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Dominating
the whole design is the Cross, the universally accepted badge of the
Christian, reminding us of our Saviour, from whom we take our name. It
stands for self giving and self-sacrifice, for patient endurance of
suffering accepted for the sake of others; and because it was the son of God
who thus suffered and died for us, it is a golden cross, gold being the
colour for godhead. Gold also suggests victory, reminding us that the Cross
of Christ is the symbol of triumph, not of defeat.
The
cross is set against a background of red, the colour of blood; and this
again is a symbol of sacrifice and self-giving in the service of others. Red
is also in liturgical usage the colour which stands for the Holy Spirit to
whom we must still look for guidance. It is in the strength of the Holy
Spirit, and only in his strength, that the Church and the individual
Christian can hope to obey and serve God.
Behind
the cross there is a lotus, dear to the heart of every Indian, the symbol of
the spiritual quest of India, which we believe find its final satisfaction
only in the cross, and in him who died on it.
The
lotus is also the symbol of purity rising in all its own pure beauty out of
mud beneath the water. This challenge of Purity is reinforced by the use of
white for the flower and for the circle imposed upon it, "Blessed are
the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Within
this inner circle of white there is set a chalice, as used in the Lord’s
Supper. Therein we receive sacramentally the atoning and redeeming blood of
Christ, and so it is appropriately set against a background of red. But the
chalice itself is gold, for the sacrament is God’s gift of his own life.
The
chalice is set at the vary centre of the whole badge, to teach us that
worship and sacrament are at the centre of Christian living. God must be the
centre of our lives. The first and great commandment is to love God; and
that love, coming from a creature to his Creator, must find expression in
worship.
But
there is a second commandment: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself." Therefore, lest our very worship should become selfish and
self-centred, we are continually to go out from the worship at the heart of
our lives into the world, and use the grace we have received in the service
of our fellowmen.
Last,
but not least, as we move out from the centre, we come back to the outer
circle, and there we are given the three key words Unity, Witness, Service.
The Church of North India is to seek and work and pray for the unity of all
who bear the name of Christ. At the same time she has to use the unity which
God has given her in order that she may more faithfully and more effectively
bear witness to her faith, and may give herself to the service of all
without distinction, after the example of her Servant Lord.
We
must be extremely grateful to Frank Wesley who gave us this splendid badge.
What a wealth of meaning and teaching it has for us!
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