In the news recently, there has been an item of particular interest to me. As a firefighter, remembering the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York is an iconic reminder of the brevity of life. Recently ‘Ground Zero’ has been the focus of much controversy as Muslims intend to erect an Islamic centre just steps away.
Conservative groups see a historical pattern whereby mosques are placed at sites that have been conquered as a sort of monument to victory. Their evidence seems quite strong, and the conservative-minded among us would jump at repelling such an abomination. To think that Muslims would in some way claim a victory in such despicable circumstances, placing a temple to commemorate it in plain view, is unthinkable to those who remember 9/11. Liberals, on the other hand, can be seen on television waving their banners citing freedom of religion. As Christians, we have enjoyed living in a nation that embraces the right to worship. The liberal-minded among us understand what having that right and freedom taken away could mean. Taking it away from Muslims may in fact be a short step from taking away the freedoms of Christian public worship as well. The coverage of the debate is an intriguing look into the hearts of the people of the United States as they are confronted with the realities of Islam. The media is calling this “the most contentious national debate over Islam, America and freedom of religion in the nine years since 9/11.”
Does it not seem that this move to build a mosque so close to the site of ground zero is at least insensitive, and at most a brash claim to power? The cultural clash at the heart of the debate is between a nation that is deeply religious and knows it (Islamic nations), and a nation that is deeply religious and doesn’t know it (North America).
A basic understanding of the function of the temple makes this debate clearer. A temple is a crossroads, a place where the human may somehow meet the divine, a place where the mortal can worship the object of his highest affections. If we understand temples in this way, we can understand that Islam believes something about North Americans that they themselves miss. This thing that escapes our perception is that the World Trade Center is perhaps a symbol of the greatest American temple. Listening to the sound bites from Islamic extremists shows that they, at least, see money as America’s god.
Building and destroying temples can be a very controversial thing to do. Temples are at the heart of a community, and represent the object of her greatest joy. Destroying a temple is even today considered sacrilegious. Have you ever realized that Jesus Christ spoke about the destruction of the temple? It may have been the most dangerous statement that he made. It was not sensitive to the feelings and values of the Jewish authorities, and it was a brash claim to power. It was a statement that would have him killed.
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”
(John 2:19-20 ESV)
The beauty of Jesus’ statement about temples is that he was proclaiming a better temple than the authorities could conceive of. He was speaking about a temple that still trumps the power plays of Islam, and still confounds world leaders. Oh yes, a battle for power was at stake – and religion was at the centre of the battle, just as it is today. But in this battle there is really no contest. There is no greater world power, and no victory more sure.
But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
(John 2:21-22 ESV)
As Christians, our temple is not a building. We have a person that is that crossroads for us between the human and the divine. The central point of our worship is Jesus Christ, crucified, dead and buried, and resurrected on the third day.
But let us not be lulled into thinking that there is not a battle for power going on. Let us smash the idols that would have us worship at any other temple. We have a better temple, not made with hands – but made by God for us. Let us remember this temple, may He be the primary reminder to us of our identity as individuals and as a community. May this temple be the object of our greatest desire.