It’s classic that I don’t post forever, and then I lead with a heavy-hitter topic.
As we’ve wrapped up the month of June, I’ve sat on some thoughts and feelings I want to share.
Notice the words thoughts and feelings, not facts. The Bible verses I’ll give today are facts, for those that hold the Bible as truth, which I do.
Two Sides of the Rainbow
To a Christian who knows their home is not of this world, but is a new creation upon the return of Christ, the rainbow is a promise. This rainbow has 7 colors.
To a person who lives in and of this world, The rainbow symbolizes pride and acceptance of all no matter their thoughts, feelings, or ways of viewing love. This rainbow (side note) has 6 colors.
I mention these things to point out that they’re not even the same rainbow.
“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
Genesis 9:16
Bible History – for those that may need it:
The whole point behind the rainbow being sent was as a promise from God that he would no longer destroy the world due to its corruptness, in the end, when we continuously sinned and rebelled, he thought it better to stop trying to correct us using destruction and send His son instead. His son brings us forgiveness. He was born a baby in a manger, lived 33 years on this earth without once sinning, and died on the cross to save us all from the sin that lives within us. All we need to do is believe this to be true. To repent when we get it wrong and to seek to live a pure and whole life as Jesus once did.
Which for the record is impossible, yet the difference is, that we wake up each day and try!
God conveys His message of salvation in two ways. The first is through the Law, it demonstrates God’s holiness and convicts us that we are unable to reach God’s holiness through our own efforts. The second way God conveys His message of salvation is through the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus informs us that we have a Savior in God’s Son, who was righteous and holy, living the perfect life so that we might be able to obtain righteousness through Him.
Two Sides to Every Story
Here is the thing…
We as Christians could do better.
We’ve got to find that fine balance, where we still hold to the truth that we know, and share the love of Christ—a book to consider is Messy Grace by Caleb Kaltenbach.
Something to remember as we try to find that challenging balance…
If you’re of the world, you don’t yet know Christ, therefore everyday life is just everyday life.
The symbol is a symbol and nothing more (except it is much more, to them, it can be everything they are)
It’s a major part of their story, or how they identify themselves. And Identifying as something is huge.
If you walk with Christ, your identity is not tied up in this world, or it shouldn’t be. It isn’t even tied up in yourself, or at least it shouldn’t be, therefore it’s not everything you are.
So why are we making it that way? What is with all these “Take back the Rainbow” memes where God’s hand comes out of the sky? Or all the shame we toss, calling out this or that concerning what is being done in this life, by those who don’t believe what we believe.
Our Identity is tied up in Christ, we find our truth, and our identity in Jesus and all He has done for us.
By doing the above, we’ve created a greater divide between man and God. We’re called to be disciples of Christ, and we are to be bridging that gap not intensifying it. So why aren’t we spending time telling our story, which has nothing to do with us, but how God is at work in and through us?
We have a chance to show our Identity in Christ, and how beautiful that can look. But sometimes our actions as Christians are showing something else.
WWJD
Ya’ll What would Jesus Do?
That saying always takes me back to the 90’s.
This question is just speculation. One can only guess as we don’t know what He would do.
I want to think He would probably be at their parades or rallies. Probably not wear their pins, or support their actions, but he’d support the person. He’d get to know them, ask questions, and build relationships. He’d pray that His Father in Heaven would bring the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.
Therefore, shouldn’t we do the same?
Be the Rainbow
Did you know…
Rainbows are made up of white light which is broken down into different wavelengths by water droplets in the air, a process called refraction. This causes each color to bend at a different angle, creating the bands of color that make up a rainbow.
Let me say that again, Rainbows are made up of white light.
Pure and Good. Bring back the days of being a Christian who tries daily to walk as Jesus would have walked. To love like He loves. Set our rulers of judgment down. Spend time getting to know people as they are. There was a time in this life when we could agree to disagree, where has that gone?
You can love A person for who they are and not what they do or how they define themselves…
Because no one is perfect unless your name is Jesus.
Be fruit to our friends
There are two sides to every story.
One is a story of this world
The other is a story of a new heaven and a new earth.
Our friends here on this earth may never get to hear that “other” story if we keep on being passive-aggressive Christians. So how about we spend our days being fruitful?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5: 22-26
Be the Rainbow, don’t destroy it. That’s not supposed to happen again.
The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LCMS.