Building the Church: A Plea to Pastors (and Laypeople)...Continued from page 1

Nehemiah describes the covenant renewal ceremony in Jerusalem after the exiles began to return and rebuild Zion. There, as they admitted their dependence upon their Suzerain, their Sovereign King, with whom they were united in covenant, Ezra set out to explain the basis and the obligations of that covenant. To do so, Nehehiah 8 tells us, the people built a platform in the center of the city so that all gathered could see the speaker. More than that, they also built a podium – a pulpit — from which Ezra read and explained the Word of God. To shield the people of God from future sin, Ezra elevated the Word of God spiritually and physically. That’s biblical.

I love the pulpit. I cringe when I don’t see one in a church when I enter. What message, I ask, is this church communicating to its people? What role does the Bible take when the drum kit is center stage? That may not be what the church believes, but that is the message they’re sending when there is no pulpit and the instruments occupy the place of honor physically.

When I preach I want a pulpit. I want to hide behind the Word of God. I have nothing to say but God has much to say. Maybe the casual observer misses it, but even my stage manner is centers around the pulpit. When I read from the Bible, I stand behind the pulpit. When I explain the meaning of the text, I’m at the pulpit. I do this not because I’m tied to my notes but because I want to be tied to the Bible. When I offer an illustration or a little pastoral “aside” I step away from the pulpit to illustrate the fact that these thoughts are coming from the fallible speaker not the infallible Word. When I’m ready to talk about the next phrase or thought in the text, I go back to the pulpit. The key in all this is not to say that I can’t preach while holding my Bible in hand, but that I stand entirely in the shadow of God’s mighty Word. I’m anchored, spiritually and physically, to the Word.

Pastors and preachers, don’t give us your opinions. Don’t give us a pep talk. Don’t give us a lecture about 10 ways to improve our parenthood. Give us the life-changing and life-sustaining Word of God. And, give us a pulpit to remind us that the Word of God takes center stage in our worship.

Peter Beck (Ph.D. Southern Seminary) is assistant professor of religion at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina and a former Senior Pastor. Dr. Beck also writes at his Website, Living to God.

Original publication date: February 16, 2009