An elderly Australian woman was recently confronted outside a church by a man who insisted the rainbow she was painting on church steps was “an abomination to God.”
The woman was at Pitt Street Uniting Church in Sydney, Australia, helping to paint the front steps ahead of Mardi Gras. Each step was being painted a different color of the rainbow.
“Is this Christian?” an unnamed man can be heard asking from behind the camera. “Yep,” the woman responds.
The woman can be heard calmly explaining to the man that in her view, God is for love and in favor of same-sex marriage.
But the man pushes back on that, arguing that God has commands – and that being straight is one of them.
The incident prompted heated debated, but there's even more to the story.
Rainbow Rumble
Another video (presumably filmed later that night) shows vandals painting over the steps under cover of darkness. One of the vandals appears to say “[expletive] the LGBT.”
Social media users largely expressed disgust at the man behind the camera, accusing him of pestering an older woman for no real reason other than his own bigotry.
“A deeply disturbing incident of intolerance and hate towards the LGBTQ+ community,” is what one social media user described it as. “How awful,” said another. “Some individuals really don't see how hatred has taken over their lives.”
Still, some reactions were on the side of the vandals. “For those who consider the Bible to be the final word of God, this man was justified in questioning her beliefs,” argued one commenter.
Despite the smattering of support, the vandals did not have the effect they may have thought. The rainbow steps were repainted by parishioners the next day.
What do you make of all this?
Should a church be allowed to broadcast its pro-LGBTQ values to the public? And do others have the right to stomp on that message in the name of scripture?
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23 comments
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Glenn Ordell
I am a very straight, 72 year old, heterosexual male who has received numerous requests from homosexual men to join them in a sexual tryst. I have chosen not to engage in having sex with any of them, simply because I do not find it appealing to do so. With this introduction in mind, I believe that each human being is entitled to choose their own path. And I also believe that every path contains each and every color of the rainbow. So from my perspective, I can see how it makes good sense for all churches to paint there steps with each color of the rainbow. If a church does not want to include the LGBTQ+ community, perhaps those churches should paint their steps pitch black, to warn people of what type of thinking goes on within the walls of that church.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
I'm a 66 year old, slow, pudgy man, and I, too, have been approached over the years and turned down the offers. I will thank them for thinking me attractive, but it is not mutual.
All I want from someone else, regardless of their personal life, is that we can be good neighbors.
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Daniel Gray
why? if the parish is ok with this then why bother them? As long as its not violating their religions teachings its nobodys business but their own
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Michael Holland
After the great flood gods promise was the rainbow!
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Rev. Rooster
Just wanted to say, thankyou, God word of a rainbow after the flood, it was a blessing
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Douglas Robert Spindler
This is just another story of Christian hatred of God's children. Christians need to read their Bibles, starting with 1 Timothy 4:4-5. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected. and Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Well my Christians friends if God made LGBTQ+ individuals why do you hate and despise what God has created?
Christians, God and Jesus wants you to spreading love, tolerance and acceptance not play God and pass judgement over others. Why are you doing what God has commanded you to do?
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Shango MasterExorcist, D.D.
Nice steps! Most people like rainbows. Happy positive lady painting the steps.
The guy pestering her just to make a video probably doesn't really have a God who dislikes rainbows. If he really has one, he could start his own church and paint the steps black.
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Robert Gagnon
The church owns their steps, they can do whatever they want with them. With all the off kilter celebrating that goes on in New Orleans, the complainer is a bit of a moron.
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Tiffany Moore
I like it
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Rev. Kev
To each their own. It's not right for one group with a certain belief to try to force any other group to submit to those beliefs. Interestingly enough, there are linguistic scholars who have way more education and practical knowledge of Biblical texts than me who have said the Bible never actually prohibits homosexuality. The verses often read in modern English Bibles are interpretations chosen by church scholars of their time that reflected their own beliefs. Since interpretations are a mix of language skills and art, that can happen by chance or intent.
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John P Maher
ITs BEAUTIFULYY COLORED, LIKE THECLERGY @ THE VATICAN !
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Tiffany Moore
I like it
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NLilly
Mental Sickness Is Real Y'all! Just Don't Lose Your Way In HOLINESS IN CHRIST JESUS! Live And Pray! And Let Live//
Be A Living Example In The Kingdom Of GOD On Earth, IN Righteousness, Holiness, Charity, Faith, and Purity! In CHRIST JESUS Name & Kingdom Living! AMEN! LORD JESUS. ♥ //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
There Is A Way Which Seemeth Right Unto A Man, But The End Thereof Are The Ways Of Death!
All The Ways Of A Man Are Clean In His Own Eyes; But The LORD Weigheth The Spirits.
