"Looking Back on September 11
" Sermon Transcript for November 18, 2001 By Rev. Mike Beck
We woke up on September 11th thinking we were secure. And since then, we’ve been rethinking where our real security lies. On that Monday, we were talking about our athletes as being heroes. On September 11th we relearned who our real heroes are. On September 10th we believed you weren’t supposed to pray in school. On September 11th you would have been hard pressed to find a school where kids and teachers alike were not praying. On September 10th people were upset because they had to wait six minutes at McDonald’s. A day later, they waited patiently for six hours at the local blood bank. On September 10th we thought of ourselves as Democrats or Republicans, black or white, rich or poor, gay or straight. Since that fateful Tuesday morning, we’ve realized anew that we are all Americans.
As we prepare to gather with our families this Thanksgiving, we realize we’re not the same as we were prior to that Tuesday morning in early September. We’re still struggling emotionally with the horror of that day. I met a couple of Saturday’s ago with Cindy Winteregg and Sandi Huddleston to talk about some things here at the church. And as we were sharing together we all mutually acknowledged we were having trouble focusing. We were having trouble thinking long-term. And we realized we were all feeling that. And we also came to realize there’s a reason that we are feeling that way. We can pretend it’s not there, but the events of this past Monday morning with the plane crash in New York reminded us it is there. We’re emotionally still trying to sort through it.
Well, I want today to look back on September 11th to give thanks for the things that we have hopefully learned in the midst of this tragedy. Certainly not to give thanks for that day, but to give thanks to God for the many good things that have come in its aftermath. And as we do so, I think it will help us get a clearer picture of how we are to live each day of life that God gives to us. I’ve selected three passages of Scripture to provide a foundation for God’s Word for what I want to share with you. I want you to read them with me. First of all the words of Apostle Paul who faced persecution and hardship on a daily basis but he wrote these words of hope. Read them with me.
"We’re hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. We are persecuted, but not abandoned. We are struck down, but not destroyed." II Corinthians 4:8-9
And then I’d like us to think together of Jesus’ Words in John 16. As he gathered there in the Upper Room for what we call "The Last Supper", he said these words to His disciples and He says them to us. Read them with me.
"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble; but take heart, for I have overcome the world." John 16:33
And then the verse from Romans that is perhaps my text for this morning; and I want to make sure that you notice what it does not say. It does not say that God causes all things. If God caused the events of September 11th, I’m out of here and headed toward the golf course on Sunday morning. It does not say that all things that happen are good. The events of September 11th were one of the greatest acts of evil that most of us have witnessed in our lifetime. But what Romans 8:28 tells us, that God’s in the business of taking the worse that life has to offer and it will allow us to bring good from it. So read these words with me.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
I’ve been praying…some people are praying things come back to normal. I’m praying that we will never again be the same, as a nation and as an individual, as a result of what happened on September 11th. I’m praying that we will not quickly forget the things that that day has taught us. So I want to share some of the things that I hope we have learned from those tragic events. And sharing is, as I get a little older and a little grayer, I also am hopefully getting a little wiser. I put this message together this past week down in Tennessee on a working vacation and was very thankful for the way the Holy Spirit worked in my life to give me some things that I think will be helpful to you. But on the way down, I had stopped in Nashville to get the Botax shot that I get every three months to keep my voice functioning. Well, by the end of last week it was doing just exactly what it was supposed to do. It was getting softer and softer and softer for a little while. And so I told Dan on Friday, I said, "Dan, there is no way that I can share all that God gave me to share three times this Sunday morning." So, you get Part One, of a two-part sermon. You’ve got to come back next week, you guys from Corydon, to get the last part.
But let me at least share the first part of it. First of all I think we’ve been reminded anew that LIFE IS A PRECIOUS, FRAGILE GIFT OF GOD. And all three of those words are important. It’s precious; it’s fragile. The Green family, in these last couple of weeks, has learned how fragile life can be. It’s a gift of God to us in this world for a little while. If you’ve not memorized the words of that Gaither chorus you need to. You’ve heard me use it on several occasions. But it’s filled with profound truth. Simply it says, "We have this moment to hold in our hand and to touch as it slips through our fingers like a sieve. Yesterday’s gone; tomorrow may never come." But for all of you hearing my voice this morning, "we have this moment, today." And I think one of the things September 11th has taught us is to live in the moment for we may not have tomorrow.
