The Christian Flag

The Christian Flag is a flag designed to represent all of Christianity (see also Christendom), but flown mainly by Protestant churches in North America, Africa, and Latin America. The flag has a white field, with a red Latin cross inside a blue canton. The shade of red on the cross symbolzes the blood that Jesus Christ shed on Mt. Calvary to redeem mankind. The blue is a picture of the royalty of Jesus Christ as King of Kings. And the white represents the purity of Jesus Christ. The dimensions of the flag and canton, have no official specifications. Image File history File links Christian_Flag. ... Image File history File links Christian_Flag. ... It has been suggested that the section intro from the article Civil flag be merged into this article or section. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... This T-and-O map, which abstracts the known world to a cross inscribed within an orb, remakes geography in the service of Christian iconography. ... Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... The design and description of flags typically uses specialised flag terminology with precise and technical meanings, and is hence a form of jargon. ... The traditional form of the Christian cross, known as the Latin cross The Christian cross is a familiar religious symbol of most Christianity. ... The design and description of flags typically uses specialised flag terminology with precise and technical meanings, and is hence a form of jargon. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Origins

The Christian Flag was first conceived on September 26, 1897, in Brighton Chapel on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York in the United States. The superintendent of a Sunday school, Charles C. Overton, was forced to give an impromptu lecture to the gathered students, because the scheduled speaker had failed to arrive for the event. Overton saw a flag of the United States in the front of the chapel (a common custom in many American churches). Drawing on the flag for inspiration, he gave a speech asking the students what a flag representing Christianity would look like. is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Coney Island (disambiguation). ... This article is about the borough of New York City. ... This article is about the state. ... Sunday school, Indians and whites. ... Union Jack. ...

Overton thought about his improvised speech for many years afterward. In 1907, he and Ralph Diffendorfer, secretary of the Methodist Young People's Missionary Movement, designed and began promoting the flag. Year 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ...

Symbolism

Since the Christian Flag was inspired by the flag of the United States, it takes its colors and overall design from the American flag. However, elements of the flag represent Christian concepts.

The flag's most conspicuous symbol is the Christian cross, the most universal symbol for Christianity. The red color represents the blood of Jesus and brings to mind his crucifixion. Christians believe that Jesus' death and resurrection is the means God uses to save believers from their sins. The cross and blood have been used since earliest Christianity to symbolize salvation through Jesus; in the words of the Apostle Paul, "Through [Jesus] God reconciles himself to all things... making peace by the blood of the cross" (Colossians 1:20). A reliquary in the form of an ornate Christian Cross Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Paul of Tarsus (b. ... The Epistle to the Colossians is a book of the Bible New Testament. ...

The white field draws on symbolism throughout the Bible equating white clothes with purity and forgiveness. People who have been "washed white as snow" in the Bible have been cleansed from their sins (Isaiah 1:18). In conventional vexillology a white flag is linked to surrender, a reference to the Biblical description Jesus' non-violence and surrender to God's will. This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... Isaiah the Prophet in Hebrew Scriptures was depicted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo. ... Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. ... German troops after surrendering to the U.S. Third Army carry the white flag (WW2 photo). ...

The blue square represents the royalty of Jesus Christ as King of Kings. King of Kings is a lofty title that has been used by several monarchies (usually empires in the informal sense of great powers) throughout history, and in many cases the literal title meaning King of Kings, i. ...

Since the flag is not tied to any specific denomination or church institution, it represents Christian ecumenism, the unity of all Christians despite historical, cultural, and dogmatic differences. Its simplicity makes it easily copied by any community of Christians. For other senses of this word, see denomination. ... Christian ecumenism is the promotion of unity or cooperation between distinct religious groups or denominations of the Christian religion, more or less broadly defined. ...

The canton of this flag transgresses one of the traditional rules of flag design, which states that two colors (other than white or yellow) have to be separated by a metal (silver = white, or gold = yellow). The white field would also be advised against in conventional vexillology as it is easily mistaken for the white flag of surrender. Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. ... German troops after surrendering to the U.S. Third Army carry the white flag (WW2 photo). ...

