Rasta Symbols?

Some have argued that Christians should not use "Rasta symbols."

I disagree.

First of all, many Rastas are Christians, perhaps even a majority. Twelve Tribes Rastas, for example, clearly adore the most holy Trinity and believe in Y'shua HaMashiach as their incarnate Creator and Savior. They revere Emperor Haile Selassie as a true king in the line of David, a holy man, and a true ikon of Y'shua, but they do not believe his imperial majesty is Jah. These Rastas are Christians, whether they call themselves by that name or not.

So it is incorrect to pretend that Rastafari is always and everwhere a single, unique, and distinct religion, especially as something opposed to Christianity. Even within Rastafari, Christians use these symbols.

Second, my statement of faith appears on the first page. I am not trying to trick or to fool anyone. It is no secret that I am a Christian following in the footsteps of his imperial majesty Haile Selassie I, and I welcome friendship and dialogue with other Rastas, both Christian and non-Christian.

Third, the colors, terms, and imagery on this website are originally Christian, before Rastafari. It is absolutely true that Rastas use and dearly love some of these symbols, but they did not originate in Rastafari movement. Rastas borrowed or derived all of these symbols from Judaism and Christianity, because Rastafarianism is derivative of Judaism and Christianity. (Many great religions and cultures are derivative of others, like Buddhism of Hinduism or Christianity of Judaism. This is no insult; it can be a very good thing.)

The name "Jah" appears in Psalm 68:4, part of both the Jewish and Christian scriptures. It also represents the Name of God (YHWH) in other biblical names containing the particle "jah," "iah," or "yah," like "Elijah." The Magen David (Star or Shield of David) has long represented Judaism, from which Christianity is derived. The Lion of Judah is, in the New Testament, Y'shua HaMashiach. Ethiopia, represented by the colors green, gold, and red, has been a Christian nation since ancient times. Ethiopians have traditionally understood the three colors as symbols of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) and the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love (1Cor. 13:13). (The colors of Ethiopia have recently been adopted by other African nations and African movements because Ethiopia is the only African nation that was never subjected to foreign rule through colonization.)

So the Lion of Judah, the colors, and the magens are all Christian symbols, and were Christian symbols centuries before Rastafari was ever conceived. Even before that, many of them are Jewish symbols. Jews and Christians may use those symbols in any context they wish. There is no reason religious groups should not use their own symbols as they wish, regardless what those symbols mean to other people.

I am a Christian who follows Ras Tafari, Haile Selassie I, and Rastafarianism has been a profound and positive influence in my life. Listening to Rasta music in my youth is one of the reasons I take Scripture as seriously as I do, and I don't mind saying I owe a huge debt to Rastafari movement in that regard. It was through Rastafari movement that I first gained my profound respect for Haile Selassie. Rasta music has often fueled my commitment to social justice. Rasta culture has been very important to me in many many ways, and there are many things about which Christians and Rastas can agree. In truth, many Rastas are Christians and many Christians are Rastas.