Do We Still Have Altars? Spiritual Worship Today

Yes, in a spiritual and symbolic sense, followers of God are called to maintain altars of worship, prayer, and sacrifice in their homes and hearts todayCE 60.2+1.

The Altar in the Home and Heart

While the physical, ceremonial altars of the earthly sanctuary are no longer the center of worship, the principle of the altar remains essential for every believerPK 684.4+1.

• The Family Altar: Every home should be a house of prayer where parents, acting as the spiritual guides of the household, erect a symbolic altar to God's worship wherever they resideBEcho December 15, 1893, par. 5+1. This involves offering the "morning and evening sacrifice" of prayer and praise, binding the family together in affection and devotionCE 60.2+2.

• Personal Consecration: The life of every child of God is to express a singleness of purpose, being ready to "bleed on the altar of sacrifice" through devotion to duty and a spirit of self-sacrifice2MR 81.3.

• The Altar of Faith: There is no act of devotion too costly to be offered on the altar of our faith, as we recognize our full debt of obligation to our Saviour2SP 383.1.

The Transition from Physical to Spiritual

The transition from literal to spiritual altars occurred as the earthly types met their fulfillment in ChristPK 684.4+1.

• The End of Typical Sacrifices: When Christ, the true sin-offering, died, the earthly sanctuary and its altars ceased to be the center of God’s worship Hebrews 9:9-12SOTB 8.3.

• The Heavenly Sanctuary: Today, our attention is directed to the temple in heaven, where Christ, our Great High Priest, ministers at the golden altar, offering the prayers of His saints with much incense Revelation 8:3-4DAR 497.1+1.

• Worship in Spirit and Truth: The early Christians were often accused of being atheists because they lacked physical temples and altars; however, they maintained a power that no pagan votary could gainsay through simple petitions in the name of ChristSBBS 36.4+1.

Warnings Regarding False Altars

We are cautioned that what we prioritize in our lives can become a "god," leading to the sacrifice of righteousness on modern, secular altarsAH 372.2.

• The Altar of Mammon: When money is cherished above the favor of God, it becomes a tyrant, and honor, truth, and justice are sacrificed upon its altarAH 372.2+1.

• The Altar of Manufactured Duties: Incessant domestic labor and the neglect of simple habits can become an altar where health and even lives are sacrificedTSDF 91.3.

• Modern Idolatry: Many in the world today are described as worshipping at "Satan's altar," choosing disobedience and the "mystery of iniquity" over the law of JehovahPH004 11.2.

Through daily communion and a life of prayer, your lips can be touched with a "live coal from off the altar," refining your ideas and enabling you to do a great work for God in your home and community8MR 79.1+1. May you always be "ready for either"—the weary furrow of labor or the sacrifice of the altar2MR 81.3.