LUTHER’S SEAL… Everyone has a logo these days. Back in the 15th century, they had them too. Because of our connection to Martin Luther’s rediscovery of the Gospel and his importance to the Reformation, we borrow his logo, or seal as it is called, to identify ourselves as belonging to his family and holding to the theology he espoused. While a professor at Wittenberg, Luther devised this seal, which he declared was meant to be “expressive of his theology.” We’ll let the good doctor explain what he had in mind when he designed his seal.

The first thing expressed in my seal is a cross, black, within the heart, to bring to my mind that faith in Christ who was crucified saves us. “For with the heart man believes unto righteousness.”

Now, although the cross is black, dead, and intended to cause pain, yet it does not change the color of the heart, does not destroy human nature- i.e., does not kill, but keeps alive. “For the just shall live by faith,” -by faith in the Saviour.

But this heart is placed upon the center of a white rose, to show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace. The rose is white, not red, because white is the symbolic color of all angels and blessed spirits.

This rose, moreover, is placed in a sky-colored background, to denote that such joy. . . is but a deposit and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and held by hope, though not yet revealed.

And around this background is a golden ring, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than all joys and treasures, since gold is the best and most precious metal. Christ, our dear Lord, will give grace unto eternal life.

This explanation is the gist of a letter written to his friend, Herr Spengler, town clerk of Nuremberg.