QUESTION:
My friend is convinced that the Calvary Chapel dove insignia is
a graven image, identifying us as heretical. Could this be true?
ANSWER:
Christians have made use of identifying symbols such as crosses,
the ichthus fish or the dove for hundreds of years. Ichthus is spelled
lota, chi, theta, upsilon, sigma, and represents an acrostic which
many translate as "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."
The apostles were often referred to as "Pisciculi," meaning
fishers of men (Mark 1:17). This symbol was easy to draw and became
a type of password during times of the Roman persecution. When strangers
met who were uncertain of their stance on Christianity, one would
draw the arc in the sand. If the other were a believer, they would
complete the symbol with the reverse arc. Thus you have the outline
of the fish and a Christian connection was made.
Today, the symbol has made a bit of a comeback, as it is commonly
seen on bumper stickers or mounted on trunk lids. I find no record
of Christians bowing in worship before the ichthus then or before
trunk lids today. It is hardly considered a graven image, although
Christians ought to consider their driving habits, especially when
displaying the fish. One's example speaks volumes.
Luke 3:22 indicates the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the
form of a dove. Calvary Chapel is not the only Christian organization
using the dove as an indication of Christian identification. The
dove symbol is more of a logo. I pastor a Calvary Chapel in Black
Canyon City, and we have considered going to a wheat style of logo
because we like the idea of harvesting souls. No one I know has
ever looked upon the dove or wheat as a graven image of worship.
Many artistic variations of the dove have been depicted as logos,
and that's what it is-artistic identification. If that is heretical,
then is it wrong to wear an Ohio State cap if you are a Buckeye
fan? Are we worshiping the Arizona Diamondbacks by wearing a D Back
tee shirt? Have we all become snake worshippers?
Back in the day, a person's signet ring was used to emboss his image
of ownership on an article or document. The purpose was identification,
and that's all the dove represents. The important thing to remember
is that the world cannot deny the unconditional love of God when
it is expressed through a true believer, regardless of our congregational
affiliation. Some Christian groups might have the most wonderfully
creative logo, or none at all. Our effectiveness in being the light
of the world is our expression of God's agape love (Mat 5:14).
With such little time left according to scripture, we should ask:
Are we fishers of men or maintainers of another man's aquarium-sin
sniffers straining at gnats or lights to a dark world?
John 13:35
Pastor Huck:
www.calvarycorner.com/blackcanyon
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