In that same light I think we’ve also learned that we ought to LET OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW THAT WE LOVE THEM. When families gather for Thanksgiving this week, I’m guessing there’s going to be a whole lot more hugs. There’s going to be a whole lot more verbal expressions of our love for others. Why in the world did we ever buy in to the lie that we were suppose to be reserved and not tell those that mean the most to us how much they mean? And I think in that regard, this Thanksgiving is different. Our youngest son who lives close to us, I noticed since September 11th whenever we’re together he does not let us leave till he gives us a hug. I’ve noticed since September 11th our oldest son, whom we talk to often on the phone, has never hung up the phone since that day without saying, "I love you". We’ve learned, perhaps, that it’s okay to do that.
We’re also learning again the profound truths contained in the simple phrase, GOD BLESS AMERICA. We’ve used those words often but they have new meaning to us now. Patriotism has been rekindled. Our flag has been restored to its rightful place of honor. And we ought to celebrate that. Yes, there is an American flag ordered for the front of our sanctuary. There’s a big one ordered now for a flagpole outside. But have any of you tried to order a flag since September 11th? You get one of these nice acknowledgements in the mail. "We have received your order. It is on back order. We’ll ship it to you as soon as we can." Patriotism has been rekindled; and I think it can be a good thing.
But we must also remember the blessings of freedom and abundance come with responsibilities. We have the responsibility to acknowledge God as a nation, to work to preserve that strong moral fabric that made this country great. Because, friends, if it goes out the window we go the same way in America as many other civilizations have gone that forgot the moral foundations for our land. We have a responsibility to follow the Biblical mandate to pursue justice for all persons in God’s world. I think we in the evangelical community often forget some of the words Jesus said when He announced at the beginning of His ministry. He said, "I come to liberate the captives, and to set the oppressed free." As I’ve watched the news from Afghanistan, do you know one of the things I’m celebrating the most? I’m celebrating the liberation of women in that country who have been oppressed and held down in very unhealthy ways for the last several years.
As we think about "God Bless America" we need to pray for our national leaders for wisdom and courage to deal with issues in the Middle East that are very, very complicated. Israel is a friend and ally. But if you know your history, you also know that on many occasions the Jews have been just as oppressive to the Arabs who also have a Biblical claim to that land than the Arabs have been to the Jews. We must pray for Colin Powell and the President for wisdom and courage for the issues that a lot of people are dealing with are right there at the foundation of our faith.
I had the privilege of listening to a couple of Bill Hybels sermons following September 11th. Bill’s the pastor at Willow Creek. In the second sermon he shares about being invited by the President to the White House along with other religious leaders to share their perspective. And most all of our religious leaders have been saying the same thing. Where evil exists it must be eradicated. Justice must be sought. But Bill Hybels said, "When I had a chance to share with President Bush I reminded him as a Christian of this. You pursue justice. But the minute you move in to revenge, you’re just as bad as your enemy." Eradicate evil; pursue justice, but justice with mercy.
Pat, I thought it was so appropriate, the text for Bill’s memorial service, the words of the prophet, Micah, in the Old Testament. And in this time of crises, we need to hear them again. The prophet Micah over two thousand years ago said, "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly…to love mercy…to walk humbly" (not arrogantly) "with your God." Micah 6:8
And then while I was down in Tennessee this week my buddy Allen brought me a videotape of Bishop T. J. Jakes. John, you’ve probably…and some others…have heard him at Promise Keepers. T. J. Jakes is a phenomenal black preacher in Texas. His congregation numbers 15,000 on Sunday morning. And he said this and I thought it was so profound. Hear me carefully. He said, "Osama Ben Laden sought to bring America to her knees. But he forgot one critically important thing. When America goes to her knees she finds the source of her strength and greatness!" And one of the things we can be thankful for is the events of September 11th have brought us as a nation again to our knees--and not in weakness, in strength.
