CREEDE HINSHAW: Fifteen years after 9/11

September’s calendar allowed churches to remember the somber 15th anniversary of 9/11 on a Sunday, an observance that did not go unnoticed in most churches. In the congregation where I worship, the prayers, choral and instrumental music, hymns and sermon dealt with the attacks.

I am now a retired pastor worshiping in the church I served when that cowardly attack happened on a Tuesday. Our church held a prayer service on Wednesday and immediately began planning a Sunday worship service to cast ourselves upon God and speak to deep human emotions.

We were confused, angry, despairing, bereft and numb. What would America do? How would our leaders respond? How could faith strengthen us? Where was God? What role did the church have to play? How would we address patriotism and faith? How would we balance the adoration of the Prince of Peace with a desire for revenge and military response? From the standpoint of a pastor, what scripture would one preach and what tone would be set in the pulpit?

As I sat in church last Sunday I noticed one major difference from that service 15 years ago. On that first Sunday after the attack, the church was packed to overflowing. It looked like Easter Sunday except for the grim mood. We needed to sing, to pray, to profess our faith in the face of evil, to hear the word of God proclaimed. We needed God; we needed each other.

In the tragedy’s aftermath, church leaders asked whether the church could sustain this energy. Could we appeal to seekers on a long time basis? Could we consolidate gains thrust upon us by such evil? Could we help outsiders become faithful followers?

In large part the answer was negative. To be sure, there were individuals who came to new understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus after 9/11. Probably there were churches whose enduring strength increased directly as a result of the disaster. But soon thereafter most churches and people were back to business as usual. We proclaimed that “life would never be the same” but we humans have an amazing ability to adapt to new circumstances quickly. And that’s what we did.

So last Sunday the pews in my church were filled at about average attendance. That’s not an indictment on the church pastors or staff. The services last Sunday were excellent. They couldn’t have been better planned or more moving and appropriate.

The tragedy was 15 years ago whereas we can usually sustain fervor for about 15 days, for some people 15 minutes. Those who loved the Lord and the church prior to 9/11 are still faithfully serving; those who then were more vaguely committed remain so today.

The sustaining fire of the Holy Spirit remains to be kindled in many people and congregations and the presence or absence of any assortment of tragedies doesn’t necessarily guarantee that a religious body will become more deeply committed and faithful.

Email columnist Creede Hinshaw, a retired Methodist minister, at [email protected].