In the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, a spiritually poignant moment occurred when Moses
“came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, ‘I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.’ When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here am I.’ Then he said, ‘Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ ” (Exodus 3.1-5)
As a Christian, as I prepare to enter the church and face the altar for worship and prayer, a conscious switch in mind, body and soul takes place and I become aware that I am entering the realm of the sacred.
Likewise, for the Muslim as he enters the mosque or surau; and for a Sikh as he enters the gurdwara.
For each of us respectively, the preparation for worship and prayer may take different forms but there is a physical, mental, and/or spiritual ablution involved, a taking off of our shoes, before or as we enter a place of worship. An attitude of awe and reverence is involved.
And in the same attitude in which we had entered the place of prayer and worship, we leave it to face our responsibilities in work, home and society alongside others irrespective of religious, political or cultural differences.
What about those who went to the various places of prayer and worship with fire bombs, stones, plastic bottles and cans of paint in hand? What preparations did they undertake? What ablutions did they make? How long did they stay at the place of prayer and worship?
Did they remember to take off their shoes?
With what attitude had they come? And after throwing the fire bombs, stones, plastic bottles and paint at the places of prayer and worship, how did they resume their responsibilities in their workplace, home and society? Who did they resume to work with and engage with in society?
We go to the grocers and the malls to shop. We report to our office for honest work. We go home to care for and enjoy our family. We are in Malaysia to relate to other Malaysians.
We go to church, gurdwara or mosque to pray and worship.
We teach our children and our children’s children that when they go to church, gurdwara or mosque, it is for the purpose of prayer and worship, carrying with them nothing but respect and reverence for God and their fellow human beings.
onGOHing 
NG Swee Ming
January 22, 2010
Much encouraged by what you have written.
Sometimes hard for me to understand why people do what they do – all in the name of religion.
just need to stand and pray for this land, our land
only the Lord can make that importance difference
continuing to pray
God Bless
John
January 22, 2010
I have always said, Christians are the only ones who wear shoes into their places of worship! Has Grace transcended space and time?
A Friend
January 22, 2010
Excellent points.
And Muslims begin everything they do with ‘Bismilahirahmanirahim’ (in the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful). You think the people who torched churches and threw paint and stones said that before they did it? How even more sacrilegious that is! Satan must be happy.
christiany
January 23, 2010
I have always said, Christians are the only ones who wear shoes into their places of worship….
In some places they don’t – in the small town where i come from in India we leave our shoes outside when we enter.
In Penang the church i used to frequent this was the practice too, mostly because we didn’t want to spend hours vacuuming the church after service!!
jerry
January 23, 2010
Religion is something for us to fall back on ;in difficult times especially when food is scarce;and there is an earthquake;and tsunami starts;everyone is screaming for help;in lean times it became a tool for manipulation,especially by extremists,claiming this and that belong to them exclusively;when you are enlightened enough;there would be no more you or I;so nothing belongs to you or me;everything belongs to someone else;especially our physical body;its undergoing tremendous change from conception until death;every moment along the way;the heart beat about 72 times aminute;pumps 5 litres of blood through it every minute;the red blood cells come & go like nobodys thing;white blood cells growth can proceed faster and end up patient having leukemia;how petrifying;nothing can be controlled;it is the law of karma that prevails;may you all be well & happy;blessed with overwhelming prosperity;material as well as spiritual;Sadhu3!
naomi v nair
January 23, 2010
IN CHRISTIANITY GOD{ALLAH) sees the inner person ,not so the outside.you know clean on the inside.that’s what concern him most.so wearing shoes or taking off when entering church is not important.TO GODIMPORTANT IS YOU LOVE ,ADORE,PRAISE,WORKSHIP IN TRUTH AND SPIRIT.PERIOD.
KC
January 23, 2010
We should look at the substance and not the form. Forget the shoes but look at the feet!
Places of worship are but mere structures. It’s our actions that belies our religion…
By ye followers ye religion shall be judged!