Church Marketing Sucks just ran a poll asking people to vote for the most overused symbols in church logos. Not surprisingly, the cross came in first with a hefty 57% of the vote. (I’m reminded of a recent discussion here at TC about the meaning of the cross symbol.)
I’ll grant that it’s pretty tough to come up with a symbol as easily-recognized as the cross when it comes to creating an image that will represent what your church stands for. But my copy of the NIV weighs in at about 2,400 pages—surely, somewhere in all those pages, there must be a few other meaningful symbols and metaphors for our faith. So how about it—what underused images from the Bible could we use to represent Christianity, or aspects thereof?
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July 27, 2006 at 16:06
How about a symbol of an ark from the flood or maybe even the stone tablets that had the commandments.
July 27, 2006 at 16:47
First question is does a church need a logo? Perhaps. If it does, ask a professional to do it. Sure, some people like to sew their own clothes and save money on a barber by having a buddy cut hair. And they look like it too. Professional graphic designers have highly developed imagination muscles because that’s what they do all day. I was trained as a graphic designer, my 4 year bachelor’s degree is in Graphic Design and I have 20 years of experience (I am a creative director now). I’ve designed hundreds of logos. Some people have no taste and insist that their logos look awkward and trite. I cringe when I have to work with someone like that, especially when they claim they have a vision of what it should look like.
I’ll bet after the cross, eagles, lions, doves and lambs are next. And actually I have no problem using a lamb or lion if it is a fresh interpretation. But let’s let the cross represent the cross instead of incorporating it into an instituition’s logo.
God thought blue pomegranates dangling from the priest’s robes would be nice (Exodus 28:33. This is abstract design because pomegranates do not exist in blue by the way). I like God’s imagination…blue pomegranetes….wild abstract reef fish patterns…butterfly wings….DNA strands….spiral galaxies.
It says in Exodus that God chose experienced artisans and filled them with the Holy Spirit (exodus 31:3) and gave them freedom to intrepret Moses’ images for the tabernacle. How often I’ve heard, “hey, let’s call Bob’s kid, he’s got a computer”.
There are millions of Biblically inspired images available, simply go to a talented professional Christian graphic designer and then give him or her some respect. An artist (as in painter) is not usually a graphic designer…it’s a different discipline, don’t make that mistake. Graphic designers are trained to think in abstract symbols. Actually the Lord seems to be raising up increasing numbers. I keep getting great portfolios from Christians to review.
July 28, 2006 at 01:57
Well put Rick!
From another graphic designer with almost 20 years behind me, I can vouch for every word you say!
“creating an image that will represent what your church stands for” – is not all that hard if you know what your church stands for. The beauty of the diversity in which God has put us, is that every single person is unique, and so are their personalities, and so are the church groups they belong to. If there is nothing that sets your church apart, then one should honestly question its existance.
A logo is a wonderful thing, it can say a 1000 words without a single letter or sound. It certainly does help to get an objective view from a professional. Even if you do have someone in your congregation that has the capacity to create award winning logos, the objectivity is important.
What does help though, is if you as a church leadership (not everyone in leadership may be inclined to join in) starts off by confirming who you are. A mission statement and vision and motto is great, but does it sound good, or does it truly reflect the very character of your church…
• Do we as a greater body of christ, the church as his bride, need a logo? No, the Holy Spirit does the marketing, the cross represents the cross, and we are part of the “corporate image”.
• Does a church need a building to be a church? No!
• Does a church have to have a logo? No, the Holy Spirit still does the merketing, but a church has to stand united behind its purpose. Its okay to put a picture to that purpose….
July 28, 2006 at 03:38
the christian fish symbol is perfect because it doesn’t get worn or shown by just anyone as do the crosses. It is an obvious symbol used to represent christianity.
Mark 1:17: “Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
July 28, 2006 at 08:10
The real problem, honestly, is that corporately we are addicted to mediocrity. People think that something is “good enough”, and they have no fire in their souls for something truly arresting. It’s sad. As the Church, we once created cathedrals and painted the Sistene Chapel. Where is that drive for excellence now?
July 28, 2006 at 09:09
the cross is what brings us together. This is not a subject of creativity. it’s the thing that no matter what petty differences we have as different “denominations” we can look to and be unified. i don’t care who’s wearing it and how “overused” it is, when I see it I am reminded of who I am in Christ.
July 29, 2006 at 06:35
The cross is a symbol of death and torture hardly the right logo for the God of Love.
July 29, 2006 at 20:13
My thought is the Cross is the perfect way to focus on the God of love. It brings us back to who He is and what He has done for us instead of anything we have ever done “for” Jesus.
Re: addicted to mediocrity…I feel more optimistic than In Russet Shadows. I just watched “End of the Spear” this afternoon, it was excellent filmmaking. The Winans, MercyMe, Amy Grant, Third Day, DCTalk, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Chris Rice (love that guy!) are way ahead of most of the pabulum passed off as musical excellence on today’s charts. Today’s finest scientific minds are Christian (and shaking up the establishment of scientific mythology); Peretti, Yancey, Oke – excellence of writing in each genre. Do you think the excellence is out there, it just gets marginalized by a culture often indifferent or opposed to it? The great cathedrals & Sistine chapel were community efforts, & in Michelangelo’s case, government endorsed, sponsored & funded. All I can think of is let’s win our communities for Christ!
July 30, 2006 at 08:22
the word cross is not just a symbol it is a command from our lord to take up our cross and follow him.