Church Sign Images: Why Putting Photos on Church Signs Is Unbiblical and Misleading

Church sign images — biblical, historical, and pastoral reasons to avoid pastor photos or portraits of Jesus on church signposts.

Why Church Sign Images Matter

In many towns, church signposts display pastor photos, stylized images of Jesus, or even family portraits of ministry leaders. While these church sign images may seem harmless or even welcoming, they send strong theological messages. This post examines why placing such images on church signs is unbiblical, distorts the church’s witness, and shifts focus from Christ to people. We’ll explore Scripture, church history, and practical ways to keep Christ at the center.

1) New Testament practice — Churches identified by location, not leaders

The New Testament names churches by geography — “the church in Corinth,” “the church in Ephesus,” “the church in Philippi” — not by human faces or portraits. This pattern keeps the focus on Jesus and His work in a location, not on personalities.

2) Paul in Athens — The God beyond images

When Paul addressed the Athenians’ altar “to an unknown god,” he taught that the living God is not found in man-made images or temples. This truth applies to church signs: no human image can represent or carry Christ’s presence.

3) God’s Word warns against images in worship

From Exodus 20:4–5 onward, God warns His people against making graven images for worship. Even in the New Testament, believers are urged to worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), not through physical objects or likenesses.

4) “But Jesus has an image”—Why popular portraits don’t help

Famous Jesus portraits like Warner Sallman’s Head of Christ are cultural interpretations, not historical likenesses. Using them on church signposts suggests an authenticity we do not have and risks creating a visual idol.

5) Church history — From icon veneration to iconoclasm

• Some traditions (Orthodox, Catholic) defended icons for teaching and devotion.
• Others (Reformers, many Protestants) saw images as a slippery slope to idolatry and removed them from worship.

The biblical warnings remain strong for churches committed to Christ-centered witness.

6) Pastor photos — The unspoken messages they send

Placing a pastor’s image (or a pastor hugging his wife) on a church sign often communicates:

• This church belongs to this person.
• This ministry is about personality, not Jesus.
• You should follow the leader’s brand, not Christ’s mission.

7) The risks of church sign images

• Idolatry by displacement — people focus on faces instead of Christ.
• Public misunderstanding — outsiders think the church is personality-driven.
• Leadership dependency — congregations tie loyalty to a person, not the gospel.

8) Practical, Christ-centered alternatives to church sign images

1. Use Scripture — put verses on signs instead of faces.
2. Name biblically — keep the church name Christ-focused.
3. Teach the reason — explain why you avoid image-centered branding.
4. Highlight mission — show community service, not personalities.

9) A call to return to Christ’s name

Church sign images — whether a pastor’s smiling face or a stylized Jesus — cannot replace the living witness of God’s Word and Spirit. The early church gathered “in My name” (Matthew 18:20) and pointed people to the risen Christ, not to human images. Churches today should reclaim that focus, ensuring every signpost proclaims Christ, not personalities.