Convention Logo
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Logo for the Convention of
Original Free Will Baptists |
| The Church, His Servant (Mark 10:43-45) |
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THE CROSS: In keeping with Christian tradition, the Christ event is the central focus of this model. The CROSS itself becomes central as it reflects the Christ event.
- THE VERTICAL ARM: The vertical arm of the cross is indicative of the divine-human relationship in an “I-Thou” context. The initiative in establishing this relationship is from God. The response of humanity is essential to the relationship. The sovereign Lord has set self-limitations by allowing humanity the freedom to respond negatively or affirmatively to the grace offered in the Christ event. When humanity responds positively, the divine-human part of the relationship takes place. The servant leader always knows that the ability to have faith, to hear and respond to God’s initiative, is a gift of God’s grace.
- THE HORIZONTAL ARM: The horizontal arm of the cross a perpetual reminder of the human-human relationship which is essential to a valid expression of the Christian experience. The portion of the faith experience is where the Incarnation continues in and through persons. Here faith is “fleshed out” in our lives in and through the human document. Ethical and moral issues and concerns are a part of the faith experience; a person’s relationship to society in general becomes a valid part of the faith’s expression in this dimension of the total experience. The total mission concern of the church is couched in the arena of the human-human relationship. Ministry happens at the point where the divine-human and human-human dimensions intersect. This is where people of faith feel the greatest challenge and stress of Christian living. Oscar Cullman refers to this experience as “the overlap of the ages.” He explains that the Christian lives simultaneously in the Age to come (the Kingdom of Heaven) and the Present Age (Kingdom of the World).
THE GLOBE: The globe depicted in the model is indicative of the arena of the mission ministry and concern of each Christian and the servant leader. The world, all humanity, is the proper focus of Christian ministry. This makes it incumbent upon the servant leader to have a broad and open world view.
THE BASIN AND TOWEL: The basin and towel are highly significant for the concept of Christian Servanthood. These symbols historically are reminiscent of the ancient eastern practice of household servants washing the dusty feet of guests as they arrived at the host’s home. Possibly this is the most appropriate symbol we have of Christian servanthood. It is also a very appropriate of the priesthood of all believers in the Original Free Will Baptist Denomination. The minister and deacons are not the officiates here – each believer ministers to other believers. There is no distinction between clergy, deacons, and other lay persons in the observance of this ordinance and participation is completely voluntary.
