The Christian flag is a flag designed in the early 20th century to represent all of Christendom, with a color symbolism reflecting the Christian faith. The flag has a white field, with a red Latin cross inside a blue canton. The origin and meaning of the flag’s colors are as follows:
White Field
The white field represents peace and purity. In the Bible, white is associated with holiness, righteousness, and the redeemed state of the believers. Revelation 19:8 says, “Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.” White robes were given to the martyrs in Revelation 6:11 as a symbol of their righteousness in Christ. White represents the forgiveness of sins that comes through faith in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 1:18).
Red Cross
The red Latin cross represents the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross and the salvation that comes through His sacrifice. Red is the color of blood and sacrifice. Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross to provide atonement for sins (Romans 3:25). Those who put their faith in Christ are redeemed and justified by His blood (Romans 5:9). The blood of Christ reconciles us to God (Colossians 1:20) and cleanses us from sin (1 John 1:7). The red cross is a reminder of Christ’s supreme sacrifice on the cross to save humanity.
Blue Canton
The blue represents the faithfulness of Christ. Blue often symbolizes divine faithfulness, constancy, and truth. Christ is described in Revelation 19:11 as sitting on a white horse and wearing a robe dipped in blood, and he is called Faithful and True. Jesus said of himself “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is the one who is always faithful, and His faithfulness leads to our redemption (Lamentations 3:22-23). The blue reminds us of the unwavering faithfulness of God in sending His Son Jesus to be the Savior of the world.
Origins of the Christian Flag
The Christian flag was designed by Charles C. Overton in 1897. Overton was a national superintendent of the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor (YPSCE), a youth ministry organization in the United States. He felt there was a need for a flag to represent all of Christendom, a universal symbol of God’s people that could unite Christians worldwide. The flag was unveiled at a YPSCE national convention in Buffalo, New York in September 1897.
The colors and symbolism of the flag were proposed by Overton. In designing the flag, he was inspired by the red cross emblem of the missionary ship Duff, which brought the first Christian missionaries to his native New Zealand. The purpose was to have a flag that represented the Christian faith and that could be used ecumenically by all Christians, regardless of denomination.
Use in Churches and Ministries
Since its creation, the Christian flag has been adopted by many Protestant churches and ministries. It is often displayed in sanctuaries, auditoriums, stages and platforms together with the American flag and the state flag. Some denominations, churches and institutions that have incorporated the Christian flag into their symbols and ceremonies include:
- Assemblies of God
- Baptist General Conference
- Church of the Nazarene
- Churches of Christ
- Evangelical Covenant Church
- Presbyterian Church USA
- United Methodist Church
- Moody Bible Institute
- Promise Keepers
- Awana
The Christian flag is often used in front of churches and carried in processions, such as:
- Vacation Bible School processions
- Marching in front of the cross at Easter sunrise services
- Leading church parades
- Carrying at the front of the procession in church conferences and conventions
It is also frequently incorporated into Christian materials, apparel, and gifts as a symbol of the faith.
Meaning and Significance
For many, the Christian flag represents the cross at the heart of Christianity and serves as a constant reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and God’s love. It reflects the essence of the Christian gospel message and the meaning behind Christ’s death on the cross. As a symbol, it proclaims salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Some specific meanings the flag represents include:
- The redemptive work of Christ – The red cross reminds us that Jesus shed His blood for the remission of sins.
- Unity of Christians – The flag unites all believers under one universal symbol, regardless of denomination.
- Victory over sin and death – The flag reflects Christ’s triumph over sin through His resurrection.
- Christ’s righteousness – The white field represents the righteousness of Christ credited to all believers.
- God’s faithfulness – The blue canton signifies the unwavering faithfulness of God towards His people.
In a broader sense, the Christian flag symbolizes the movements of Christianity and Christendom around the world. It represents the global presence of the Christian faith across denominations and cultures. For many, it is a reminder that Christianity transcends national borders, race, and language. Wherever the flag is flown, it reflects a living testimony to the life-changing message of the gospel.
Controversy and Redesign Attempts
While widely used by evangelical Protestants, some Christian groups do not accept the flag or have adopted different designs. The original flag’s imagery and Protestant origins have made its acceptance limited in Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Some see it as a specifically Protestant emblem rather than a universal Christian symbol. As a result, attempts have been made to create alternative Christian flag versions more stylistically neutral or broadly inclusive of Catholic symbolism.
For example, in the 1930s, Franklin Spencer Spalding designed a flag with colors representing the liturgical seasons of the Church year rather than Protestant symbolism. This had a purple field for penitence and a green canton for periods of worship and growth. In Spanish-speaking countries, blue often replaces red on the cross to associate it with Marian traditions rather than Protestant symbolism. While many variations have been proposed, the original 1897 Overton flag remains the most widely adopted worldwide.
Legal Protection
In the United States, the Christian flag’s status and protection has been defined through the court system. In 1943, the Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches) gained the right to own the trademark and copyright of the Christian flag via a congressional joint resolution. However, the copyright expired after 28 years and most Protestant denominations did not renew it, leaving the flag design in the public domain by the 1970s.
In 2019, the city of Boston’s refusal to fly the Christian flag outside city hall led Camp Constitution, a conservative Christian organization, to file suit alleging unconstitutional discrimination and free speech violations. In May 2022, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Boston had violated the First Amendment rights of Camp Constitution. Their decision affirmed the Christian flag’s protected legal status as private speech, criticizing Boston for discriminating against religious viewpoints. However, the city was still permitted to create and apply content-neutral policies for flag raising.
Conclusion
In summary, the Christian flag is an emblem designed to represent all of Christendom. Its origins trace back to 1897, when Charles Overton created a flag with symbolic colors reflecting Christian beliefs. Since then, it has been widely adopted by Protestant churches and ministries worldwide as a display of faith. For most evangelicals, it serves as an ecumenical symbol pointing towards the redemptive cross of Christ and the unity of believers under one faith. Despite some controversy over its imagery, the Christian flag remains a popular religious symbol, protected as free speech by US law. Where flown, it proclaims the victory and righteousness found in God’s Son.
