Symbols speak louder than words, and God knows that.
Symbols can’t be argued against, they just are. They are reinforcing expressions of beliefs, worldviews, and commitments in a non-verbal way, sometimes with an image, sometimes with an action. Case in point —the cross— the symbol of God’s love and mercy that will stand and testify of that truth for eternity.
Our lives are full of symbols and we understand their influence.
There are times when words are not enough, or when words would be cheap. In those times something symbolic is warranted. An engagement ring, or perhaps a medal for valour.
Symbolic actions are also ways to go beyond words, they can express our hearts, our solidarity, our honour, or our disdain. Standing to honour a bride, turning our back to a leader, lifting our hands in worship, saluting, embracing, kneeling. Symbolic actions speak in a way that they can not be argued with. Because we are more than our voices, we are bodies, when we add movement to what we are expressing we amplify what we are communicating.
CHRISTMAS
Christmas is rich with symbolism, like the traditional decorations of greenery, evergreen trees, lights, candles…representing the bigger truths of everlasting life, and how the Light of the World has come into our darkness. Even a foreshadowing of the cross— as the blood-red berries and sharp thorns of Christmas holly remind us of Christ’s passion. The gifts we give at Christmas represent the gift God has given us, the carols we sing remind us of the angelic choir which first heralded the Son of God.
All these symbols represent the truth of the incarnation and reinforce its story. They don’t get old because the story always needs repeating. We need to be reminded in more than words of the wonder of God’s love for us, revealed at Christmas.
But it’s not just at Christmas that symbols speak to us. They are everywhere in our lives reinforcing our history and our beliefs, moving us emotionally, and lingering in our hearts.
PROPHETIC ACTIONS
This is one of the many things I love about the Charismatic world. There is an easy fluency in symbolism, an understanding of its value. In prayer meetings or worship services, it’s common to do corporate prophetic actions, be they shouting, dancing, marching, linking arms, washing feet, and more, all to emphasize our prayers, our honour, our repentance, or our worship. We have intuitively caught that our bodies matter and can be used symbolically to take truth to a deeper place in our hearts. We’ve also noticed that corporate prophetic actions strengthen corporate unity as the whole congregation is invited to step out of a spectator posture into an active participation.
We also delight in giving symbolic (prophetic) gifts that communicate the honour that we have for a person or ministry and the way that we see their contribution or calling. I have oodles of artifacts, stones from different lands, ornaments, flags, mustard seeds, swords, jewelry, and art, all communicating honour and the desire that more of the kingdom of God would come to Canada through Redleaf’s ministry work.
SYMBOLS IN THE HISTORICAL CHURCH
When my husband and I became drawn towards Anglicanism in 2016, I imagined that I was leaving the richness of symbolism behind. My initial impression of Anglicanism (and other liturgical traditions) was that they were formal and traditional without the same room for the prophetic spontaneity that I was used to. However, because it was all new to me, I started asking questions, lots of questions. I asked why different things were done, clothing worn, or for example— the communion table set the way it is. I was expecting the answer of, “well this is the way we’ve always done it, it’s our tradition.” But instead, I learned that everything I inquired about was steeped in carefully-honed symbolism that is meant to shape us with the gospel.
The gospel was intentionally being communicated by symbolic actions, images, and aesthetics which reinforced the spoken word, multiplying the impact of the message. Some of us are visual learners, others auditory, and still others, kinetic - we learn by doing. So when we understand them, regardless of our denomination, the Church’s visual and kinetic symbols are teaching us, and shaping us, even if we are not really paying attention to the words that accompany them.
Now when I see someone wearing a black clerical shirt, I am stirred by the statement that it makes. I understand the symbolism behind it, how it represents a desire of the wearer to die to self, choosing to be clothed in humility rather than personal flash, glamour, or status. The collar continually reminding them that their leadership call is to emulate Christ’s path of being a servant, and they are yoked to Him. This simple symbol of a shirt serves to protect the wearer from ego and self-promotion.
One of the symbolic actions found in an Anglican service that I particularly love is the reading of the gospel. Around the middle of the service, after worship and before the sermon, a section from one of the gospels is read out loud by a leader. But it is not just read from the pulpit, the leader steps right into the centre row, right in the middle of the people, often holding the bible high over their head as they walk from the platform. Then the people either turn or even actually leave their seats to gather around as if they were gathering around Christ to hear His words, giving Him their undivided attention. Do you see what’s happening here? Imagine you are a six-year-old and you observe this every week, you catch the message that your church pays special attention to Jesus, His words, and His story. You also understand the idea that God came into the midst of us, and not from a lofty platform, but with accessible humility, brought us the words of life. Then as the scriptures are lifted high over the head of the leader as they carry them into the congregation to read, it is symbolically clear that the word of God is something we come under and submit to.
I love the drama of this symbolism but then discovered that it had been quietly discipling me. I have read the Bible daily for decades, but now find I have shifted to placing the highest priority on reading the words of Jesus, considering His actions, and saturating myself in His story. Jesus is everywhere in the scriptures but revealed most directly in the gospels. My reading has become more gospel-centred without anyone ever suggesting it should be so. This is the power of symbols.