Usage

The Christian Flag displayed alongside the flag of the USA next to the pulpit in a church in California. Note the eagle and cross finials on the flag poles.

Flag of Vatican City

Flag of the Byzantine Empire

Flag of the US Episcopal Church

The flag was first accepted by the Mainline Protestant denominations in the United States, and by the 1980's many institutions had described policies for displaying it inside churches. During World War II the flag was flown along with the U.S. flag in a number of Lutheran churches, many of them with German backgrounds, who wanted to show their solidarity with the United States during the war with Germany. Download high resolution version (1760x1168, 523 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1760x1168, 523 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Finial at Aachen town hall Illustration by Viollet-le-Duc, 1856 The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed to decoratively emphasise the apex of a gable, or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Vatican_City. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Vatican_City. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      In the United States... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestant Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther. ...

The Christian Flag spread outside North America with Protestant missionaries. It can be seen today in or outside many Protestant churches throughout the world, particularly in Latin America and Africa. It has so far been adopted by very few churches in Europe. Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and other non-Protestant branches of Christianity do not generally use the flag. North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ...

In the United States, many Catholic Churches in communion with the Holy See display the Vatican flag along with the American flag on opposite sides of the sanctuary. The term Communion is derived from Latin communio (sharing in common). ... Flag ratio: 1:1 The flag of the Vatican City consists of two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band. ... Flag ratio: 7:12; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars... Ajax prepares to violate the sanctuary of Athena by abducting Cassandra by force: red-figure vase, c. ...

Eastern Orthodox Churches, particularly the Greek Orthodox Church may fly the flag of the Ecumenical Patriarch, which is a Byzantine double-headed eagle on a yellow (Or) field. Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía) can refer to any of several hierarchical churches within the larger group of mutually recognizing Eastern Orthodox churches. ...

Churches in The Episcopal Church USA frequently fly the Episcopalian flag, a Cross of St. George with a Cross of St. Andrew, formed in turn by nine cross-crosslets (representing the nine original diosces) on the Upper left canton. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is the National Cathedral of the USA in Washington, D.C. The Episcopal Church in the United States of America is the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States and several other nations, including dioceses in Asia, Central and... This article is about the decoration. ... A saltire, Saint Andrews Cross, or crux decussata (though it is never called the latter in heraldry), is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross or letter X. Legend relates it to a diagonal cross that Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred on. ...

Some American churches practice a "pledge of allegiance" or "affirmation of loyalty" to the Christian Flag, based on the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. One version of this pledge of allegiance runs, "I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag, and to the Savior, for whose kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen and coming again, with life and liberty for all who believe." The earliest version of this pledge was, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Savior for whose kingdom it stands; one brotherhood uniting all mankind in service and love." [1] The Pledge of Allegiance is a promise or oath of allegiance to the United States as represented by its national flag. ...

In 2003, a new "U.S. Christian Flag", depicting a bald eagle clutching a blood-stained cross and quoting verses 4 and 14 from Matthew 24 ("And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world...and then shall the end come"), was designed by Maryland artist Marcia Eldreth, who regarded Overton's flag as "crisp and dignified, but politely cold." It has gained favor among some conservative American evangelicals. [2] Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Bald Eagle range  Resident, breeding Summer visitor, breeding Winter visitor On migration only Star: accidental records Subspecies (Linnaeus, 1766) Southern Bald Eagle (Audubon, 1827) Northern Bald Eagle Synonyms Falco leucocephalus Linnaeus, 1766 The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The word evangelicalism often refers to...

References

• Coffman, Elesha. "Ask the Editors." Christian History & Biography. 13 July, 2001. [3].
• Sidwell, Mark. "The Christian Flag", Fundamentalism File Research Report, 18 December 1998 [4]

See also

• Christian symbolism
• Civil religion

Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christian symbolism... The intended meaning of the term civil religion often varies according to whether one is a sociologist of religion or a professional political commentator. ...

External links

• Discussion on Flags of the World website dealing with the Christian Flag.
• Flying the Christian Flag: Article discussing the flag's use in Africa
• U.S. Christian flag - Marcia Eldreth's alternative flag design
• "Teaching Resource" Christian Flag Craft for Kids