1 "Make an altar of acacia wood for burning
incense. 2 It is to be
square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high
—its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the
horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the
altar below the molding—two on opposite sides—to hold
the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay
them with gold. 6 Put the
altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the
Testimony—before the atonement cover that is over the
Testimony—where I will meet with you.
7
"Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when
he tends the lamps. 8 He
must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so
incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to
come. 9 Do not offer on
this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain
offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement
on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of
the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most
holy to the LORD."
EXODUS 30:1-10 NIV
I am still pondering these detailed Old
Testament descriptions of how we must make offerings, what the
altar must be made of, where it must be placed. I am struck by the
realization that these specifications are no longer necessary. An
altar can just be an altar, made of wood (any kind) or not made of
wood at all.
Why is "going to the altar" such an
emotionally loaded trip? When Pastor opens up the altar do you
feel that you should only kneel before Him if something is
desperately clawing at you? What if we made our way to the altar as
an act of worship and thanked Him for all He has done in our lives
this past week, month, year? Altar time ultimately is one-on-one
time with Him, regardless of the fact that we are "up in front" of
everyone. This is the paradox of the altar call I guess. It is by
its very nature both a public and private act
simultaneously.
How do we keep our insecurities about what people
we say or think or assume about our trip to the altar in check?
Also, if we are "making the trip" to show others how connected we
are to God we have missed the boat as well?
How do we navigate the very public and private
aspects of this act of worship?
K
Ministries 
