Introduction
As a preteen Catholic boy, I had a real love for Jesus and the Mass. [ Note: It is always called the Sacrifice of the Mass but it was never regarded as Sacrificing Jesus again, as some protestants think. It is the sacrifice of discipline to attend, listen to scripture reading, worship, praise, and pray]. My father ran a neighborhood grocery store while my mother worked at a State Tuberculin Sanitarium. I vividly remember collecting old cigar boxes from the store and building an altar. As an only child, I had my room in the house. I covered a small table from the room with a white tablecloth. I took the cigar boxes and covered them with white handkerchiefs. I then used them to construct side walls, a back, and a top. In the front, I made a door that would open and shut. This was my Tabernacle. I then took a small plastic trophy cup and used it as a chalice. I filled the chalice with white Necco Wafers, purchased from the store downstairs. These were my communion hosts. I placed candles on the sides of the Tabernacle along with my favorite statues of Mary and Joseph. A crucifix also held a prominent place on the wall over the tabernacle. This was my Altar. I placed a Catholic Missal on the table. Then I would kneel and pray.
On and off in my Christian life my wife and I would also build an altar in our home. I didn’t use cigar boxes but built them in a place, bedroom, bookshelf, or something where I would set up a Bible stand with candles and a cross. I would go there to pray. Having moved over 30 times with my consulting business (My wife and I lived in an RV for 11 years) I stopped having an altar. Now that I’m retired. I need an altar.
Definitions (my definitions for this paper)
Altar
An altar can be a good thing or a bad thing. It can be physical or mental. In all cases, it is a place of sacrifice. In the Old Testament, it is often referred to as the “High Places”. They were often torn down by our patriarchs as places of worship to foreign gods. For this paper, I will write only about good things.
Sacrifice
When Christians think of sacrifice they immediately think of the cross where Jesus sacrificed His life for our sins. Of course, there are other types of sacrifice. This was a blood sacrifice which was also observed in the Old Testament through the sacrifice of animals (unblemished lambs) for the atonement of sins.
For the Jewish Believer, there were: burnt offerings, grain offerings peace offerings, sin offerings, wave offerings, and trespass offerings. All were done within the presence of or on an altar. They represented a pivotal part of Old Testament worship.
Essentially sacrifice means giving up something of high value for something of higher value. It can also mean something that is freely given out of devotion or surrender. Sacrifices are never an easy thing and often require much faith. The purpose, of course, is to draw us closer to Him and not to atone or make up for our sins. Jesus already did that on the cross. We can only sacrifice to His purpose by obedience to His Word.
Crucifix
A crucifix is a cross upon which is the body of Christ.
Cross
A cross is a Crucifix without the body of Christ symbolizing His resurrection.
Mezuzah
An object placed on the doorpost of Jewish homes reminds them of God’s Word and that they should love their God, believe only in Him, keep His commandants, and pass all of these on to their children. I often had a Mezuzal on the doorpost of our homes. I blessed our home by touching the Mezuzah when I entered and when I left.
“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:9) ESV
Tabernacle
To the ancient Hebrews, the Tabernacle was the tent of meeting where the portable dwelling of God existed. As described in Exodus chapters 26 and 27.
To the Catholic, it is the dwelling upon an altar where the Host (Christ in bread form) dwells in the Church. That is why a Catholic genuflects before entering and sitting in a pew. It was to acknowledge the presence of Almighty God.
To the Born Again Believer, it is the secret place where we meet with our Lord and Savior. Scriptures say we are the Temple or Tabernacle (miniature temple) of Christ.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
This is your secret place, the altar to which you retreat for a quiet time with your Lord.
6 Notable Alters of the Old Testament
Noah’s Altar
Noah’s altar was built when the Arc came to rest on Mount Ararat after the flood. It was built mainly as an act of worship and thanksgiving to Almighty God for rescue from the flood. Read Genesis 8: 20 to 22.
Abraham’s Altar
Abraham’s altar was also built in thanksgiving and recognition of God’s faithfulness in offering a sacrifice, (of His own) to replace Abraham’s son Issac. Today it is recognized as an attribute of Abraham’s obedience to God and is accounted to Abraham as righteousness. (Genesis 22)
Jacobs’s Altar
Jacob’s altar was made from his pillow on which he rested his head at night. It was a holy site and recognized as such because Jacob dreamed of angels ascending and descending a ladder to heaven. The place was called Bethel. Read Genesis 28: 10 to 22.
Moses Altar
Moses’s altar was called “The Lord is my Banner” (Exodus 17:15). Moses’s altar was not only a structure built in recognition of God’s protection but also a focal point for a series of rituals, sacrifices, and joyful festivities.
| Note: The altars of the Bible often served as meeting points between God and His people. They were places where individuals could connect with the divine and tangibly experience His presence. This is also true today however they hold no power in and of themselves as in the Old Testament but they do provide a focal point and reminder of worship and sacrifice due God. Building an altar in your home and seeing it reminds you of God’s presence in your home and homage to Him. |
Elijah’s Altar
Elijah’s altar was an altar of fire. Elijah was engaged in a breathtaking challenge against the prophets of Baal. The Altar, was a fire-from-heaven face-off that would test the true power of God over Baal. Read 1 Kings 18: 20 to 40.
