I still remember where I was when I heard the news that the first plane had flown into one of the buildings at the World Trade Center in New York City. I was in a small classroom in the engineering building at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Someone had been watching one of the TVs in the break room down the hall when the news broke. As soon as we heard the news, we all hurried down to the break room and crowded around the TV. We watched in disbelief at what was taking place. We were all saying to one another, what a horrific accident! Our immediate thoughts went to the countless lives that had no doubt already been lost and those who were still trapped in the building. Then, as we continued to watch, the unthinkable happened. A second plane flew into the second World Trade Center building. Instantly, the room went silent. No one said a word. We all knew what this meant. This was no accident. This had been done deliberately. This was at a minimum an act of terror if not an act of war.
It is hard to believe that this year we are remembering the 20-year anniversary of 9/11. In addition to the attack on the Twin Towers, a plane was flown into the Pentagon and another crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers stopped an attempt by the hijackers to fly their plane into the White House. In all, 2,996 lives were lost that day. 2,977 victims plus the 19 al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out the suicide attacks on our nation. Of the 2,977 victims, 412 were first responders. This included:
343 firefighters (including a chaplain and two paramedics) of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY),
37 police officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD),
23 police officers of the New York City Police Department (NYPD),
8 emergency medical technicians and paramedics from private emergency medical services,
3 New York State Court Officers, and
1 patrolman from the New York State Fire Patrol.
9/11 is a day that our nation will truly never forget. My family and I have had the honor of viewing first hand the 9/11 memorial and touring the 9/11 museum that have been built near where the Twin Towers once stood. I can tell you that it is truly an emotional experience. It is hard to imagine the level of terror that those men and women endured that day and the heroism of the men and women in uniform who ran into danger instead of away from it in order to try to save as many lives as they could.
We remember 9/11. We remember the 2,977 innocent lives that were lost that day. We remember the first responders who gave their lives trying to save others. We remember the countless heroes who stood in the face of terror and chose to put the well-being of others above their own. But I believe that there are some lessons from 9/11 that our nation has unfortunately forgotten.
As soon as the events of 9/11 happened, there was a nation-wide call for prayer. There were pleas for churches to pray. Church attendance skyrocketed. America was united against a foreign enemy. For a period of time, we appeared to truly be “one nation, under God, indivisible.”
However, America today bears no resemblance to what she appeared to be after the events of 9/11. Today, instead of turning to God in the face of tragedy and difficulty, our nation turns to science and technology. Instead of asking the church to pray for God’s healing and blessing, our nation categorizes churches as non-essential and enact laws to try to close them down. Instead of being united, our nation is growing more and more divided today on issues of politics, race, religion, and vaccines, just to name a few.
America has truly forgotten the lessons we learned following 9/11. America has forgotten that she was established “under God.” America has forgotten that God is still in control. America has forgotten that God still raises up kingdoms and brings down kingdoms. America has forgotten that God could bring America to her knees once again. America has forgotten that the church is an essential part of not only individual communities, but also our nation as a whole. America has forgotten that the church is a place where people can find refuge, relief, meaning, purpose, healing, encouragement, peace, strength, and most importantly Jesus!
As our nation is currently reeling from a pandemic, political upheaval, and racial division, this is not time for the church to go into hiding, stay silent, and bow down to political correctness. It is time for the true church of Jesus Christ to come out of hiding, speak up for the truth, and stand up and be the spiritual powerhouse that Jesus came to earth to build! Jesus said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, KJV). When the church is on the move, nothing can stop it!
America may have forgotten the lessons she learned from 9/11 over 20 years ago. However, do not let us as the church forget who we are, who built us, and what our purpose is on earth. Let us continue to push back against the gates of hell! Let us continue to fight against the evil and demonic influence that is trying to destroy our nation and our religious liberties! Let us continue to be the place of refuge for the lost! Let us continue to be the place of relief for the hurting! Let us continue to be the place where people can still find the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ! I pray we never forget who we are and who Jesus is!
Forgotten Lessons from 9/11
I still remember where I was when I heard the news that the first plane had flown into one of the buildings at the World Trade Center in New York City. I was in a small classroom in the engineering building at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Someone had been watching one of the TVs in the break room down the hall when the news broke. As soon as we heard the news, we all hurried down to the break room and crowded around the TV. We watched in disbelief at what was taking place. We were all saying to one another, what a horrific accident! Our immediate thoughts went to the countless lives that had no doubt already been lost and those who were still trapped in the building. Then, as we continued to watch, the unthinkable happened. A second plane flew into the second World Trade Center building. Instantly, the room went silent. No one said a word. We all knew what this meant. This was no accident. This had been done deliberately. This was at a minimum an act of terror if not an act of war.
It is hard to believe that this year we are remembering the 20-year anniversary of 9/11. In addition to the attack on the Twin Towers, a plane was flown into the Pentagon and another crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers stopped an attempt by the hijackers to fly their plane into the White House. In all, 2,996 lives were lost that day. 2,977 victims plus the 19 al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out the suicide attacks on our nation. Of the 2,977 victims, 412 were first responders. This included:
9/11 is a day that our nation will truly never forget. My family and I have had the honor of viewing first hand the 9/11 memorial and touring the 9/11 museum that have been built near where the Twin Towers once stood. I can tell you that it is truly an emotional experience. It is hard to imagine the level of terror that those men and women endured that day and the heroism of the men and women in uniform who ran into danger instead of away from it in order to try to save as many lives as they could.
We remember 9/11. We remember the 2,977 innocent lives that were lost that day. We remember the first responders who gave their lives trying to save others. We remember the countless heroes who stood in the face of terror and chose to put the well-being of others above their own. But I believe that there are some lessons from 9/11 that our nation has unfortunately forgotten.
As soon as the events of 9/11 happened, there was a nation-wide call for prayer. There were pleas for churches to pray. Church attendance skyrocketed. America was united against a foreign enemy. For a period of time, we appeared to truly be “one nation, under God, indivisible.”
However, America today bears no resemblance to what she appeared to be after the events of 9/11. Today, instead of turning to God in the face of tragedy and difficulty, our nation turns to science and technology. Instead of asking the church to pray for God’s healing and blessing, our nation categorizes churches as non-essential and enact laws to try to close them down. Instead of being united, our nation is growing more and more divided today on issues of politics, race, religion, and vaccines, just to name a few.
America has truly forgotten the lessons we learned following 9/11. America has forgotten that she was established “under God.” America has forgotten that God is still in control. America has forgotten that God still raises up kingdoms and brings down kingdoms. America has forgotten that God could bring America to her knees once again. America has forgotten that the church is an essential part of not only individual communities, but also our nation as a whole. America has forgotten that the church is a place where people can find refuge, relief, meaning, purpose, healing, encouragement, peace, strength, and most importantly Jesus!
As our nation is currently reeling from a pandemic, political upheaval, and racial division, this is not time for the church to go into hiding, stay silent, and bow down to political correctness. It is time for the true church of Jesus Christ to come out of hiding, speak up for the truth, and stand up and be the spiritual powerhouse that Jesus came to earth to build! Jesus said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, KJV). When the church is on the move, nothing can stop it!
America may have forgotten the lessons she learned from 9/11 over 20 years ago. However, do not let us as the church forget who we are, who built us, and what our purpose is on earth. Let us continue to push back against the gates of hell! Let us continue to fight against the evil and demonic influence that is trying to destroy our nation and our religious liberties! Let us continue to be the place of refuge for the lost! Let us continue to be the place of relief for the hurting! Let us continue to be the place where people can still find the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ! I pray we never forget who we are and who Jesus is!
Pastor Tony L. Schachle, Jr.