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![[Baptist Church Flag]](../images/r/rel-mbc.gif)
located by Chris Kretowicz (recoloured)
"The Baptist Flag originated in the heart and mind of Dr. D.L. Green, pastor
of the Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Lansing, Michigan. Desiring a flag with
which to identify, yet reluctant to embrace the Christian Flag because of its
adoption by a broad scope of religious groups which have blurred its
distinctiveness, Dr. Green set out to design a flag which would be attractive in
appearance and distinct in its message. After sketching a variety of designs and
rejecting them as insufficient to express his thoughts, Dr. Green settled on the
theme "The Tie That Binds."
"With this thought in mind, Dr. Green soon developed a flag that embodied the
three-fold cord which binds together the Baptists around the world. As Baptists,
we hold to THE BOOK, the inspired Word of God, as our rule for faith and
practice; THE BLOOD by Christ for the remission of sin; and THE BLESSED HOPE of
the return of Christ to unite us together in Heaven with Him for all eternity.
The colors are also symbolic and significant in their message. Red is symbolic
of the blood of Jesus Christ by which we are redeemed, and white for His purity
and the robe of righteousness of the saints."
" '...and having done all, to stand.' Ephesians 6:13 Of equal importance to Dr.
Green is the desire to leave to those who follow a legacy of uncompromising
truth and unwavering obedience to the commands of the Scripture in the midst of
a day of fallen heroes. Out of this desire came the concept of a flag with which
one could be identified without fear of compromise or misunderstanding. The
purpose of this flag is that those who see it may know where we stand and by the
grace of Almighty God that they may come and stand with us."
Source:
http://www.immanuelmissionarybaptist.org/Baptist%20Flag.html
The website of a Florida Baptist Church (http://www.lakewoodparkbaptist.com/)
also contains a pledge to the flag:
I pledge allegiance to the Baptist Flag, And to the faith once delivered unto
the Saints. I will ever remain faithful to the tie that binds us together, The
Book, the Blood, and the Blessed Hope of our Lord's soon coming.
Ned Smith, 14 November 2004
I think it clear that this was indeed intended to represent all Baptists,
much as the Christian Flag was intended to represent all Christians, yet just as
most Christians do not use the Christian Flag I think it safe to say that most
Baptists do not use the Baptist Flag. As Joe McMillan says at the
FOTW page, most Baptists in the US use the Christian
Flag instead- in fact, rather ironically, they probably use the Christian Flag
more than any other religious group does.
Ned Smith, 14 November 2004
An example of a flag developed by a single church (Covenant Baptist Church, Clarksville, Maryland)
![[a Baptist Church Flag]](../images/r/rel-bakd.gif)
From <http://www.wecare.org/CHURCHES/covenant/covenant.flag.html> with explanation of its symbolism:
THE COLOR PURPLE
Purple is the color of royalty. Our Heavenly Father is the Royal Ruler of the
universe. Purple was the color chosen for the veil in the Tabernacle and the
Temple which hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (Ex. 28:31).
The Apostle Peter declared believers to be 'a royal priesthood' (I Pet. 2:90).
God alone is our sovereign and Royal King. He has made us His subjects in His
Kingdom through His saving work in the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE COLOR WHITE
White is the symbol of holiness and purity. The Lord's nature is completely
holy. The four Living Creatures around the throne of God constantly describe Him
as 'Holy, Holy, Holy' (Rev. 4:8). The Lord commanded us 'you shall be holy, for
I, the Lord your God am holy' (Lev 19:2). As servants of our King, the Lord
Jesus, we are 'partakers of His holiness' (12:10). We must 'Follow peace with
all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord' (Heb. 12:14).
The Apostle Peter declares God's people to be 'a holy nation' (2 Pet 2:9). One
day the Lord Jesus will present us to Himself as a 'glorious church, not having
spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish (Eph. 5:27).
THE TRIQUETRA SYMBOL
In the heart of the Kingdom Flag is the three-cornered triquetra (from a Latin
word meaning "three cornered'). It is an ancient symbol for the Trinity. We
believe there is one God (Deut. 6:4) subsisting in three persons (Father, Son
and Holy Spirit who are co-eternal, co-existent and co-equal. The three
interwoven arcs are distinct yet equal and inseparable. They represent the
unique relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The white circles
represent the truth that our God is holy, pure and perfect in every sphere of
His operation.
THE BLUE STAR OF DAVID
The blue Star of David is probably the most popular symbol of the nation of
Israel. The Messiah Jesus said, 'salvation is of the Jews' (John 4:22). The
prophecies and promises of the Messiah's coming and His Kingdom were given
through the Jewish people. Jesus is identified with the Messianic title,'Son of
David' (Matt. 21:9). The Apostle Paul, a 'Hebrew of the Hebrews' (Phil. 3:50)
declared that although a 'blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the
fullness of the Gentiles has come in' (Rom. 11:25), God has promised that the
Jewish nation will be physically and spiritually restored and 'so all Israel
will be saved' (Rom 11:26). The scriptures declare that all Gentiles who believe
In the Messiah Jesus are 'grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker
of the root and the fatness of the olive tree' which is Israel (Rom. 11:17).
Gentile believers are 'no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens
with the saints and members of the household of God' (Eph. 2:19). They share
with believing Jews in the 'commonwealth of Israel' and the 'covenants of
promise' (Eph. 2:12).
THE RED CROSS
The cross is a sacred symbol to born-again believers everywhere. It represents
the place where Jesus shed His precious blood to make atonement for our sins.
The cross stands for the supreme demonstration of God's love for us (Rom. 5:8).
Because of the Messiah's sinless nature and His saving work on the cross we are
forgiven and free from the wrath of God (Rom. 8:1). The way of the cross is the
only way to be righteous before our Heavenly Father (Acts 4:12). It pictures the
heart of the gospel message, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Rom.
6:3-5). Only by faith in the Messiah's sacrificial and substitutionary atonement
can we enter the Kingdom of God.
THE GOLDEN CROWN
The Golden Crown stands for the truth that believers will one day share in the
rule and reign of their Messiah over all the earth. Jewish and Gentile believers
who are joined together in one Body of Christ will jointly share in the role of
the Kingdom (Matt. 19:28; 1 Cor. 6:2). This Golden Crown also pictures the truth
of Revelation 4:10 where scripture says the twenty-four elders 'cast their
crowns before the throne...'. Every reward a believer will receive in Christ's
Kingdom is a privilege given on the foundation of His grace. He alone is worthy
'to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and
blessing' (Rev. 4:12).
NOTE: The design and artwork on the Kingdom Flag, inspired by God and designed
by Dr. D. Waiter Collett, is under Copyright, June 1994. No reproduction or use
of this symbol is permitted without the approval of the copyright holder. [end
quote]
More info on Covenant Baptist at <http://www.wecare.org/CHURCHES/covenant/covenant.html>
Ned Smith, 7 November 2004