The Sin of Pride: Why Churches Must Take Down the Rainbow Flags

When Christian Spaces Fly the Flag of Rebellion

Every June — and now year-round in some places — I drive by churches that used to preach the Gospel but now fly rainbow flags outside their buildings. Sometimes it’s in the yard, sometimes it’s on the wall, and sometimes it’s literally hoisted on the same pole as the American flag or the Christian flag. And I just sit there thinking… do they even know what that flag represents?

Spoiler alert: It’s not unity. It’s not love. And it sure isn’t biblical.

Pride Is Not a Virtue — It’s a Vice

Let’s start with the obvious. The word pride isn’t some innocent label. In Scripture, pride is consistently condemned. Over and over, the Bible calls it a sin that leads to downfall, destruction, and rebellion against God.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18 (RSV-2CE)

It’s not called Pride Month by accident. The movement isn’t just about acceptance or tolerance — it’s a declaration of identity rooted in defiance. Defiance of biological truth. Defiance of God’s design. Defiance of biblical morality. And when churches participate in that celebration, they aren’t just being “inclusive.” They’re choosing the world over the Word.

The Rainbow Belongs to God

This one cuts deep. The rainbow is not a man-made symbol. It’s not a brand logo or a modern movement’s badge. The rainbow is a covenant — God’s promise to never again destroy the earth by flood.

“I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” — Genesis 9:13

It was a symbol of mercy after judgment. But now, it’s been hijacked. Twisted into a symbol that waves proudly in celebration of the very behaviors Scripture calls sin. That’s not poetic. That’s blasphemous.

And it’s not just “the culture” doing this. It’s churches. Supposed houses of worship, supposed shepherds of the flock, flying a flag that mocks God’s own covenant.

Liberal Christianity Is Not Christianity

Let me be blunt. If your version of Christianity requires cutting out Bible verses, ignoring the moral law, and redefining sin — it’s not Christianity. It’s rebellion in a religious costume.

You don’t get to slap a cross on the wall and call it holy while blessing same-sex unions, hosting drag shows in sanctuaries, or putting pronouns on name tags. That’s not “progress.” That’s apostasy.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching… but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings.” — 2 Timothy 4:3

Churches are not supposed to blend in with the world. We’re supposed to stand out — as salt and light. As truth-tellers. As defenders of the faith.

You can love people without affirming their sin. In fact, real love requires it.

Love Warns, It Doesn’t Affirm Sin

This is the lie we’re told: “Jesus just loved everyone.” And yes, Jesus absolutely loved sinners — but He didn’t celebratetheir sin. He didn’t hang up a banner saying “Adultery Affirming Church.” He didn’t tell the woman caught in sin to go and be herself. He told her, “Go and sin no more.”

When churches wave the Pride flag, they’re not waving a banner of love. They’re waving the white flag of surrender.

To call sin “holy” is to spit in the face of Christ. It’s to cheapen the cross. Jesus didn’t die so we could redefine sin — He died to save us from it.

The Call to Real Shepherds

If you’re a pastor reading this and your church is flying a rainbow flag, I’m asking you directly: Take it down.

Take it down before God does.

Because there’s a judgment coming — not just for the world, but for those who claim to speak for God while leading people astray.

We don’t need more churches affirming sin. We need more churches preaching repentance. Preaching holiness. Preaching truth — even when it’s uncomfortable.

Stand Firm, Even When the World Hates You

The world is going to call you hateful. Bigoted. Old-fashioned. Let them. Jesus promised we’d be hated for His name’s sake. What He didn’t say was to compromise the truth so they’d like us more.

So if your church still stands on the Gospel — thank God. Keep standing. And if your church has gone soft, if it’s starting to sound more like CNN than Scripture, then it’s time to find a new one.

Because we’re not called to fit in with Babylon.

We’re called to come out of it.