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Lutheran Architecture: How a Building Reflects Theology

© John L. Hoh, Jr.

One of the verses of Nicolai Grundtvig's hymn, "Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand," says:

Here stands the font before our eyes
Telling how God did receive us;
The altar recalls Christ's sacrifice
And what His table doth give us;
Here sounds the Word that doth proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
Yea, and for aye our Redeemer.
TLH 467, verse 6
(Hymnary 132, verse 6)

In this verse Grundtvig expresses something many Lutherans take for granted: the layout of their church.

Lutheran theology centers around Word and Sacrament. Lutherans have traditionally believed, taught, and confessed that the Holy Spirit works through the Word and the Sacraments to create and strengthen faith. While sacraments may differ from church to church (literally, a sacrament is something "set apart, sanctified, sacred"), Luther used as his definition for a sacrament that activity instituted by Christ, which uses earthly elements, and bestows forgiveness of sins. The Word and Sacrament, we are taught in catechism, are the "Means of Grace" used by the Holy Spirit.

So, have you ever sat in the pew on Sunday morning and wondered why the church is laid out like it is? Have you ever noticed differences between the various church buildings of denominations? Have you ever wondered if a church in Lutheran circles could ever look different?

Traditionally, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches were centered more around the sacraments. The altar is the focus of the church. The pulpit, if there is one in the church, is small or set off to the side. Rather than the sermon found in Lutheran churches, homilies are preached. A homily generally is a brief message based on the theme for the day; a sermon is often an in-depth study of one of the readings for that day.

In the Reformed circles, the Word is more prominent. Rarely do you see an altar; generally there may be a baptistry. Most often the pulpit is the focal point-or the "stage" is set up so that the preacher has room to move and connect with his congregation.

Lutheran churches, as Grundtvig so clearly wrote, have both Word and Sacrament prominently displayed. The altar recalls Christ's sacrafice; the font recalls the baptism through which the Holy Spirit creates faith in, for many of us, our infant hearts; the pulpit proclaims our sinfulness and God's amazing Grace from the Word.

How these pieces are arranged may differ. In some churches, such as where I served as intern, the pulpit is behind a free standing altar, with the font to the side of the altar. In some, the font is situated at floor level. Some churches have the font at the doors to the sanctuary, signifying that it is through our baptism we enter the family of God. At some, the altar is at the center, the font at one side, the pulpit at the other.