Several

people have questioned me this past week regarding the

role of Christians in their community. The reason for

their questions was rooted in the criticism they had

received from taking a stand against Hooters coming to

Fayetteville. These are sincere people who have a genuine

desire to reach people of all walks of life yet still

have a concern about that which is best for our

community.

Should the

church influence its community for the good or should the

church reach out to the lost? The answer is yes. Yes to

both. Just because we do not want a Hooters to set up

business in Fayetteville does not mean that Hooters

girls, managers, and owners are not welcome in our

churches. The message of life and hope through Jesus

Christ is

for everyone! Evangelism is a fundamental part of the

purpose of the church. While we understand this as a fact

our thinking would be convoluted to say we should welcome

a Hooters into Fayetteville so we can reach Hooters'

girls. If you use that logic then we should invite pimps

to set up shop here so we can reach prostitutes; drug

dealers to push here so we can have more kids on drugs to

reach; invite "adult" bookstores to open here

so we can see more men delivered from pornography. If we

took this rational to its ultimate conclusion, we could

better reach the lost if Highway 85 in Fayetteville

looked liked Stewart Avenue in Atlanta. I don't think any

of us want that (though it could eventually happen if no

one ever speaks up).

I do not

believe the Church is trying to drive sinners out of

Fayetteville. I do believe that most Christians want to

be light and salt-as light we shine in the darkness

and as salt we retard the decay of society around us. We

do not have to love and accept what a person does in

order to love and accept the individual. Christians are

to love sinners but not their sin. I hope Christians will

reach out to every individual who works for or goes to

Hooters but never feel like they have to make room for a

Hooters in our community to do so. Our personal concern

for the individual does not require our public approval

of their business

Chuck

Griffith is pastor of Fayette Assembly of God, 1144 Ga.

Highway 92 South in Fayetteville, 770-719-0322. .

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