Pastoral Letters

The New Pulpit and the Lord’s Table

December 3, 2023 Author:Pastor Andrew Tan
You would have noticed the new pulpit and the Lord’s Table in the sanctuary. Instead of opting for a “clean and simple” design, we have chosen to use objects to symbolise theological truths. The Bible also uses objects to symbolise important theological truths. One example is the tabernacle in which the ancient Israelites worshipped. The ark of the covenant represented God’s presence. It is placed in the Most Holy Place. To emphasise the holy presence of God, the Most Holy Place is separated from the rest of the Tabernacle by a veil. This veil signified that sinful human beings cannot come into God’s holy presence. After Jesus died on the cross, however, this veil was torn. This symbolised that sinful human beings can now enter God’s presence. Hence, objects and symbols are useful. Let me explain the design of the new pulpit and the Lord’s Table (the church is grateful to God for raising gifted people in our church like that of the Old Testament Bezalel who helped to “make artistic designs” [Exod 31:4] for the tabernacle).

The Pulpit

The pulpit is big in size. You will not miss it. Its huge size signifies absolute authority. It represents the authority of the Bible because God’s word is preached from the pulpit. The Bible is our highest rule of faith and conduct. How we fulfil our daily responsibilities related to family, studies, work, friendship, ethics, personal life and public duties, all aspects of our life must submit to the authority of the Bible. The Bible also dictates what we believe in spiritual matters. “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Josh 1:7); “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:18-19). The pulpit is where the Bible is preached. The huge pulpit represents the authority of God’s word—the Bible.

The pulpit comprises several triangles of various sizes. There is variation and creativity. This represents the creativity of God’s word—the Bible. The Bible is creative enough to address every issue of life and to solve every problem in life. Hence, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). The Bible is so useful that it can equip Christians to do “every good work.” No matter how complex your problems are, the Bible can enable you to handle every life and spiritual issue.

The Lord’s Table

The Lord’s Table signifies the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’” (Matt 26:26-28). The Lord’s Table and the pulpit are similar in colour and also have similar features: a white curved piece and a triangular piece. The pulpit and the Lord’s Table are connected. The connection is this: the pulpit is where the gospel (and the word of God) is preached. But the gospel is about the death and resurrection of Christ: “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:1-4).

Thus, every time you see the pulpit, you are reminded to submit to the Bible and God’s word that is preached from the pulpit. You are also assured that if you hear and submit to God’s word that is preached every Sunday, you can handle all life issues—you will be victorious. But this victory that comes from the gospel and God’s word is made possible by the death and resurrection of your Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.