A Rainbow Promise
by Rev. Dr. Amy Chilton on 10/19/23
The Hebrew scripture book of Genesis includes a story of a cataclysmic event, human loss and trauma, and a universal covenant God makes with the whole earth in the story we often refer to as “Noah’s Ark.” It is a troubling story, but it ends with the first of the Genesis covenants, when God speaks and says,
“I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 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” (Gen. 9:13-17).
The beautiful rainbow that graces us after a rainstorm is a powerful reminder that after a flood that destroyed and killed, there was God’s grace and the promise of God’s ongoing grace for all future generations. This is an inclusive covenant, meant for the soil beneath our feet; the critters that burrow in the earth, flit along on the breezes, and scamper across the trees; and every person who has ever lived.
There is a lot of discussion around rainbows these days - even polemics from conservative Christians who want to “reclaim” the rainbow promise from the Pride movement. The rainbow flag has been a symbol of the Pride movement since 1978 - much shorter than the rainbow promise was made to include all folx - including our queer siblings. While some Christians may want to “reclaim” it from Pride, it isn’t the church’s promise to reclaim. The rainbow promise was always God’s promise made with all of creation - no matter the gender identity or sexual orientation of the people to whom it was promised. The church may (at its best) steward that promise, but we do not own it and we cannot control it. I, personally, love the rainbow flag - I think of it as a way that our queer siblings are reclaiming their rightful place in God’s rainbow promise - recognizing that they too are beloved by God.
The rainbow promise belongs to all of us, even straight, cis-gendered folx. Even Christian folx who aren’t sure what all this Pride stuff is about and why the pastor keeps talking about it and wish we could talk about tithing! Well, certainly I talk about other things too - but at the core of it all is my conviction that Scripture shows us and the Spirit continually reminds us that we are all deeply, passionately, wondrously loved by a God who keeps covenants and that to live holy lives we have to let that truth sink down deeply into the very core of our being.
So, what about the rainbow promise? It includes all of us - gay, gender-queer, straight, white, brown, black, rich, poor, differently-abled - but some folx have had their place in the covenant denied. And that is the reason for us to learn to steward that promise better.
In the words of our joint choir from this past Sunday’s Joint Service of Baptists on the Journey of Radical Welcome, “every person has a place, in this holy, sacred space, earth's entire human race, welcome to God’s love.”
Friends, the next time you see the rainbow - whoever you are - breathe deeply of the promise that God’s covenant of divine care and presence is for you.
Blessings,
Pastor Amy
