Given that we are in the season of Gay Pride, I felt it appropriate to review a few passages that meantion rainbows.

I’m not one for giving much thought to the Apocrypha; however, I stumbled across this passage referenced recently in the lectionary which I think to be noteworthy:

Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it (Sirach 43:11a, WEBBE) [1].

Let’s think about this for a bit… Surely the One who created the Rainbow deserves praise. The One who created romantic love and commitment deserves praise. The One who created diversity, style, pizazz, colorful expression deserves praise. But this isn’t just a reminder to praise the God who makes good things; it also invites us to consider the things around us… to really see the good. Look at the rainbow - don’t just think about it or begrudgingly know that it exists - look at it. We need to see, consider, ponder, contemplate the works of God’s hands. God made the gay to be a visible sign of God’s creative work and to bring glory to God. Why else would a loving God hand-craft those attracted to the same gender? God’s plans are good plans. They are plans to help people prosper. Consider the good that God has made, and then consider the Creator.

Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire† stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD’s glory. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke (Ezekiel 1:26-28, WEBBE) [1].

Ezekiel’s vision of heaven includes this description. Can you imagine seeing this? He can tell it looks like a guy, but with the appearance of glowing metal surrounded by something like a rainbow. How amazing it will be to see the Holy One someday!

Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at (Rev 4:2-3, WEBBE) [1].

Another vision of Heaven and another rainbow around the throne. Reading modern-day interpretations into historical texts notwithstanding, given that I also believe the Word to be inspired for all time, there isn’t just room for the rainbows in God’s presence - God surrounds and is adorned by rainbows. Take comfort in that even though this is a vision, we have a God who could have chosen to not create people with same-gender attraction, and did it anyway. And why not? God is a God of diversity and splendor.

Given that there is a choice to read/translate Scripture as being silent on LGBT+ issues or condemning them, and given the apparent higher rate of suicide among those communities that condemn gay people, the church as a whole and every individual believer has a moral obligation to attempt to read the Bible as inclusively as possible. To favor a position of condemnation is to promote an anti-gospel. God’s goals are life and healing, plans to prosper not to harm. Shouldn’t our goals be the same? You shall know them by their fruit - the Church has caused an awful lot of death. Who do you serve? Choose life. Notice the rainbows, and praise their Creator.

[1] The World English Bible (WEB) and the World English Bible British Edition (WEBBE) are modern translations without copyright constraint. https://ebible.org/web/webfaq.htm