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In Judaism, the template had an altar for sacrificing. But we believe our sacrifice is done.

So, what is the point of a church altar?

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Do some churches have actual altars? Or are you referring to the fact that most churches refer to the front of the church as an altar (as in "altar call")? – Eric Apr 3 '12 at 14:26
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@Eric: the latter. I don't recall ever seeing a live sacrifice in a service! – Wikis Apr 3 '12 at 14:28
We've got a great answer for Catholic churches - any answer for Protestant ones? – Wikis Apr 4 '12 at 10:55

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In Roman Catholic liturgy specifically, the altar is where the Eucharistic Sacrifice is made; i.e., Christ's one sacrifice on Calvary is made present again on the altar at each mass. The altar, in this theology, is still for performing sacrifices.

"In the New Law the altar is the table on which the Eucharistic Sacrifice is offered. Mass may sometimes be celebrated outside a sacred place, but never without an altar, or at least an altar-stone."

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01346a.htm

As the largest unified body of Christians on the planet, Roman Catholics have a large influence on the terminology we use. Note that as a Protestant I don't agree with this theology, but the term "altar" likely persists in our churches merely as a matter of "stale" terminology used by those who do not know better. Protestant theology (at least all that I'm aware of) does not allow for an "altar." The reason to have an altar is antithetical to the Protestant doctrines regarding regeneration and justification and having something that fulfills the purpose of altar (meaning that it isn't just a matter of stale terminology) is nonsense in Protestant churches.

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What do you mean by, "the altar... is still for performing sacrifices"? – Wikis Apr 3 '12 at 15:10
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Fair enough. Consider it done. – San Jacinto Apr 3 '12 at 15:31
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@wikis the sacrifice is the bread and wine which is turned into the Body and Blood of Christ and consumed by the priest and congregation. We (Catholics) call it the "Holy Sacrifice of the Mass". Protestants probably retain altars so that when our churches reunify they don't have to spend a lot of money on renovations. Eucharist doesn't mean sacrifice, Eucharist means Thankgiving. But you'll find in the OT law plenty of references to the Thanksgiving Sacrifice, not surprisingly of bread and wine. – Peter Turner Apr 3 '12 at 15:53
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@Peter I think the crux of the matter is that protestant churches do not have structures called "altars" (indeed, a survey of protestant theologians would likely show that most of them abhor this term) but what is there is referred to as an "altar" just out of tradition or ignorance as to what makes protestantism different from Catholicism. Thanks for your comment! – San Jacinto Apr 3 '12 at 15:57
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@Wikis Another and even more lengthy explanation of the Catholic understanding of the mass as sacrifice is here: newadvent.org/cathen/10006a.htm. I've submitted an edit to the beginning of this answer that employs the language used in the current official Catholic Catechism. – Ben Dunlap Apr 12 '12 at 18:02
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up vote 4 down vote

In Eastern Orthodoxy, the Altar is the type of the Altar in Heaven as described in Revelation. In the Anaphora, the Church joins in the 'One Liturgy' going on in heaven, and the Christ who offers himself once and for all becomes present in the gifts on the altar as a bloodless, spiritual sacrifice.

As a secondary note, it is traditional for the relics of Martyrs to be embedded in the bottom of the altar, following Revelation.

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up vote 2 down vote

In the church in which I grew up (a United Methodist church), we have a wooden altar in the middle of the front of the sanctuary. It serves a purpose in two main contexts in the service:

  1. The offering plates are laid on it after the offering is received, and the pastor prays over them.

  2. During communion, the bread and wine are kept on the altar, and a short rite involving breaking the bread is conducted before communion is taken by the congregation.

In light of these two things, Here are my thoughts on the altar, with the caveat that none of this is confirmed as doctrine:

The altar is an ancient religious symbol of sacrifice. I agree that the Jewish laws of sacrifice are not demanded of Christians, and in light of that alone it seems strange to have an altar any more. However, as Narnain mentions, the altar is very different now than it was then. So if it's not a Jewish sacrificial altar, what is a Christian altar?

My answer is that it's still a symbol of sacrifice, but a whole different kind - it's a symbol of Christ's sacrifice. It's an altar that has had its order filled, and we keep it as a reminder of that sacrifice. Likewise, whether they are mandated in the same way or not, Christians still make sacrifices and offerings to God, and I find it very fitting to make such a sacrifice on an altar that is symbolic of Christ's sacrifice for me.

I don't believe there is a scriptural demand for churches to contain altars, and neither do I believe that there is scripture which explicitly disallows altars. I feel like they are much more symbolic than anything, but I think there's plenty of grounds for justifying one.

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