Burning Bush - Symbolic Uses of The Burning Bush

Symbolic Uses of The Burning Bush

The burning bush has been a popular symbol among Reformed churches since it was first adopted by the Huguenots (French Calvinists) in 1583 during its 12th National Synod. The French motto Flagror non consumor - I am burned but not consumed - suggests the symbol was understood of the suffering church that nevertheless lives. However, given the fire is a sign of God's presence, he who is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) the miracle appears to point to a greater miracle: God in grace is with his covenant people and so they are not consumed.

• The current symbol of the Reformed Church of France is a burning bush with the Huguenot cross.
• The motto of the Church of Scotland is Nec tamen consumebatur - Latin for Yet it was not consumed, an allusion to the biblical description of the burning bush, and a stylised depiction of the burning bush is used as the Church's symbol. Usage dates from the 1690s.
• The Burning Bush is also used as the basis of the symbol of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, which uses the Latin motto Ardens sed virens, meaning Burning but flourishing, and is based on the biblical description of the burning bush. The same logo is used from the separated Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.
• The burning bush is also the symbol of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Presbyterian Church in Australia, Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia with the motto in English since its foundation in 1846: 'And the Bush was not consumed', Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Presbyterian Church in Singapore, Presbyterian Church of Brazil, the Presbyterian Church in Malaysia and the Christian Reformed Churches in The Netherlands.
• The Burning Bush is the name of Far Eastern Bible College's theological journal.

The logo of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America is also an image of the Burning Bush with the phrase "and the bush was not consumed" in both English and in Hebrew.