other form of media. June is an entire month dedicated to the celebration of sexual debauchery – and these problems still exist. SAMHSA’s solution? MORE of such affirmation:

“SAMHSA is committed to addressing this issue by increasing services and supports for LGBTQI+ individuals.”

“Increasing services and supports” simply means more affirmation-driven cognitive behavioral therapy, which is the very catalyst of our cultural zeitgeist.

Second, as Jeremiah tells us above, it is the deceitfulness and wickedness of the heart that gives birth to both an immoral lifestyle and its consequences. Man’s fundamental problem is that he is a rebel against God, and in his rebellion he was given over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. As a result of man’s rebellion, he has lost the Joy of the Lord. That is the sinner’s problem.

But SAMHSA cannot come to that conclusion. It cannot say that homosexuality is a sin, and that misery always eventually follows in the footsteps of sin – sometimes in this world but always in the next. Instead, their “solution” is to promote what had previously, even in psychological circles, been considered quite aberrant behavior.

But how is such support and affirmation going? Is there still widespread substance use, “depression”, and suicide among those who practice such sin (as well as other kinds of sinners, of course)? YES. So, it seems like “PRIDE month” doesn’t actually help anyone. But why would it? Something as sinister as the sin of pride cannot be a tool for anything but destruction. It cannot help those who are in mortal distress…only Christ can do that.

Therefore what is needed is a call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ who is able to both forgive sinners as well as deliver them from the reign and rule of sin over their lives. Repentance and faith. That is what both John the Baptist’s message was as well as the Lord Himself. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). Affirming sin is not loving. It is soul-destroying. Instead, heed the life-giving words of the Apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 6:9-11. This is what the world needs to hear:

^“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”