Doctrinal Statements of Furniture
I think you can tell a lot about a church by what holds physical and visual prominence in the sanctuary or worship space. The items that are present or not present in a sanctuary communicate something to people about what is important when we gather as a church.
Want to know what a church values? Look in the sanctuary.
Want to know a church’s discipleship strategy? Look to what draws your attention in the sanctuary.
Is this too simplistic, leaving NO room for the nuances of facility limitations, ministry strategy, and the fact that the “church” is not actually the building? Almost certainly!
But as media theorist Marshall McLuhan coined, “The Medium is the Message”. It’s worth considering the “mediums”, or means of communication, used in our place of worship and what messages they may convey.
The Mediums
When you walk into the sanctuary (or Worship Center as Pastor Terry would prefer it to be called!) as Steamboat Baptist, here are some “mediums” or significant furnishings you may notice:
- There are many chairs all pointed at a stage.
- Right down the middle of the stage are three large furnishings: (1) A wood and steel pulpit, (2) a wood and steel table and (3) a large wooden cross suspended above everything on the stage
- An organ, large grand piano, and drum set occupy significant visual and physical space on the stage
- Flanking the stage and suspended to a place of visual prominence are two projection screens.
First impressions matter and even mediums like architecture, furniture, and adornment carry a message. Congregants see those messages and interpret them through all of their own experiences and upbringings. Here is what I hope is being communicated as people fill the chairs in our sanctuary on a Sunday morning.
The Message
Chairs pointed at a stage
Chairs communicate that this is a place for people to gather. And the chairs orientation towards the stage says that something significant is going to come from there and they should be positioned to pay attention.
Pulpit, Table, & Cross
These three implements in some sense form a rough doctrinal statement (theology through decoration, in some sense). The Cross shows that this is a distinctly Christ-centered gathering. This is not an auditorium for entertainment or a lecture hall for education. This is a gathering to the cross of Christ.
The pulpit communicates the primacy of preaching the Word of God to the listeners gathered in the seats. From that pulpit will come the reading, teaching, and preaching of God’s truth.
The communion table communicates the significance of the Christian ordinances and Christ’s atoning work on the cross. The table is engraved with the words “In Remembrance of Me”. Calling us to come to the table to be renewed in our wonder at God’s work of redemption through Jesus.
Cross, Pulpit, Table: We gather at the cross to hear the Word of God and celebrate the atoning work of Christ in our redemption.
Organ, Piano, & Drums
Music is going to play a significant part of whatever happens in this space. And it will be a variety of music. Those three instruments can represent that span from traditional to contemporary music that will be sung in our gatherings.
Projector Screens
Modern technology will assist in the proclamation of God’s word. There is something to be seen on these screens. For our purpose, we will show passages of scripture so people can read the Word for themselves. Sermon points will be shown to help people follow-along in a way that allows for deeper impact. Lyrics will be shown so we can sing together.
Acts 2:42 gives a picture of what the 1st century church valued. It does not tell us about their architecture, but it does show us some of their hearts intent as they gathered:
“The Fellowship of the Believers: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” - Acts 2:42
Do the furnishings of our space reflect the priorities of the early church? I really think that they do.
The pulpit and projector screens convey our commitment to the apostle’s teachings through the hearing and reading of God’s Word. The chairs and instruments signify our gathering as a fellowship, engaging in meaningful activities together. The communion table represents the breaking of the bread during the Lord’s Supper, uniting all under the banner of Christ’s cross.
Before we hear a word in our service from a pastor, our building is already beginning to preach. And I think it preaches an accurate statement of what our church values and what God has called the gathering of believers to do.
-John Day, Worship Pastor