Broken Altars

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 1 Kings 18:30

Every time the children of Israel strayed from God their altar would be neglected and fall into disrepair. And each time God became real to them again, and they walked in His steps, a prophet would step in and repair it. The altar was an important place of sacrifice, and a good barometer of the state of the people of God. Broken altar, broken people. Repaired altar, a restored people walking in step with His will.

We often apply the image of the altar to the state of our hearts as God’s people and that is a good way for any individual to know where they stand with the living God. A broken altar is a sign of an incomplete or wayward man or woman. When the altar of the heart is repaired and in good condition, our life will reflect the will of our Heavenly Father.

Every church has an altar area, usually where communion is served, or infants are baptised, weddings consecrated, or even funeral services are conducted. It is a holy and sanctified place where we feel God near to us in a sacred way as we make promises and vows before Him and the congregation. If the altar of the church is broken, or unused, it can be a sign of spiritual decay.

Not so many years ago, the altar in a church was also the sacred place where the repentant sinner would kneel to confess sin, and take Jesus as Lord and Saviour. For that to happen, there would have been a gospel message of salvation, and an invitation from the pastor or preacher. Many churches and evangelists did this, and used mightily in bringing many to salvation in Christ.

Is it too simplistic to make a connection between churches with an unused, broken altar, to a church of broken people needing spiritual repair? Could this also be the reason for low or no growth? Like Elijah, we may need to repair the altars that are broken, both in our hearts and in our churches. If not that, what? And if not now, when?

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14