"It Is An Evil Time", or Why I Didn't Post During Pride Month (and Digressions About July)

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

(Amo 5:10-13)

Before I get into why I didn't post during Pride Month, let me tell you about a YouTube video I watched from a guy named GradeAUnderA.  I'm not going to post it here, because he's a potty mouth.  Still, he made a video about what he calls a really wild Bible story, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 (he didn't mention the Scripture chapter).  He points out the "wild" facts of:

• The people of Sodom wanting to have sex with the angels (v. 5)
• Lot offering his two virgin daughters for the people of Sodom to have sex with (v. 8)
• The angels blinding the Sodomites (v. 11)
• Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt (v. 26)
• Lot's family living in a cave (v. 30)
• Lot's daughters getting Lot drink and having sex with him in order to be pregnant (v. 33-35)

I mention this because it is ironic:  Many people during Pride Month indeed commit lots of sodomy, the sin named after the city that was destroyed.

I also wanted to point out that the fact that the world (of whom GradeAUnderA is) would obviously think of such things happening as wild:

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

But I digress.  Why didn't I post during Pride Month?

It's because mainly of Amos 5:13, mentioned in the beginning of this post:

Amo 5:13  Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Pride Month is definitely an evil time, a time in which homosexuality and other sexual deviations are celebrated.  Now, I may or may not be correct in my interpretation of that Scripture, but just in case Amos 5:13 means that I should keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during evil times, I keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during evil times.  Correct me if I'm wrong!  (Proverbs 6:23)

Which gets me to thinking:  What act of pride goes on in JULY?

Now of this I'm not sure whether I should keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during the 4th of July.  Yes, there are some who are "proud to be an American", yet, and this is my opinion, I may be totally off base by calling those who celebrate American Independence Day "proud".  Honestly, I really don't think most Americans display "pride" when celebrating their independence from Great Britain.  If you ask the average American, it's just a day off to eat grilled food and shoot off fireworks.  Again, correct me if I'm wrong. (Proverbs 6:23)

Now, one day in particular at this time of year warms my heart greatly: July 2.  Why?  On July 2, 2021, I made my final car payment and became debt-free for the first time in my adult life. (Romans 13:8) It also just so happens to coincide with what John Adams considers the REAL Independence Day (since the actual vote to become independent from Great Britain happened on that day):

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

Now, replace "Independence from Great Britain" with "Independence from Debt" and Mr. Adams has captured my sentiment towards that day quite well (other than the "You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not", I am quite enthused, sir).  It's not pride I display.  It's glee.  It's jubilation.  I'm not proud to be debt-free.  I'm happy to be debt-free.  It's a freakin' miracle, as if I was cured of cancer.  Praise be to God.

“A Quote by John Adams.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/7168127-the-second-day-of-july-1776-will-be-the-most. Accessed 30 June 2024. (Yes, I looked this up during Pride Month, but the actual posting of it wasn't until the next day)

An Important Message Ahead of Pride Month

Pride Month is coming. The Bible warns against pride, homosexuality, and other sexual deviations. To all who fit this group, please read the following from Scripture itself. It can save your soul: Lev 18:22  Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.  Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Rom 1:18-32) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1Co 6:9-10) There is hope: Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.