Solomon’s Altar
The centerpiece of Solomon’s temple was the altar. Holding back no expense or lack of craftsmanship Solomon built a tribute to his God like no other. It was a point of new beginnings for Israel. The grand opening of this temple and altar was a dedication prayer by Solomon that is like no other I have read in the Bible. (click here to read the prayer). His prayer of dedication is in 1 Kings 8: 22- 52.
The Significance of an Altar
The significance or purpose of an altar is to sacrifice. Since we no longer live in Old Testament days, we as Christians do not offer up sheep, goats, or any animal or grain sacrifices on an altar for atonement of our sins. Instead, we commit and recommit our lives to the purposes of Jesus who offered the supreme sacrifice of His life, instead of animals, grain, etc. for our salvation. So we too place our lives on this altar.
In Today’s Church
In today’s Church, the altar is used for many religious purposes. Weddings, deaths, baptisms, dedications, to name a few. Many of these are not sacrifices in themselves but are merely religious ceremonies. These do not represent the Altar or Sacrifice I am speaking of in this paper.
Today Among Devout Christians
Today among devout Christians the altar and tabernacle represent our sacrifices of prayer, praise, and worship to our Almighty God, El Elohim Adoni. Along with these we lay on our altar our needs, concerns, and sometimes just fellowship, making us feel closer to our Creator.
Your Dwelling
“I will not enter the house where I live or get into bed, I will not allow myself to sleep or even close my eyes until I find a place for Adonai, a dwelling for the mighty on of Ya’akov,” (Psalm 132: 3 – 5) TCJS
The Home
Whenever my wife and I moved (and we’ve moved over 30 times in our lives) one of the first things we do is dedicate our home to God. We do a house cleaning looking in every drawer, closet, nook and cranny for any ungodly devices, books, records, or artifacts that could open doors to Satan’s attacks. This is followed by an anointing with oil of every portal and opening in our dwelling through which demonic powers may enter. These included TV, Telephone, Radio all electrical outlets and wires coming into the house, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, etc. All this was followed by a prayer of dedication to God and His purposes and praying also that all who enter be blessed by His presence. We would use Solomon’s dedication prayer, mentioned above, as an outline. When available I also place a Mezuzah on the doorpost of my house.
Our Quiet Spot
Have you ever noticed in your home that there is a spot, somewhere in the house, that is more conducive to prayer and quiet than others? I find this to be true. Currently, it is my desk where I write all my blogs and where I read my Bible and pray. I often seek this place, even in the early hours of the morning, to pray. This is also my altar. It’s nothing visible but is certainly a spiritual altar of significance for my quiet time with my savior.
My physical alter however is where I keep most of my Bibles, a cross, and photographs of Gethsemane. However, I hope to make it more prominent among my bookshelves. I can no longer kneel comfortably so I do not have a kneeler for prayer, although I would like one.
Why Would I Want to Build an Altar in My Home
This sums up the whole purpose of this paper. Why would I want to do this? Answer: you may not. You don’t have to. Don’t worry about it. It is not necessary. However, I am older than over 90% of the earth’s population. I am no longer concerned about my Salvation. I am assured of it. I am no longer concerned about my witnessing to others, my ministry gift, or what I can do for my Lord. I’m doing it! My soul’s purpose in life is to draw closer to my creator, to know Him to love Him, and to worship Him. I do not worship the Cross, Crucifix, or Altar, but they are reminders of His presence in me. I recently wrote a paper called “Forever on my Mind” (click here). All I want is an altar by which I can worship and praise my maker. It helps me to draw closer to Him. It becomes my sacrifice of praise and worship.
“So we no longer offer up a steady stream of blood sacrifices, but through Jesus, we will offer up to God a steady stream of praise sacrifices—these are “the lambs” we offer from our lips that celebrate his name!” (Hebrews 13:15) TPT
I want Him to be forever on my mind.
Altars of the Mind
Aside from building an altar in your home or somewhere else, there are altars of the mind. Think about this. Where do you go when the Bible tells you to go to your closet and pray? I usually sit, kneel, stand, or lay wherever I’m at, bow my head, lift my hands to heaven, and pray. Is this not an alter of your mind? We are encouraged by the Bible to have one. It is mentioned above as your “secret place”.
“Whenever you pray, be sincere and not like the pretenders who love the attention they receive while praying before others in meetings and on street corners. Believe me, they’ve already received in full their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your innermost chamber and be alone with Father God, praying to him in secret. And your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:5,6) TPT
Note also that there are evil altars of the mind. These are often thoughts we let slip into our minds for pleasure, lust, having our way, and all forms of distracting thoughts that have no redemptive value. They stem from an unrenewed mind and are called Sin. These are covered in many of my other papers.
Conclusion
This is a short paper on building an altar. You must build your own. By build I mean you must use it and go there frequently. It can be in your home, outside your home, where you have your quiet time or perhaps it can be an altar of the mind. Your quiet place where you go to meet your Lord to praise, worship, or just talk. The main purpose of this paper is to remind you to build a place for God in your life. A quiet place. A secret place free from distraction where no one is allowed to enter but you and God. Someplace where you can easily go to meet Him, commune with Him or just be in His presence.
Enough Said
“Your words were found, so I ate them. Your words were a delight to me and the joy of my heart. For I am called by Your Name, Adonai-Elohei-Tzva’ot.” (Lord God of Heaven’s Army) TCJSB)
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