Be humble in this life so that God may raise you up in the next.—St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king
How sad it is to see God-glorifying humility morph into sin-glorifying pride.
Last year, Hungary went viral after an illuminated cross hovered over the Danube River, symbolizing the European nation’s Christian heritage. Drones took the shape of a cross after transitioning from a depiction of the crown of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king, who recognized Christ’s lordship and introduced Christianity to the pagan Magyars—thereby uniting them under one nation and one God.
Nearly a year later, rainbow-draped apparel and scantily clad men and women marched through Budapest for the globally recognized “Pride parade.” The sexually fueled displays on Budapest’s streets expose the fierce and troubling dichotomy between Hungary’s Christian founding and the progressivism simmering in the city.
A couple of takeaways from the parade:
First, the displays and apparel weren’t nearly as explicit as is seen in the United States. It seemed that the participants were loud and proud of their message, but without making an “in your face,” provocative delivery. It’s as if they were more interested in celebrating themselves than forcing others to celebrate them as well.
Second, the participants I interviewed acknowledged both sides of the discussion. When I asked them whether LGBTQ+ dialogue should be in school curriculums, I got charitable answers.
I questioned two individuals who acknowledged that LGBTQ-related lessons should be minimal in school, given that anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment could be shared by teachers who oppose the agenda.
“They should discuss it as history and current affairs without pushing a right or wrong approach,” one marcher told me.
This was a matter of precedent. Giving LGBTQ+ discussion a place in school means that such a discussion will be swayed based on the teacher’s personal views.
The two marchers’ friends nodded in agreement with them, which gives a stronger idea of what the greater crowd believes.
But moderately tolerant Hungarians weren’t the only participants in the Pride parade. Dozens from the international diplomatic corps took to the streets to demand the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights in a nation whose leadership has courageously resisted that agenda.
Leading the charge was U.S. Ambassador David Pressman, an internationally recognized gay rights activist, who bizarrely made it his personal mission to make the totality of U.S.-Hungary relations hinge upon whether Budapest is willing to bow to the gay agenda. Hint: It is not.
American commentator Rod Dreher said it well:
The American ambassador and his diplomatic colleagues are demanding that Hungary violate the explicitly Christian text and spirit of its Constitution. I get that the United States and most of Europe is post-Christian, but Hungary is trying very hard to be faithful to its roots going back a thousand years.
The contempt the U.S. and the EU have for the religious foundation of our civilization is clear, and appalling. I wish my fellow American Christians understood what our own government is doing to a country that, unlike us, is attempting to stay faithful to God in its laws.
To be fair, Hungary is still largely conservative with a liberal metropolis in the center, where a pro-LGBTQ+ socialist mayor reigns and his main challenger was a candidate both gay and green. From a national political perspective, however, Hungarian conservatism seems to have a strong enough foothold.
Conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been at the helm since 2010. His party, Fidesz, has a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and won most precincts in recent local elections.
But although we shouldn’t allow the optics of rainbows and leather straps (or as Pride-marchers would call them, “clothes”) to distort our understanding of Hungary’s ideology, it does raise the concern of time.
Just how long can Hungary’s shield against progressives and progressivism last, what with the world becoming more secular; thousands attending the Pride march in Budapest; over 40 embassies endorsing the march, including the once-conservative Poland; 35 countries co-signing a statement of concern regarding Hungary’s political position on the LGBTQ+ agenda; pressure from the European Union; and a U.S. ambassador hell-bent on advancing his personal agenda in Hungary instead of focusing on America’s strategic interests?
After all, Christianity in America was once the norm, to the point where public displays were welcome even in the most liberal urban environments.
How does Hungary avoid going down the same secularist paths of its European neighbors?
Simply put, through repentance and adherence to God’s Word.
As exhorted by St. Stephen, Hungary’s visionary first king, the people of Hungary need to show God-glorifying humility, which is the exact opposite on display at Pride parades.
Hungary’s Christian leaders must remember that they fill the seats of a God-ordained institution whose purpose is to restrain public vice and advance justice and righteousness.
The citizens of Hungary must remember that their votes matter, nationally and locally. It is good, necessary, and critical for Hungarians to continue voting patterns that affirm their own national traditions and their own values.
Christian virtues are not an accidental part of Hungary’s history; they have been this nation’s key to survival. Simply observing the moral decline dictated by the American Left and European elites should be enough to induce Hungarians to opt for an alternative that is life-giving, not soul-crushing.
Hungary’s current Constitution invokes Christian values and many Hungarian laws, including family policies that have effectively reduced abortions in half and policies that shield against indoctrinating children with LGBTQ+ propaganda, are still active today.
While these policies aren’t aimed at creating a theocratic framework, Christian virtue does serve as the most profitable foundation for societies, as affirmed by Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister.
“Europe,” Orbán said, “can only be saved if it finds its way back to the source of its true values, to its Christian identity.”
Hungary, a nation with an embattled history of severe land and population loss after World War I and almost 50 years of Soviet occupation, has persevered time and time again.
Oh, that Hungary would be strong enough to resist the neocolonial, ideological Left that uses every possible lever to turn this small country into a moral ash heap.
May Hungary persevere spiritually as well and return to its original state, one that affirms Jesus Christ as high priest, savior, and Lord. May the “Pride” seen this month be turned into a humble self-confidence that Saint Stephen so strongly advocated over a thousand years ago.