God’s Got Your Back

By the Rev. Malia Crawford

The other day, I was meeting with people helping to organize a diocesan group to march in Boston Pride June 14.  After brainstorming possible slogans for a t-shirt, we decided to print “God’s got your back” on the back of the shirts.

What does it mean to proclaim at pride “God’s got your back?”  I wish I could promise that God would keep bad things from ever hurting LGBTQ+ people, but that’s wishful thinking rather than good theology.  God is not a good luck charm. God is not a puppet master. God is not like Wanda in WandaVision, controlling people like actors in a television show so that they follow a script.

God is the Good Shepherd, however.  The Good Shepherd accompanies us with rod and staff and is always keeping an eye out for the wolves. 

Being accompanied by the Good Shepherd doesn’t mean we will avoid terrible experiences.  As we hear in Psalm 23,

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

We should expect times in our lives when we must walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  But in those times, just as in times by still waters, God is with us, advising us, and working for the very best possible outcome.

Scripture proclaims again and again God’s deep concern for the widow and orphan, the poor and oppressed.  When God gets angry in scripture, it is generally because God’s people have strayed from justice and righteousness and are causing harm to the most vulnerable.  At these times, God is like a fierce mother bear, especially concerned about protecting those at risk.

 “God has your back” means that God cares about you, deeply and personally. Perhaps you can think of an awesome parent who took action to protect their child from bullying or injustice.  That parent had their kid’s back.  If a mere human loves this fiercely, God loves us infinitely more so.

In Christ's peace,
Malia