An answer to a very good question!

A few days ago, I went outside after our Wednesday evening service to find an abundance of kids on the playground.  At the same time, the music began to play from our new steeple.  One of the kids looked up at me and said, "Pastor Fuller, can I ask you a question?"  Then she went forward with her question and said, "What does that new steeple we put on the roof a couple of years ago stand for?"  I gave her the meaning and she was very satisfied.  However, after I thought about it, I realized that so many people really don't know what the steeple really stands for.

The origin of the steeple came from the idea of military watchtowers.  In AD 600, Christian churches began to adopt the military watchtower theme on their buildings to symbolize and set apart their meeting houses for worship and prayer.  The idea of the steeple had a three fold purpose: First, the steeple (with a cross at the tip of the spire) symbolizes that the church recognizes the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and that He is to be lifted up above everyone and everything else.  This is the reason that the steeple is higher that typical buildings in a community.  Second, the steeple symbolizes that the church is a lighthouse for everyone to find hope and help in the midst of trials, difficulty and hardship.  This is why many steeples, including ours at Southside, have a light that shines at night to show the community that there is light in the midst of darkness.  Finally, the steeple points toward Heaven to show that the goal of the church is for everyone in their community to come to faith in Christ and go upward to Heaven when they die.

As we think about the history of the steeple, lets recall that fun little saying that we learned years ago as children.  "Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the door, and there are all the people."  This is a saying that my son Paul loves to say several times every day. 

At Southside, we are blessed to finally have a steeple after so many years.  I will never forget that beautiful day that it was erected.  As it was put in place by the crane, you could see the tears begin to flow as many in our church watched this event.  Although a steeple is simply a symbol, I think it is a good symbol to have.