Woman confronted painting rainbow at church for World Pride

An elderly Christian woman has been forced to defend her faith after being confronted for painting a Sydney church’s steps rainbow-coloured.

An elderly Christian woman has been forced to defend her faith during celebrations for World Pride, when she was threatened with eternal damnation as she painted the steps of her church rainbow.

The woman, along with other congregation members, was filmed painting the staircase of a Uniting Church in Sydney rainbow in the lead-up to Saturday’s annual Mardi Gras parade, when she was confronted by a passer-by.

In a video of the exchange posted to social media by Charlie Bakhos, who runs the Facebook page Christian Lives Matter, the woman can be seen explaining that “God is love” as a man tells her she is going to Hell.

It is unclear whether the man behind the camera is Mr Bakhos.

*Charlie Bakhos always comes with a content warning*

Looks like he took issue with the Uniting Church in Sydney painting their steps rainbow for World Pride, confronting a woman about it and later uploading a video of men painting over it during the night. pic.twitter.com/pInlPLwfhZ

— sandee (@sunnysandeel) February 25, 2023

“Are you, are you, is this Christian?” he asks. “What are y’all doing here … Is God for this?”

“Absolutely. God is for love, for welcome, for hospitality,” the woman replies. “God is very hospitable towards this.”

She says she “doesn’t know” where the Bible expresses support for same-sex marriage, but adds: “I do know it says God is love.”

As the confrontation becomes fiery, the woman stops painting and is forced to defend her faith amid a barrage of questions.

“God is love? Of course he is, but he’s holy too,” the man says.

“You believe God is holy, you believe he’s got commandments, and do you believe we should obey them? Because God says, if you love me keep my commandments. But love is not at the expense of truth, is it? This is an abomination to God. Do you read the Bible? Do you read your Bible?”

The woman is forced to defend her faith as she is threatened with eternal damnation. Picture: Twitter.

She asks to end the conversation and insists that “God is love”. Picture: Twitter.

The woman says she would like to “stop the conversation” and get back to painting.

“I don’t think these are Christian questions that you’re asking,” she says — before being threatened with eternal damnation.

“A Christian is a Christ-follower. You’re not really following Christ,” the man continues.

“Without Christ, you’re going to a devil’s Hell, did you know that? You’re being deceived man, and I don’t want to be deceived. I’m worried for your soul.”

“You’re not worried for my soul; I’m not worried for my soul,” the woman replies, before the video cuts.

In a later video also shared by Mr Bakhos, men in hooded jumpers can be seen returning to the church after nightfall, throwing buckets of paint to destroy the rainbow stairs.

“F**k the LGBT,” one of the men says.

In a separate video, several men can be seen returning to the church after nightfall. Picture: Twitter.

They throw buckets of paint to destroy the newly rainbow steps. Picture: Twitter.

Social media users commended the woman for her “grace” through the tense exchange.

“Props to the lady for showing kindness and grace when faced with a confrontation like this, she did amazing!” one user wrote.

“Gotta love gronks filming their own crimes. That lady was very sweet, I wouldn’t have been,” another said.

“Such vile and destructive hatred,” replied a third.

The Uniting Church describes itself as “LGBTI friendly”, allowing many congregations to paint the steps to their churches rainbow each year for Mardi Gras.

“We hope to send a message to queer communities that they are so beloved by God, and that there are LGBTIQA+ affirming and celebrating faith spaces in which they can follow Jesus and find home,” the church shared in a prayer service in the lead up to this year’s parade.