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How Orange Became the Color of Protestantism


William III of Orange



Colors often have been used to designate particular churches. The Roman Catholic Church is most often associated with red due to Cardinals wearing scarlet and the emphasis on the Passion of Christ, especially in the Mass. The Eastern Orthodox Church is typically associated with gold and yellow because of the icons using tempera and the altar being full of gold, Russian Orthodox priests and bishops wear golden vestments. Protestant Churches  have varied between white as in white steeple, blue as in the case of Scottish Presbyterians, and a cobalt with aqua as in the case of Missouri Synod Lutherans and Presbyterian Church of America.  Blue has often been the alternative to the Catholic red, because it is more mellow and less associated with the blood cult obsessions in Roman rites such as Transubstantiation. Although red should not be monopolized by the RCC, after all the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ poured out for all mankind is red and precious to us believers.  

A case can be made for orange and blue for Protestantism. In the Book of Ezekiel the prophet beholds the Lord’s face which shines with the following colors, “Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.” (Ezekiel 1:26-28). Lapis Lazuli is cobalt blue with green specks and amber is an orange colored gem stone. The Apostle John also saw the Lord and here is what He appeared like, “The One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones--like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.” (Revelation 4:3). Jasper is red and black stone, carnelian is orange and brown stones. 

The colors of the Lord being blue and orange are perfect for Protestantism, but perhaps orange is even better because Christ’s eyes are flames, “When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man.He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.” (Revelation 1:12-16). Jesus face shines like the sun when transfigured (Matthew 17:1-3, Revelation 1:16) and the sun is orange in glow as is fire which is in His eyes! Any good fellow Protestant would prefer the colors around the Lord to be their Symbol and the fact Scripture supports this color in Old and New Testaments makes it all the more appealing. 

Perhaps another reason orange serves as a good color choice to represent Protestantism is the fact that one of the most ardent defenders of Reformed Churches was a devout Protestant King named William III of Orange. Yes his title had orange in the title! Orange was principality in Provence France, la Principauté d'Orange, that William inherited. William went on to conquer England from the Catholic King James and be crowned King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. When Protestants feared a revival of Catholicism under King James, William III invaded and seized the throne of England in what was called “The Glorious Revolution,” stopping the Roman Resurgence. While the color orange does not have direct connection to the Principality of Orange in Provence that William ruled, it was not a stretch to start using the color orange as a symbolic color of William and the triumph of Protestantism over Catholicism in England. To this day in Irish Protestants wear orange, while Catholics wear green. In fact, on St. Patrick’s Day if you are Protestant you are suppose to wear orange. 


If you are inclined to wear a color represented Reformed Christianity and Solae Scriptura, orange can be your color! Amen.  

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