Recently, I was picking out my clothes for the day, when I came across a beautiful rainbow-colored shirt that I used to wear all the time. I began to put it on, but then had doubts about what message it might send to anyone who saw me wearing it. I wondered: Will people think I’m a homosexual, or promoting the LGBTQ agenda? Immediately, I put the shirt away, but inside I felt a deep sadness. Since I was a little girl growing up the 1980s, I had always loved rainbows and rainbow-colored clothes or accessories. But in those days, I didn’t associate the rainbow with the LGBTQ movement. Even though a version of the gay pride flag had been designed in 1978, it wasn’t promoted in the public schools or as part of a nationwide agenda.

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve known that God made the rainbow and that it belongs to Him alone. More specifically, it’s God’s covenant sign. Genesis 9:13 says: “I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” In that verse, God calls it “my bow.“ Furthermore, Revelation 4:3 reveals that the rainbow encircles God’s holy throne: And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

Even though I knew all these things, I still put the shirt away. About an hour later, however, I received a text from a friend. To my surprise, it was a link to an important message from a Bible teacher I enjoy listening to. The link read: Taking the Rainbow Back — the Movement Has Begun. I knew the timing of the text couldn’t be a coincidence. Immediately, I began watching the video message from Messianic Rabbi Kirt Schneider.

Schneider began his message by saying: “Enough is enough. … There has not been a consolidated movement within the body of Christ to stand up and oppose unrighteousness as it relates to the LGBT agenda and the hijacking of the rainbow —  the sacred symbol of the rainbow that was put in the sky all the way back in the very beginning in the book of Genesis, declaring that God had made an everlasting covenant with humanity. But now God’s people are afraid to be associated with the rainbow.”

When I heard him say those words, I was confronted with the truth that I had not worn my rainbow shirt because I was afraid of what people would think. But in the video, Schneider declared: “Beloved, the rainbow belongs to God, and it belongs to God’s people.” Then he emphasized that the time has come to unify God’s people to stand up and resist the LGBT movement for the protection of our families, children and our nation. He stressed: “This is the most pressing social issue in the world today, certainly in the Western world.”

His words articulate great truth. In fact, the LGBTQ agenda has infiltrated every nook and cranny of daily life. In particular, it has shoved its way into the lives of innocent school children who are not supposed to be political or sexual pawns. In his video, Schneider reveals that the rainbow is a symbol of innocence, because “God cleansed the world of a flood — He cleansed the world of evil, and then He put the rainbow in the sky.” He alludes to the fact that we often see young children using colorful chalk to draw rainbows on sidewalks or driveways outside. This is a powerful reminder of the innocence that we must protect.

As the alphabet movement continues growing, it’s important that Christians cling to the word of God, which contains both letters and words that proclaim the truth among a vast sea of lies. In the midst of all this, Schneider presents Christians with a challenge: “Let’s not let the alphabet agenda and community steal what’s a symbol of God’s, that is meant for good and not for evil, because all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing.”  

Schneider has put a plan in place that will help the Body of Christ unite with one voice during the weekend of July 28–30, 2023. It’s called Taking the Rainbow Back. June is celebrated by the LGBT(QIA+) community as gay pride month. In response, the Taking the Rainbow Back movement will begin in the month of July, as Christians proclaim a public stance for the true meaning of the rainbow. In fact, the whole month of July will be designated as and declared Jesus Pride Month. T-shirts will be offered on takingtherainbowback.org showcasing scriptures, and these can be worn by those participating in the movement all through July, not just the weekend of July 28–30. “You might be afraid to wear that T-shirt alone,” he says, “but think about when there are hundreds of thousands of people in America, wearing the same T-shirt during the same month.”

The goals of the Taking the Rainbow Back movement are:

• to give God’s people the courage to come together in unity to reclaim the rainbow for God’s glory;
• to preserve our culture;
• to protect our children.

The takingtherainbowback.org website lists action steps for those who want to participate:

1. Pray
2. Sign up to receive personal, real-time texts directly from Rabbi Schneider so he can encourage and update you on the movement.
3. Purchase a T-shirt on takingtherainbowback.org and wear it during the month of July and during Take the Rainbow Back Weekend (July 28–30, 2023).
4. Stay updated — there will be more videos coming, along with other specifics. Participants can sign up for strategic emails on the website.
5. Share this movement with others (on social media, by email, or through whatever works for you).
6. Watch the foundational video titled God’s Purpose for the Rainbow on takingtherainbowback.org).

The objectives of the movement (from the website):

• to restore the meaning of the rainbow to its God-given purpose;
• to take a stand for the glory of God on earth;
• to neutralize the illegitimate use of the rainbow by the LGBTQ community;
• to raise up a standard of righteousness on the earth;
• to help those in the LGBTQ community by letting them know that healing is possible and that there is a way out;
• to point humankind back to Jesus;
• to oppose unrighteousness by raising a standard that will push back the powers of darkness and protect our children and the next generation;
• to provide young people with the tools, instruction, and courage to stand up for what is right.

Schneider makes an important point when it comes to understanding why Christians might not always take a stand for the truth: “Sometimes, beloved one, in our human compassion for people, we side on the side of our emotions because of our human compassion for people — and in siding with the side of our emotions, rather than with God’s Word, we place ourselves in a position where we’re an enemy of God. See, the Bible says friendship with the world is hostility towards God. And because of our desire to love people and accept people and affirm people, many people that call themselves believers in Yeshua (Christians), side with the LGBT movement, and in siding with the LGBT movement, they’ve actually placed themselves in opposition to the full revelation of God’s Word on this subject, which taught from the very beginning that homosexuality is not God’s divine design.” 

At this time, we cannot side with our emotions. We must stand on the truth. “If we back down on this, what’s the next thing we’re going to back down on?” says Schneider. He asks us to take heed of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

Schneider implores us to take courage. Even though the vocal minority often overwhelms the silent majority, we must be silent no longer. Let’s stand on the solid rock that is Messiah Jesus, and be vocal.

The rainbow is all about new beginnings, and that means it offers hope for all us, no matter what our circumstances are. It also provides hope for those who are caught up in the LGBTQ lifestyle. All of us must take hold of this hope and share it with others.

Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking (Ezekiel 1:28).

Let’s pray briefly now:

Lord Jesus, we know You created the rainbow and that it belongs to You. Grant us great courage and boldness so we can show others the true meaning of Your covenant sign that points to Your glory.

How can the Body of Christ point the LGBTQ community to Jesus? How are you praying about this?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger, and home-schooling mom who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the U.S. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. Her latest book, Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus, was released in June 2021. Photo Credit: Canva.