Rebranding the Church

November 20, 2014 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments

Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement

Rebranding the Church

Oak Hills will be incorporating a new look over the next weeks and months. It starts with a new name image, a logo, if you will. It’ll spread into a new website, a new bulletin look, and other print material. At the end of the day, a logo does not define us, but we do hope to communicate a bit about who we are.

We are incorporating a Celtic knot in our imagery. This symbol communicates at least four things:

1. We are a Cross-Centered Church. The cross is subtly emphasized in the interwoven lines of the knot. The very heart of our church is a longing for renewal, which comes only through the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross. With the apostle Paul, we desire to boast in nothing “except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14). At the cross our sins are forgiven, the wrath of God is removed from us, Christ’s righteousness is accredited to us, the sting of sin is removed, the power of sin is conquered, the hope of eternal life is made real, and the promise of the restoration of all things is sealed. There is no other hope for us and for everyone else in this world than the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us not shy away from proclaiming the good news in and through everything we do as a church!

2. We are a Connected Church. The explicit imagery of the knot is the weaving together of multiple parts. When Paul chooses imagery to explain the nature of the church, he speaks about the parts and the whole, which cannot exist without the parts being interconnected. The body is made up of many different members and yet is united as one body (1 Corinthians 12). A building is constructed using many different bricks, with a foundation and cornerstone, and yet unites into one structure (Ephesians 2). The parts were not meant to exist and function apart from the whole. So it is with the people of our church. We are called to be interconnected with one another. We bear one another’s burdens. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. We are to love one another with brotherly affection and seek to outdo one another in showing honor.

In a highly individualized culture, this interconnected community is foreign. We have an uphill battle to see the biblical vision of community become a reality, but we do not want to give up pursuing this vision.

3. We aim for Theological Depth. The unending nature of the knot highlights the eternality and infinity of God. As Paul exclaims in Romans 11:33, “How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” We can never plumb the depths of the wisdom and goodness of God. But we firmly believe that diving into those depths brings greater hope and joy in God as our faith deepens. Contrary to popular opinion, the study of theology does not deaden one’s relationship with God, but expands and enriches one’s life with God.

4. We Find our Roots in Historic, Reformed Church Tradition. The Celtic knot, in its many variations, has been a common art form for centuries. Likewise, the faith we profess and the gospel we proclaim has sustained the church for centuries. We stand on the shoulders of our forefathers who have helped articulate our faith. We have much to gain from digging deeper into our Reformed roots.

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