Christian
Flag
The creation of the
Christian flag happened purely by accident. In 1897, Brighton Chapel in Coney
Island, New York held a kick-off rally for a Sunday School program.
Unfortunately, the scheduled guest speaker didn’t arrive, forcing the Superintendent
of Schools, Charles Overton, to take the pulpit. Unprepared to speak and spying
the American flag displayed nearby, Overton began to talk about symbolism and
what a Christian flag would look like.
For several years, the
ideal of a Christian flag stuck with Overton and in 1907 he brought the
original concept to reality. Rather than placing focus on a specific church or
group, the flag was designed to speak to all Christian denominations and
quickly found popularity in Protestant, Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Orthodox
churches around the globe. The flag inspired Lynn Hough, a Methodist pastor, to
write the Pledge to the Christian Flag in 1908. Today, what started off as an
accident is an iconic symbol of faith, recognizable to millions around the
world.
With its original basis
in the American flag, it’s no surprise that the two share a common color
scheme. However, in the Christian flag, the tones take on slightly different
meanings. The majority of the flag is made up of a field of white to represent
purity, innocence, peacefulness and the need to surrender to God. The blue
square in the upper left corner serves as a reminder of heaven, baptismal
waters and fidelity. Within the blue square resides a red cross, symbolizing
the blood Jesus shed as he died on Calvary as well as the sacrifices Christians
are called upon to make.
Displaying
a Christian flag in a church, worship center, religious education classroom or
even at home is a display of allegiance to both God and Christianity. Choose
made in USA flags to fly from flag poles outside as a public display. Or, opt
for indoor flag sets to display a Christian flag trimmed in gold fringe for a
distinctive and regal look. Displaying a Christian flag alongside an American
flag is an excellent way to reinforce the ties between patriotism and religion.
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