Today at lunch, I checked my Facebook account to see if I have messages from friends I got in contact with lately. I checked a few posts and saw that many are saddened by the news that the US Supreme Court had affirmed Gay Marriage. It’s heartbreaking, I know.
Then there’s something else that caught my attention–the rainbow-fied profile photos of some of my friends. My first thought was why this is the new trend from today.
I searched for the answer on the internet and this explained why everyone is changing their profile photos into a rainbow-fied one. What I found was shocking.
Friends, did you know that rainbow-fying your profile photos means that you are celebrating the affirmation of gay marriage with pride?
I may get bashed for what I am about to say, but I am persuaded that rainbow-fying profile photos on Facebook is not for us, Christians who claim to love and worship a holy God. If we know that we have been born again by faith in Jesus Christ, then we should make a difference by not being conformed to whatever is trendy.
This reminds me of one beautiful quote by Albert Einstein–
“What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.”
Here’s a few verses that we also have to keep in mind:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ~Roman 12:1-2 [emphasis mine]
“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” ~1 Peter 1: 14-16 [emphasis mine]
I may quote many other verses that urge believers of Christ to abstain from all forms of ungodliness but here is my loving plea, let’s be careful with our simple choices. These careless choices may cause people to think that we are in favor of what God calls abominable. If we care for and love the souls of the unsaved, we should not rainbow-fy our profile photos on Facebook.
Leaning on Jesus 
Hi, Nance: You’re right…that’s what it means. In the US, the rainbow-fying has been going on a long time, and so at this point, the ones who do it know that is what they are celebrating. There are a large number of American Christians who support gay marriage. I agree with you that in following Christ, the Bible says we are not to live that lifestyle, but the debate has been whether to legislate that lifestyle in terms of marital benefits, and that is where all the rainbow stuff is so prevalent right now. The legislation part is also where American Christians feel conflicted. It’s good to make people aware of what it means if they don’t know. It may not be as common of an occurrence where you are (the rainbow), but over here, especially because I live in a politically liberal area of the US, it’s very common. I really appreciate your verses, points, and the love with which you deliver it. Mostly I just wanted to share that in the US, Christians feel conflicted because while they may not agree with the lifestyle or believe they themselves should not be in gay relationships if they follow God, they don’t feel the morality of it should be legislated in forcing others to embrace what is based on our Christian beliefs. It’s a very complex topic. Personally, I don’t put up a rainbow flag because it doesn’t affect me directly, and I don’t therefore share their sense of “victory” or conviction to fight for those “rights.” Hope this explanation of at least the rainbow “culture” in the U.S. helps. You and I share the same beliefs about what the Bible says on this matter, and really no matter what a country’s legal system says about whether something (any of these moral issues…abortion, death penalty, homosexuality) is legit or not is always amusing to me because while so many don’t share my faith, I answer to God as my ultimate authority in choices I make. It was an interesting day in my country. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. You bravely speak for what the Bible says! Blessings to you and yours!
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I didn’t put a rainbow picture on my own account, but I did find ways to show my gay friends that I love them. It’s hard because God gives us full freedom to live our lives, and he gives us full freedom whether or not to choose Him, and his way. I believe that is what we are supposed to do for others. I’m glad that there is a separation of church and state, and even that the state allows full freedom to its citizens, including gay marriage. But when people come to me to learn the Bible, I teach them what the Bible says about the matter. It’s a hard line to walk – that fine line between loving and conforming. I think it’s even harder when you are surrounded by very liberal friends and families. I read a really great book on the subject, written by a brother in Canada who comes from that background but who is now married with kids. It helped me to understand what was helpful when reaching out to gay friends, and what was not. Some reach out for Jesus and some don’t, but love, love, love … 🙂
Anyway, those are just my (confused) thoughts.
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What was the book called by the brother in Canada please? I’d like to read it! Thanks 🙂
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Hi there! I found the link on Amazon for you. It’s called “Caring Beyond the Margins” by Guy Hammond. It’s here: http://www.amazon.com/Caring-Beyond-Margins-Christian-Homosexuality/dp/098557495X
I hope you like it as well as I did. I was really touched by the book and by his incredible grace-filled testimony.
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Thankyou! For some reason I’ve only just discovered your message. Have you heard of Dennis Jernigan? He has an amazing testimony too x
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Thanks for this loving reminder sis Jennie. Indeed, it’s very hard to put into words the kind of love that the LGBT community would understand.
I did basically post this since some of my friends “rainbow-fied” their profile photos without understanding the reason behind it. Later, I was happy to see some of my faithful Christian friends changing their rainbow-fied profile photos into normal ones and apologizing to their friends on Facebook.