And then the last thing I want to share today is WE’VE LEARNED THAT IN LIFE THINGS OFTEN DON’T MAKE SENSE, even for the Christian. Now, perhaps that seems like a strange thing for the preacher to say. You come to church for the preacher to give the answers! And now the preacher’s just said even for Christians life often doesn’t make sense. But as I thought about it this week, those of you who know your Bible well, I would urge you to think from Genesis to Revelation as you read the stories of the great persons of faith in the Bible you’ll find almost without exception that they are living out their faith while they are trying to understand all the stuff around them that doesn’t make sense. They are clinging firmly to God as they live in a world where things don’t make sense. Friends, I want to suggest today that our faith is best hammered out in the nasty stuff of life and in the midst of our unanswered questions and yes even in the midst of our fears.
Well, I’ll give you a preview of three points of next week. I want to talk some about the reality of evil. I want to talk about the capacity for good that we have seen and I want to talk about the source of our security. So I hope that you will be here.
We’re going to close the service of worship today in celebration and in hope. For in the midst of this time and trial of our nation, we still are called to count our blessings. That’s what your note of praise that you wrote earlier in the service is all about. And if you will allow me just a moment of a personal privilege, I want to tell you what’s on my note. I give thanks to God today for serving with such a great staff here at Grace. It is fun to come to work, to be with Dan, with Sandy and Donna, and Rose and Sherri and Steve and Deanna and Sarai. And I realized in the last service I left out, Leland and Dan and John and Julie. It’s fun to work with those folks. A lot of people don’t enjoy that blessing.
But, Pat Burton back here who just lost her husband this week, I had a note of personal thanksgiving that came out of that memorial service, Pat. I wouldn’t have missed it. At the beginning of the service, for about two minutes my ego got a little bit out of balance because, Pat, I watched the Cabinet members file in and take their place on the front row and for a moment I was thinking, "You were suppose to be standing there with them." And then, Pat, I looked around. Over on my left was Dan and my Dad. And in the row behind me was Charles Hutchinson, whom I admire so much. And seated over on my right was Charlie Tyler and Ken Forbes. And then I looked around that room at the other retired clergy and the lay people of this church and I said to myself, "I get the great pleasure of ministering with them." I looked back up at the front row and I said, "You know what they get to do 85% of the time, they get to try to solve problems of which there is no solution." And then I got to thinking of this great church and I say this sincerely. To pastor in a church that is showing to United Methodists that with our tremendous diversity theologically, age-wise and in just about every way, we’re showing how a very diverse congregation can be united in Jesus Christ. We’re showing the denomination that you can turn around at 9:30 and worship God with pipe organ and classic hymns and turn around at 11:00 and break out the drums and the guitars to allow a different element of people to worship in a way that’s beautiful to them. On Friday I looked at all the retired folks that were there at the United Methodist Community and gave thanks to God for being their pastor. But then I thought of all the young families here at Grace. The children. The persons that through ALPA and other ministries are coming to know Jesus for the first time as their Savior. And I said, "Thank you Lord for giving me the privilege of pastoring this kind of church."
So we’re going to count our blessings this morning and you bring your cards forward. You’re also going to bring forward your stewardship commitments for the coming year. And don’t minimize the importance of that. When you lay your stewardship commitment there in that plate, you’re saying no matter what’s going on in the world, we’re carrying on the "kingdom" business. It’s probably more important than ever!
Some words of instruction: We’re going to let you physically come forward this morning because whenever we worship just as a spectator we haven’t truly worshipped.
Because if you understand worship at all, you understand "worship" is an active verb. It involves you doing something—clapping your hands, raising your voice in song, lifting your hands, praying in unison, or this morning, stepping out and bringing your note of praise and your commitment before the alter in worship and in love. We’re going to sing, "Count your Blessings" as we do and I’m going to invite you as we stand to sing it, come starting in the front. Come down; put your notes and your cards here, return by the side aisle. Let’s stand and sing in worship now together.
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