Why does a Lutheran Church have a crucifix above the altar? I thought we focused on the living, resurrected Christ?
Recently, the above question was posted on our Facebook page. It is a good question, and one I assume many of you have asked yourselves over the years. I will admit seeing a crucifix hanging above our altar is a bit strange and startling; in fact, to some visitors, it might even be off-putting. It’s the first symbol, which catches your eye upon entering the sanctuary. It’s also the focal point throughout the entire Divine Service. So why did we, as a congregation, choose a crucifix (i.e., displaying the bodily corpse of Christ) rather than a decorative, ornamental cross? This question could be answered rather plainly by stating the crucifixion of Christ will always be the greatest display of God’s love for us sinners! After all, you need look no further than the words of St. Paul, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). However, let us explore further the nature of the Church and the very foundation of our faith.
According to our own Lutheran teachings, the one holy Christian Church on earth exists for the proclamation of the Gospel. The Gospel is to be preached throughout the world in its purity and its entirety. And what is this Gospel message? St. Paul provides the answer:
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:2-5).
Every sermon, every lesson, every instance of instruction should be an elucidation of the Gospel. In fact, every aspect of the Church―her architecture, art & furniture―should bespeak this powerful message and provide unspoken witness to the central theme of the Gospel: Christ and Him crucified! To that end, the crucifix over our altar serves to draw our attention to the essence of the Gospel. Each Sunday, our physical senses are greeted with the image of the Gospel hanging directly in front of us. Before we ever hear the Gospel proclaimed to us, we see the Gospel proclaimed before us!
According to our Lutheran teachings, the one holy Christian Church on earth exists for the administration of the Sacraments (Baptism, Lord’s Supper). Our life together is sacramental. We are created, shaped, formed, and held together in the one true faith by means of these powerful mysteries. But why are these Sacraments so powerful? In brief, they spiritually connect us to the mystery of Christ and Him crucified! Consider the nature of Baptism. In and through the waters of Baptism, we pass with Christ through His suffering and death into His glorious resurrection (Romans 6:1-4). Consider the nature of the Lord’s Supper. Each time we partake of Christ’s true body and blood, we proclaim His death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26). Thus, the fruits of the cross are the essential ingredients of the Sacraments, for from Christ’s pierced and riven side flowed blood and water (John 19:34).
In the Gospel of John, Christ likens Himself to a Door (John 10:7). This is a fitting image upon which to conclude our discussion. The very cross itself provides the entranceway to immortality as we pass through our own deaths into resurrection life. The death of Christ upon the cross operates both as the portal into eternal life, as well as the very means by which we are transported. And each time we gaze upon the crucifix, we are confronted with the morbid dilemma of our own sins, and the eternal remedy in Christ Jesus, our Lord. I pray this short explanation provides you with some clarity regarding our decision to display a crucifix in our sanctuary.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeremy H. Mills
Sola Scriptura. Sola Fide. SOLI DEO GLORIA. Sola Gratia. Solus Christus.