Hit Where It Hurts Most | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

Not too long ago, Covenant Church Founding Pastor Mike Hayes shared something that really hit home with me.  He explained that in Europe there were ordinances regarding the construction of buildings prohibiting any structures from being taller than the churches in the community.  It is from this idiom that the architectural concept of church steeples arose.  Even today, there are smaller villages and communities in Europe in which the churches remain the tallest buildings.  If you're wondering why this would be so important, it's because the culture at the time wanted what was considered the house of the LORD to be easily seen from anywhere in the community.  Such quick and easy visibility of the church was symbolic of GOD's presence being dominant within in the community.  GOD and His house TRULY meant something in these places, and there was a prominent place reserved in the culture just for GOD.  However, things are no longer this way in many contemporary societies.

Our nation's tallest buildings, for example, are dedicated to BIG business and BIG money.  It is not America's reverence for GOD that visibly takes center stage throughout U.S. urban areas.  Most communities are now widely known for their unique skylines filled with massive skyscrapers, which symbolize the commercial prowess of American capitalism.  These steel works of art paint a vivid picture of the USA being a place of great wealth and financial opportunity--quite the departure, I must say, from a country who has "In God We Trust" printed on its currency.  But then again, IT IS printed on money... Call me crazy, but I thought GOD desired His Word be written in our hearts.

Today is the ten-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our nation, partially resulting in the destruction of the World Trade Center's twin towers--a MAJOR symbol of America's commercial world dominance.  Not to take away from the remembrance of the countless lives lost from the September 11th tragedies a decade ago, but does it not make you wonder why our National Cathedral wasn't attacked?  Why weren't commercial jets crashed into some of our country's largest sanctuaries?  I submit to you that our enemies wanted to make a profound statement about the USA by attacking what meant THE MOST to Americans.  It is my prayer that as we remember the loss of lives on today (and in the days to come), that we evaluate the prominence of GOD's presence in our lives.  As much as I'd hate to see a terrorist attack launched against my place of worship, I'd rather IT be attacked than my place of employment simply because it says something about what and WHO takes precedence over everything in my life.  Matthew 5:10 says, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  Sadly, America can't look back on September 11, 2001, and say that we were attacked for righteousness' sake because Al Qaeda wanted to hit us where it would hurt most.