Image Matters: Intentionally Promoting Jesus | Part 1
Strategic Branding and Communication
In this article, I discuss the hidden power of unspoken communication, visual storytelling and branding. I explain the patterns professional advertisers use to encode certain messages, and I also reflect on the identity of the enemy.
Advertisements
Pretty posters, banners, videos, voices, photos, artworks and even aromas—all these things carry messages. In the world of marketing, this is a form of communication widely used to impact viewers and hearers buy things—which is known as advertising.
Advertisements often show you something that seems so pleasing and attractive that, whether you need it or not, you are drawn to go after it. You are being influenced, informed, and sometimes tempted. For example:
Recently, an online TV platform streamed an ad for vanilla ice cream with chocolate glaze and nuts. Honestly, as someone with a sweet tooth, that was enough to trigger a craving in me…
Advertising can be very impactful. It can also be truthful, yet it often doesn’t seem trustworthy. In this world, we don’t know whether we are seeing purely honest promotions or not, and trust has become difficult. There is so much deception, and I would like to quote a Bible verse here:
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:44
I think, it is fair to admit that advertisements often use various kinds of manipulation to gain profit.
The most incredible form of advertising I ever heard of was from a friend who worked at a massive venue in Vilnius, where certain fragrances were intentionally diffused into the air to influence customers’ buying decisions! They could make the whole event smell like cinnamon buns or popcorn! Crazy, right?
But that is how the system works. People tend to buy with their eyes, ears, and noses, and it is clear that others benefit from it. The world builds quantum computers, castles and dream cities out of advertising revenue. And customers keep coming back for the pleasures they are offering.
Of course, advertising is not always about selling something pleasurable. Even essential services that people may not like to think about—such as dentists, plumbers, funeral services, and many other—must still find ways to communicate about themselves. In order to let people know about something, we have to speak up about it somehow. And so we do. We all express our ideas, products, messages and businesses, and communicate in a variety of ways.
Hidden Messages
But here’s something important to note: the problem is not only the deception in advertisements itself, but also the fact that some unspoken information is hidden in the smallest details. As someone experienced in branding and identity, I’d like to share a bit of insight into how this works:
When designing a logotype for any kind of business, a trained creator focuses on visual elements that communicate a clear message to the viewer within just three seconds. Yes, three or even less.
For example, if a logo is for a construction company, it will likely contain a building shape, construction-related imagery, stylised letterform, full brand name, or other visual cues, making it immediately clear that the company builds houses.
But there is more behind it.
Now some questions arises: What kind of houses do they build? Maybe they build log houses? Maybe they are winter house builders for Greenland? Or maybe they build earthquake-resistant houses. This kind of information is needed to provide the clearest sense of the business and it will be encoded into the design and into that three-second message.
If it’s log houses, we will use shapes, lines, and colours related to wood. If it’s winter houses, snowflakes or icy elements will likely be included. If it’s earthquake-proof houses, we may research and create visuals according to their specifications. Every symbol, line, colour, letter, word, or image carries certain messages that, as viewers, we do not always consciously think about. But it’s there, and it communicates by itself!
I tell this all, because the very similar pattern applies to other forms of communication, through which we constantly receive encoded messages. Some of them might be good, kind and lovely, while others might be used for evil.
Enemy’s Branding
In this world we must see that the enemy never misses a chance to remind us of himself! The truth is that he uses various tools to advertise himself. Example:
The TV ad I mentioned earlier was filmed as a fashion show scene, where the male model was not only dressed as a woman but also behaved in a highly prideful manner. Though the ice cream looked absolutely incredible, 10 out of 10!
It is important to see that the enemy’s encoded messages are often used to stir up non-biblical teachings such as pride, sexual immorality, lust, envy, comparison, covetousness, selfishness, and perhaps diabetes—who knows. God’s commandments and laws are being ignored, and lies are being spread as if they are normal, casual, and harmless!
The problem is that marketing tools often become part of the devil’s schemes to estrange us from God and bring us to hell. Let us not be deceived!
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.1 Peter 5:8
Through propaganda, people’s emotions, viewpoints, and behaviour are shaped toward his evil ideologies in a subtle and intelligent way. Simultaneously, the enemy is using his own branding too.
Brand Elements
Recognising devil’s branding and communication tools is not that difficult.
Dark colours and shades of red are often used together with dramatic makeup and styling, and sometimes with nudity, attitudes that promote homosexuality, particular tones of voice, or other forms of idolatry and moral corruption. Moreover:
Horn hats, tails, skulls, “cute” devil sculptures, the upside-down cross, pentagram, the number 6 repeated three times, symbols of serpent, witch hats, dream catchers, cards, crystals, palo santo, and similar things are part of the satan’s branding and identity. It doesn’t matter whether these are in vectors, in audio, in video, AI-generated, or written to be read—they are part of his branding! Sadly, but people often fail to understand their significance!
The truth is that by using all these and similar brand elements in our lives, we are not only helping the enemy gain more power, attention, and popularity, but we are also serving him. Yes, in doing so, we end up advertising the enemy.
It’s truly important to keep in mind that the more the enemy’s name is mentioned, the more attention it gains. Even by speaking it aloud, we give them space to appear.
Just as God created the universe through His spoken word, our speech can also influence the atmosphere around us. Therefore, I say this with love: we must be intentional and mindful about what we communicate and how we communicate it.
Being Spiritually Alert
As followers of Jesus Christ and children of God, we should not give the enemy room to operate! We should not promote content that advances the enemy’s agenda. We must be thoughtful in what we share and carefully consider the message it sends.
A lesson from my own life:
A few years ago, I made paintings and graphic elements with aliens in them. I did enjoy my artworks and I had no clue that there’s something wrong with them. But after shutting my project, God revealed it to me that these creatures are demonic. I ended up destroying those artworks. This situation touched me deeply.
I have come to understand that everything we create, or simply share—whether art, digital art, media, poetry, articles, podcasts, or even music—is a powerful form of communication that carries certain messages.
Therefore, we must be careful so that it does not bring or pass on anything that could be spiritually harmful.
We must be alert!
‘Love for Jesus’ | June 2026
Thank you!
All Scripture quoted is from the NKJV.
Each artwork in my posts is inspired by God’s creation and made with love and honour for His gifts, giving all glory to Jesus.
With love,
Gita Moz | One Voice, One Witness
Written in August 2025