The
Free Will Baptist Symbol
The
logo of the Free Will Baptists incorporates four symbols used by the earliest
communities in
Christendom: the ship, the fish, the anchor, and the cross.
In the
four corners of the ship's sail, the symbols of earliest Christianity are
enhanced by modern emblems of a vital, living faith - the HOLY BIBLE, the
LOAF & CUP, the BASIN & TOWEL and CLASPED
HANDS - the symbols of Free Will Baptists.
The
SHIP symbolizes
the Church and represents all the members pulling in one direction, guided and
empowered by the Holy Spirit. Seeking to fulfill Christ's last command to the
Church, Free Will Baptists unite in one purpose with one priority to proclaim
the good news of the gospel throughout the world.
The
FISH ,
represented in the symbol by the space between the bottom of the sail and the
top of the ship's body, is one of the most popular symbols for Jesus Christ.
Many believe that it was a secret symbol which identified Christians during
periods of persecution. The word "fish" in the first century Greek (ichthus)
is an acrostic for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
The
ANCHOR on the bow
of the ship symbolizes the Christian hope of salvation, "the sure, strong
and steadfast anchor of the soul." The CROSS forms the emblem in the
mast of the ship. It is the most familiar symbol in the history of the world.
The CROSS - an instrument of execution and death turned into a worldwide
emblem of hope and love by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The
BIBLE has always
been at the heart of our life as Free Will Baptists, the centrality of the
scriptures. Free Will Baptists adopt the Word of God as our only rule of faith
and practice. We believe the scriptures to be inspired, inerrant, infallible and
immutable.
The
LOAF & CUP
represents the Lord's Supper, one of the gospel ordinances. This ordinance
commemorates the death of Christ for our sins in the use of the bread which He
made the emblem of His broken body and the cup the emblem of His shed blood.
Participation in this ordinance expresses love for Christ, faith and hope in
Him, and serves as a pledge of perpetual fidelity and faithfulness to Him.
The
BASIN & TOWEL
historically symbolizes the service and outreach of the church, but for us it
has an added significance of representing our practice of washing the saints'
feet.
The
CLASPED HANDS
symbolize many things to us: fellowship, brotherhood and the warmth of our
faith. Perhaps the most important thing symbolized by the clasped hands is our
commitment to reach out to people around the world with the good news.