A Post-9/11 Reflection

Fifteen years ago today America was radically changed by the insidious attacks of Islamic radical extremists. Over six thousand American souls were lost in what has been described as the worse attack on American soil in our nation’s history. 

Those of us who remember that first 9/11 have a deep emotional ties to that day. 

I recall those of an earlier generation talking about Pearl Harbor. I now understand what they emotionally experienced on December 7 of each year. They never forgot and nether shall we.

But is not forgetting enough?

America was changed in the twinkling of an eye. The very young presidency of George W. Bush was altered in ways that not even he could have imagined; none of us could have imagined such a thing happening on American soil. 

A friend of mine called me just after the news broke of the attacks on the twin towers and she said: 

“America will never be the same.”

Little did I know how right she was.

Fifteen years ago today I was in the early months of my tenure as the pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Central Florida. I have often wondered what my fourteen and half years of ministry would have looked like had it not been for 9/11. I am sure President Bush has thought the same thing about his presidency. 

Neither one of us will ever know for sure.

Being the pastor of a congregation in a post 9/11-world was not easy. It was indeed a challenge to help guide my congregation through waves of anger while at the same time teaching them that prolonged bitterness leads to a hardening of the heart. 

I discovered that attempting to live according to the peace of Christ as well as model the reconciling values of the Gospel to my congregation was much easier said than done.

It was indeed a struggle right from the start.

It was also a challenge to remain faithful to the kingdom of God and not allow myself to become overwhelmed by an invigorating sense of idolatrous patriotism. Attempting to warn my congregation of this danger was not easy especially in an atmosphere of intensifying patriotism in the days following 9/11. 

So as I reflect back to that horrible day some fifteen years ago here are some observations that may be worth considering:

One, we live in a dangerous world but we do not have to live in constant fear. It is understandable how we may be overcome with fear; in fact it is the goal of terrorists to instill fear in the hearts of their victims. If we allow fear to overwhelm us then we have allowed the terrorists to win.

Within my own Judeo-Christian tradition fear is the opposite of faith. As Christians we are called to live as people of faith rather than people of fear.

Two, religious extremism is a threat to us all. Extremism in any form should never become the dominant voice in society. As my theology professor in seminary was fond of saying: 

“Any form of religious extremism is bad religion.” 

We must remind ourselves that all faith traditions are susceptible to religious extremism and we should remain resolute in guarding against and resisting it whenever it raises its ugly head.

Three, the events of 9/11 should remind us that aggressive tribalism is an ineffective and outdated way to live in this shrinking world of ours. We cannot survive as a human race so long as we build “dividing walls of hostility” between us. 

Our shrinking world of the 21st century continues to challenge our assumptions that we can continue to exist in a divided world separated by ideological differences and hardened borders (walls). 

This morning my wife and I attended church services and we prayed as a congregation for the victims 9/11, we prayed for family members of those victims, and we prayed for all the first responders, especially those who bravely gave their lives for the sake of others. 

Perhaps more importantly we prayed for our religious leaders to provide the leadership necessary to make us all instruments of peace in such a dangerous and volatile world. 

It is the least we can do. It is important that we engage our faith in the Prince of Peace in the face of the potential dangers that threaten us in the future. 

It truly is the only way we will survive as a human race.