Taking Back the Rainbow
Last month, as we scrolled through social media, watched television, and lived our everyday lives, we were hit with countless images of the rainbow being used to symbolize Pride Month. The most ridiculous of these might be Bud light’s different rainbow bottles that supposedly represent all of the different sexual orientations they could think of. But while this symbol is currently being used to promote the LGTBQ+ lifestyle, its roots are much older than the current sexual movement.
Historically, the rainbow originated with the Judeo-Christian faith. In Genesis 9, as Noah and his family are brought to safety after the flood that was used to judge the wickedness of the world, God created the rainbow as a sign of His covenant with Noah, saying, “I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
The rainbow was never a symbol to promote a sexual preference, but rather to represent God’s promise to man.
While many Christians are upset that the rainbow is being used to market a sinful worldview, we should remember that the rainbow represents:
The mercy of God to every individual rather than his immediate wrath. Psalm 103:10, Romans 8:1-3.
The patience of God toward all of mankind to repent, turn from their sins, and be saved. Romans 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9.
Sin’s destructiveness in a fallen world. Proverbs 14:12, James 1:15.
Christians as a means by which God extends his mercy and patience to a sinful world. Isaiah 6:8, Matthew 28:19-20.
These things should give us motivation. Rather than taking a set of colors and proclaiming it to be “Christian,” like a small child that does not want to share his toys, we should see the rainbow as an invitation to act. As believers, our message to the LGTBQ+ community is not one of swapping sexual orientations, but rather that the forgiveness of sins is only found at the cross and that we can be reconciled to God through the blood of Christ.
As Paul reminds us in his letter to Ephesus in verses 2:3-5:
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
When we look at the rainbow, whether in the sky or flying at a Pride festival, we should remember as Christians that we have the message of life for a dying world. This is how Christians can take back the rainbow.