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THis is a tough one for me… I didn’t change my profile picture, because I am honestly so confused on how to feel. It’s just so complicated, as Bonnie so beautifully described. I too, love many homosexual friends, like Jennie- and I understand their need to have benefits and rights that married people have- but I also feel strongly that marriage is truly a holy sacrament for a man and a woman under God’s law.
I think I struggle most with showing and shining God’s love and grace on all- so many people I know and love NEED to truly understand that they too, are worthy of Christ’s forgiveness, His mercy and His love… so my greatest passion is to ensure I extend that same love and grace too.
It’s a tough one. Sigh…
I basically have kept quiet about it all. For all these reasons.
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Christianity is tough, and it is during time like this that we realize it. Staying unshaken in our believes is fundamental to our faith. Let’s continue to pray….
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I won’t put a rainbow on my profile. I am not ashamed to say that God has already judged the sin of homosexuality and those who partake in it will face the consequences on judgement day. Jesus told us to love one another as He has loved us. That is not difficult. It is not difficult to express my feelings of disappointment of our government to allow this abomination basically allowing the devil into our lives and pushing God out.
I have expressed my feelings on the same sex marriage to many of my friends and explained what the bible states. I get told many times that the bible is out of date. I tell them that God’s word is forever, never changing, it is the same today as it was back then. I have lost a few friends over this and that is fine.
I get called a hater because I refuse to allow anyone to tell me that I have to accept and tolerate this sin. I am not a hater, I am a bible believing Christian and follow the word of God.
I had a brother who was gay, I had many friends who were gay, all of them have passed away from AIDS. So many people would rather believe that they were born this way and refuse to believe that the devil has put this into their head. This is a choice they made, maybe not conscientiously but still a choice because God has said this is an abomination and men who lay with men and women who lay with women will surely be put to death, He would not make people this way just to kill them. The devil makes people this way.
I will never be ashamed to testify that I love and follow God, I will never be ashamed to tell non-believers about Him and His covenant He has with us. Don’t keep quiet for fear of offending someone, there are many countries that people cannot worship God because they will be killed. At least here in the United States that is still one of our freedoms. Shout to the Lord and praise His name. Do not conform to the ways of the world but transform yourselves by the renewing of your mind.
God bless you
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Respectfully, I don’t think the issue is about being afraid of the Gospel or ashamed. Absolutely we can’t hide from the Truth we walk in. I just heard a great sermon this morning, though, reaffirming what I have felt called to walk in in this recent social/moral debate with *anyone not following God, for whatever reason and in whatever way. It was from Ephesians 4. It was about how we must introduce people to Jesus, show them His love, and allow Him to conform their hearts. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to show us God’s Truth and how to walk in it. We are to love a hurting world in whatever condition they find themselves in looking for truth in wrong ways and not realizing it. When we show them Jesus, He transforms their lives. Thank our Mighty God He came to us right where we are in our own sin and didn’t wait for us to clean up our acts to be loved, accepted, and worth dying for. I want to love first because Jesus told me to and because He modeled it. When someone desires my input or discipling them or wants to know my stance, I gladly direct them to the Bible and am clear on what it says, but I feel called to love them to God first and not yell at them about sin, because if we are going to yell at each other about sin, then I’d have to yell the loudest at myself first. Those are my own thoughts. Not saying anyone on this discussion is yelling, just that I don’t agree with the angry Evangelical approach I see all over social media. Angry for God’s ways, sure…of course we are. We are offended by what offends Him (except when we indulge in and justify our own unrighteousness from time to time, which we all do, which is why we so desperately need Him), but yelling at people He loves? Not our job, in my opinion. God the Father is judge. We aren’t even jury. We are just hands and feet. That is why I take the approach that I do and do not join the loud voices of condemnation I see all over social media and elsewhere. Hope this explains my viewpoint even if anyone who reads it doesn’t agree, which is okay. We agree on Jesus and that He came to save the lost, which is all of us. Much love to everyone! I know we’re all so grateful for His grace and we are drawn in unity by the Spirit of God. Blessings! And Nance…so exciting God used you to let your friends know if they didn’t know already. I love that your voice was used for that. Beautiful!
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Just re-read all the comments, I can see threads of how we are all more or less on the same page…just perhaps slightly different in approach. I love that. God wants unity and yet is creative in how we each can express His Truth through our different giftings that He gave us. It’s beautiful to see the tapestry of His love here. May it reach a hurting world! I think our hearts all hurt when we see people not embrace the peace we know. And how the enemy wants to divide Christians on this. I’d rather find what we all agree on and build from that.
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