Christians, for various reasons, there is a temptation in every generation to let the world influence the holy pulpit meant for proclaiming Christ. However, the purpose of the gathered church is clearly defined: to be a herald of God’s truth.
The Church is an embassy of heaven.
How should one view the function and gathering of Christ’s church? I think if we observe what Scripture says about New Testament believers and their coming together, the church is not merely a gathering of people. The church gathers as an embassy of heaven, representing God’s kingdom on earth. Imagine an embassy in a foreign land. It has a unique and specific purpose to carry out the plan of the nation’s leadership. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, a member of a local church, and a follower of the Scriptures, I want you to know that our message is urgent. The local church stands uniquely in a position as an outpost of eternal life for a dying world. As ambassadors for Christ, the pulpit exists as the platform from which his message of salvation and truth must be proclaimed. This holy purpose should not be watered down or distracted by agendas of lesser importance. I contend that the pulpit must and shall remain guarded, for the mission is far too important.
The Church is unique.
When the church gathers together, something supernatural happens—God meets with his people. This holy assembly is where each believer is part of a great temple that God is building—a living entity of worshipers. The Apostle Peter beautifully illustrates this: “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5, ESV). Not only do we embody the Spirit of the living God, but Peter goes on to further define the church’s identity. He writes, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV).
The collective church’s divine order could not be clearer here. When we gather, we are to “proclaim his excellencies.” There is no passive or apathetic way to accomplish this task. Instead, this must be accomplished intentionally and wholeheartedly with the full consideration of the weight of the gospel we preach. The pulpit is the place where this holy message is proclaimed. Martin Luther called the pulpit “the throne for the Word of God.” This is not a space to be shared with entertainment, opinions, or politics. Therefore, Christ alone is to be exalted from the church’s platform, and the pulpit is where calls for obedience to him are to be heralded. So guard it passionately. We simply dilute the message to the unknowing world when we share this space with lesser messages, and any other message for any other purpose is a conduit of distraction from God’s glory.
The Responsibility of the Church
How do church leaders guard the lectern from which this holy moment happens? I want to echo the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor of a growing church. “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching… Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:13-15-16, ESV).
So I ask fellow Christian ministers, why is devoting ourselves to Scripture the emphasis in this text? The answer lies in the belief that Scripture alone is the rule of our faith and practice. Preaching the Word of God is our unique responsibility, and only by the good news of Jesus Christ will a sinner pass from death to life, from sinner to saint, from alienation from God to adoption by God, from aimlessly wandering to following Jesus.
Apart from the Word of God, what are we but motivational speakers, entertainers, or mere communicators of ideas that fall short of promoting devotion to Christ? When Scripture is not the sole focus of our church platforms, we forfeit opportunities to experience profound moments of seeing God create true and lasting change. Equally unfortunate, we confuse our unbelieving neighbors by presenting a message that is not our King’s message. Thus our churches become rogue embassies, and we become ambassadors of our own kingdoms.
Richard Baxter once said, “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” When we stand behind the pulpit with the Scriptures laid open before us, something greater than anything else is happening. So guard the pulpit with haste, and be careful to forbid any other message to take its place. Do not allow anything or anyone to rob God of his glory or distract from his truth. The pulpit is a sacred space, and only the Word of God is worthy to fill it.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