GOD HAS ALWAYS USED SYMBOLS
Symbols aren’t just a recent Charismatic phenomena nor just something that the historic church has seen as important, symbols have always been integral to how we are wired and God has designed us this way.
Consider the temple for example. Each item of furnishing has symbolism, speaking of the gospel. Christ, the Light of the World (seen in the candlesticks) and the Bread of Life (the shewbread), the brazen altar, the veil, the holy of holies— all have meaning. Think of the materials and colours used, all symbolizing that this is the “heaven and earth place”, the portal where heaven and earth overlap like a new Eden, foreshadowing our life in Christ. If nothing was ever spoken there, even still, the symbols of the temple on their own were a perpetual sermon that thundered through Israel.
Similarly, the feasts of Israel, the clothing of the priests… symbolism all designed to reinforce Israel’s faith, to give them imagery that would prepare their hearts for the coming of Jesus.
But what happens if the symbolism we use is not rooted in the gospel? What happens if our symbols end up being like trumpets which send muffled or distorted sounds, confusing people or just adding to their distraction? Even worse, what happens if our symbols reinforce man-centred ways?
REVIVING THE POWER OF PROPHETIC SYMBOLS
I think we are in a time where symbols are much more important than we might have imagined. The spirit of the age is aggressively discipling our generation and that influence overflows into the Church in very real ways, making it harder for people to truly apprehend the message of the gospel in ways that transform. Might God be inviting us to be more intentional about using prophetic symbols as a way for the message to go deeper? Prophetic symbols can be used of God to bypass the mental objections, the confusion, and the discipleship that’s been done by the spirit of the age, while amplifying the gospel that is being preached in our midst. Preached well, but not always well heard.
So I think there are two challenges in this.
First of all, while prophetic actions are not as frequent, still, let’s take stock of those we continue to use and make sure they are Christ-centred, rather than confusing or man-centred. I’ve been involved in congregational prophetic actions like fire tunnels, striking the ground with poles, Jericho marches, reenacting crossing over the Jordan, even crowd-surfing (meant to represent how we would support each other)! At times we’ve asked the congregation to shake their hands vigorously to symbolize chains being broken, or to make waves with our arms to express our faith and anticipation for a new wave of the Holy Spirit. Okay as I write this, it does seem a bit odd doesn’t it, (lol) but in the moment, it was sincere and heartfelt. Maybe some of these dated actions have been or should be retired, but let’s not abandon symbolism, let’s just make sure it’s gospel-centred so that it reinforces what is being preached and taught, and that it becomes another tool that God can use to shape us in Christ-centred ways.
But secondly, if you belong to a church that has either phased out prophetic actions or has never really participated in them, perhaps the challenge for you is to consider how God might want to reawaken this practice. Initially, it will likely be resisted, for it’s pulling people out of dignified, spectator-oriented, comfort— but isn’t that a good thing? Prophetic actions don’t have to be spontaneous, they can be thought through in advance and prayed over. News flash- spontaneity is not necessarily more spiritual or anointed than something which is planned! Think of how much more meaningful a well-planned marriage proposal is, with the ring purchased and the beautifully romantic setting, rather than a spontaneous one blurted out in the midst of running an errand together.
You might want to research some more historical symbols and actions that the Church has used. For example, in the very early centuries of the Church the men were at times encouraged to pray, standing with their arms lifted, not vertically but horizontally, so that they made the shape of the cross. These were the days of martyrs, so this was an especially powerful statement of surrender and yieldedness as they sought God’s kingdom in their times of corporate intercession. A word of caution though— do be aware of the context and meaning of some of these historical symbols, so that you don’t inadvertently “culturally appropriate”, and use the symbol or tradition irreverently, without understanding or respecting its significance.
Of course, not all historical symbolism is Christ-centred, any more than spontaneous prophetic actions are. Every practice we lead our churches into needs to be considered in light of the gospel.
With all this in mind, it might even be time to rethink what’s going on visually in our church sanctuaries, be they our own, or rented spaces. How can we visually communicate the gospel, amplify what is being preached, and the worship that is being offered through the power of symbols? If you’ve painted your walls black so that the coloured lights on the stage pop, what else is that communicating? If you’ve opted for seating that is comfortable but makes kneeling next to impossible, is that the best idea?
It’s easiest to keep things as they are and not rock the boat, staying with what people are used to, but these are days where our discipleship efforts can’t afford to be passive! I believe the Holy Spirit is urging us into wholehearted devotion, which for many of us could mean exploring the powerful ways that symbolism can communicate and layer the gospel into our lives, shaping our hearts and enabling our communities to more deeply encounter Jesus.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We are just a few days away from Christmas, and so I want to wish all of my faithful readers a truly holy Christmas, full of God’s presence and a fresh revelation of His extravagant generosity towards us— that while we were yet sinners, He gave us His Son. Blessings on you and your family— merry Christmas!!