Furniture in the Church 1 - The Pulpit

In the church sanctuary, there are three major liturgical furnishings: the pulpit, the altar, and the baptismal font. Remembering that we are a word and sacrament church, it should be no surprise that the sacred acts of the liturgy take place from these furnishings.  The pulpit is where the Word is read and discussed, the altar is where Holy Communion is served, and the baptismal font is where the sacrament of baptism takes place.  Therefore, even the furniture in the church proclaims what we are all about.

The first major furnishing of the church is the pulpit (coming from the Latin puliptum, meaning “scaffold” or “stage”). In the early centuries of Christianity, the pastor would preach seated at a chair located near the altar while the congregation stood to listen (pews are also a more modern invention). Over time, as churches grew in size and more people filled the nave, the pulpit was put in place to better hear the Word of God.  Hence, the pulpit is an early medieval addition in Church architecture, elevated in height within the chancel, so the speaker’s voice would be better projected throughout the church building. The elevation signifies the prominence of the proclamation of the Word of God and that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). In fact, during the Reformation, the pulpit itself took a place of great importance in visually and practically testifying to the authority of Scripture alone as the source and norm for the church’s confession in the sermon and the life of Christians.

The pulpit is the place from which the Word of God is proclaimed – God’s Law and Gospel – a central feature in the Divine Service.  The point of every sermon is to proclaim the whole counsel of God to the hearers; and so to direct us to repent of our sins and look in faith to Jesus Christ alone for our forgiveness, life, and salvation.  Preaching from the pulpit reminds the people that the pastor is God’s representative, speaking God’s word to the congregation.

In addition to the pulpit, many Lutheran churches also have a lectern (from the Latin lecto, which means “reading”). Usually the lectern is located at the side of the chancel opposite the pulpit, is smaller and lower than the pulpit, and serves as the place where Holy Scripture is read without exposition.  If there is no lectern, the Scripture readings can be read from the pulpit or the altar.

Both the pulpit and the lectern continue to serve the purpose of the proclamation of God’s Word to His people.  Hence, when the pastor speaks from such places, it is not his word that he speaks, but the Word of God.

note: post 1/11 adapted from my brother's writings