Commit Thy Works Unto The LORD, And Thy Thoughts Shall Be Established. / AMEN! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sadly, what is happening in this world today has already been prophesied. What we are beholding is the Mental Sickness of Backslidden Christians who don't realize they are backslidden. May we pray for them for GOD's Extended Mercies and Holy Spirit to Free them from the bondages of the devil they have gone backwards into. PRAY FOR THEM! In JESUS Name.
Every Thought and Action Exercising Itself against the WORD and Knowledge of GOD ALMIGHTY Is Operating int the Spirit of Error! As they have become bewitched and have gone backwards! Pray For Them!
There's No Money Nor Corrupted Ways Of Thinking In This Life, That Will Ever Change The Holiness And Purity Of GOD ALMIGHTY And What HE Deems Appropriate And Acceptable, As A Man being with his Wife, In CHRIST JESUS! AMEN! HOLY GHOST!
Them That Are HOLY, Let Them Be Holy Still, When The LORD JESUS Returns! SELAH! AMEN! The SAME Applies To Them That ARE: Unjust, Filthy, and Righteous! And JESUS Will Reward Every Man (Person) According As His Work Shall Be!
SELAH! AMEN LORD JESUS! ♥ ♥ XOXOXO / I Refuse To Lose My Peace Behind Another's Mental Sickness! No Way! No How!
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JPrime
The wanton capitalization and chaotic punctuation gives this comment very much an unhinged character. My suggestion would be to rein back on the Baptist Revival tone and opt for quiet intensity instead. It would be taken much more seriously. As it was written, it’s the equivalent of a paranoid fanatic caring a sandwich board that reads “The End is Near” scrawled in crayon. I understand your point of view, and hope you can find a better, more effective way of communicating that fervency. I respectfully disagree with your opinion of “backslidden Christians” in that the “Christians” in power no longer practice any kind of true Christianity but use the Bible toward their own ends and not what Jesus has modelled. Indeed, if “Christian” politicians WERE to live what they claim the Bible teaches, there would be universal health care, the top 1% would be forced to stop hoarding 63% of new wealth in the US (https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/richest-1-bag-nearly-twice-much-wealth-rest-world-put-together-over-past-two-years - if anyone is interested) and the US would look more like a social democracy than the semi-fascist, theocratical oligarchy it is today. Peace upon you and your house.
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Michael Hunt
Yes, you do sound mentally ill. It's probably from all of the religious brainwashing you've been subjected to.
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NLilly
Are you happy with yourself and your life and lifestyle Mr. Hunt? Obviously Not! Your personal attacks on me speaks VOLUMES about yourself. I'll add you to my prayer list. Smiling. I forgive you in JESUS Name and Grace. Amen! ♥
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Lionheart
Which Jesus would that be, NLilly? There seems to be so many south of the border, and one that actually cuts my grass twice a month. 🤷🏼
🦁♥️
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NLilly
Excuse Me JPrime:
My Posting was addressing the Topic at hand. I wasn't speaking directly to you! But if the shoe fits, then wear it. Neither am I a bit concerned of how you do not agree with some of my statements. Next time, Stay FOCUSED on the Topic at hand and concentrate on the deliverance of your own explanations, as a Matured Individual.
Either Address The Topics Or Stay Quiet! You Don't Intimidate Me; that's why my participation in here is very little, because of annoying, immature people such as yourself and Mr. Hunt!
My Goodness! The NERVE Of Some People! .... Now moving right along, back to my Happy Place In CHRIST JESUS! YES LORD! ♥ ♥ ♥
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Humanism Clergy Linda
At least I know there are ignorant people outside of the USA. How dare those fools painting over the rainbow. Shameful display by those so called "Christians"
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Rev. Rooster
Just wanted to say, thankyou, God's word of a rainbow after the flood, it was a blessing
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Lionheart
Not much of a blessing for those babies, toddlers, children, & pregnant mothers that would have died in the flood……if it ever really happened. Fortunately, we don’t see any geological evidence it was real, thank goodness.
🦁❤️
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ServantOfJudgement
A Christian church displaying the rainbow for homosexual purposes is not that dissimilar to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting advertising free shots of whiskey and encouraging drunkenness. You can do either, doesn't matter, not my church and I'm not an AA member. Those of us that can see only shake our heads at the delusional lost as they try to spoon feed us their brand of insanity.
Here we go again. Rainbows are a sign of God's Grace. Something these hateful people do not seem to understand. In the 60s the Rainbow Coalition was part of the Civil Rights movement. To St Patrick's Day celebrants a rainbow points to the pot of gold that Leprecauns guard.
Get over it - a rainbow signifies HOPE to many of us. What more God-like colors could there be?