Theology and Architcture

What is interesting is that a lot of the rank-and-file pew sitters don’t realize the theology that is around them, on the walls, the alter (or lack thereof), or the big-screen as they worship.  You can learn a lot about the church’s theology by looking around the church.  As I read this article, referred to me by a friend and Pastor in the Lutheran Church, I thought of the theology that my church has.

I grew up in the Lutheran church, which had an altar, a crucifix, and a pulpit.  Of course there is a rail around the sanctuary (that is the area around the altar behind the altar rail).   The Pastor would wear a clerical collar.  Each of these had significance and reinforced the theology of the Lutheran Church.  For a Lutheran, Christ is physically present on the altar, where the Pastor and congregation take part in the sacrificial action of Jesus Christ on our behalf.  You see, that is why there is an altar – to connect the biblical sacrifices of the old and new testament to the people in church today.  Christ’s word is alive and relevant today as it was for the fathers of the church before us.  The church I attended last as a Lutheran had the baptismal font in front of the altar with a crucifix directly behind the altar.  Why?  It shows the connection in Lutheran Theology between the sacrament of Baptism, the Holy Communion, and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.  You see, for a Lutheran these are the crux of the faith.   (For my Reformed and Evangelical brethren, the reason that a Pastor wears a clerical collar has to do with the fact that he is a sinner, just like us (hence the black), but the white collar symbolizes the view that he is a representative of Christ, who was blameless and pure.)

Now, the church I am currently a member of has no altar and no corpus.  You see, the church I am currently a member of is not Lutheran but Presbyterian.  So what does the sanctuary have – I don’t have a digital picture unfortunately – so I will visualize it for you.  First, there is a cross hanging in front of the dossal (or curtain) covering the pipes for the organ.  The cross is a celtic cross, which symbolizes Christ’s victory over death.  There is a communion table which sits in front of the dossal.  Next to the table are two chairs – one which has the stitching of John Calvin while the other has John Knox.  (I liken this to the Luther’s Rose in a Lutheran Church).  There is also a pulpit.  Both the communion table and pulpit have paraments with the liturgical color of the day on it.  And there is, of course, a baptismal font.  Why is there no corpus?   You see, the Reformed churches believe that Christ has ascended into heaven and thus is no longer present physically here on earth.  To have a corpus would go against that theology.  Why no altar?  Well, Calvin did believe that Christ is present at the breaking of the bread, that is communion.  You see, the Lutherans believe in sacramental union – that Christ is physically present “in, with, and under” the elements.  However, while a Calvinist would believe Christ is present, they don’t believe that he is present physically – after all He is in heaven!  Now, if you are Lutheran and look at Dr. Manteuful’s works you might get an incorrect picture of the reformed.  To be clear the reformed believe Christ is present in the sacrament.  Here is a succinct description:

Reformed (traditionally) believe Christ is present spiritually, but is physically with God the Father in heaven and that Christ is present only by the power of the Holy Spirit uniting us with Jesus Christ.  The body and blood of Christ are partaken only by believers and those who are unbelievers partake of the outward sign only.  Because we cannot tell who is a member of the elect, Reformed generally allow all baptized Christians to commune.  They believe the eating and drinking of His body and blood are done by a mystical experience of the believer’s soul.

So if Christ is NOT physically present, there is no sacrifice, and thus, no altar.  Now, unlike our Zwinglian brethren (which is most of evangelical Christianity), Communion is held in high regard.  At my church, the communion table is brought forward, a wonderfully woven communion parament is brought out, and the ordained elders of the church assist the Pastor in celebrating communion – not laypeople.  (If you are not aware, lay persons often assist in communion in many Lutheran churches and Lutherans do not ordain elders.)  My Pastor exhorts to the congregation the importance of receiving the sacrament worthily and we do have confession and absolution.  This is unlike many Zwinglian churches.

So what is important in the Reformed/Presbyterian church?  What is the one, central, item…the pulpit.  Like many churches of the Reformation, the emphasis is on the Word preached.  There is no corpus because of the view of the sacraments.  I should mention that we do not have a communion rail, but I am not sure how universal this is to the Presbyterian church.

Finally, we look at the Zwinglian churches.  My brother’s family is United Methodist.  They do not believe Christ is anywhere present in the sacraments so, while there is a communion table, it does not come out nor is there an exhortation against the improper use of the sacraments.  Like my church, there is no corpus.

So, when you decide what decisions are being made in your church, make sure you think of the theological ramifications of the liturgical space.  Perhaps then you won’t be like some of the Roman  Catholic churches – removing a communion rail only to return to it later.

Pax Christi