I feel led to respond to the letter by the Rev. Dayne Massey in last week's edition of The Citizen regarding the recent Hooter's controversy.

Let me first say that I mean the Rev. Massey no disrespect in my comments. In fact, I had the opportunity to attend the Rev. Massey's church several times in our search for a home church some time ago when we moved to the area. While we eventually chose to join another church, I have the utmost respect for the Rev. Massey and would hope that my words would not appear to mean otherwise. While I know his heart is in the right place, I was disappointed in his take on this issue.

A few weeks ago, while attending my home church (New Hope Baptist), our pastor delivered a challenging July 4 message that spoke to many hearts. Recent Supreme Court decisions (ban on school prayer, for instance) and other political events brought home the fact that the very basic and core values that our great nation had been founded on have been stripped away, one by one, by a society that has become so corrupt that “right” and “wrong” have now become relative terms.

We as Christians have sat idly by, “asleep” and “comfortable” as unborn children are routinely killed, sex has been allowed and acceptable as a means for selling products, and even Christian schools hosting a public school's team cannot open their football games with a word of prayer. Our nation like many before us, is on the verge of total moral meltdown. The Rev. Avant challenged us as Christians to wake up, speak up, and stand for what is Godly, moral and right, before it is too late.

Not two weeks later we learned of the very quiet plans to open a Hooters restaurant in our own backyard. We all had to make a decision. Should we allow a business that obviously uses sex to sell its product into our community, or should we speak up, regardless of the ridicule and criticism we would face? We chose to stand up for what is right and good. We knew we'd receive ridicule in the opposition, but, like many others before us, we did what God led us to do.

The Rev. Massey believes that in so doing, we are attempting to “create or preserve some kind of Christian utopia, where we stand up for God and keep the sinners out.” Well, here is where we differ.

While Christ loved the sinners, and actively sought them out, He never once tolerated sin. We as Christians should reach out to sinners, yes. But does this mean we should search out, welcome and even lobby for places of business that are clearly ungodly? Should we as Christians encourage adult book stores to move to our neighborhood? Should we ask gay clubs to come to our neighborhoods so that we can witness to the sinners? Clearly not.

We at New Hope, and many other churches in our area, have actively encouraged people from all walks of life, race, and yes, sexual orientation to come join us. This effort is not about keeping the Hooters girls, or anyone else, away from Fayetteville. It's about trying to stop a business that uses sex and lust to sell its food. (Do people really go to Hooters just for the food?)

We look forward to reaching the lost. That is, after all, our purpose and mission. We just do not believe we need to idly stand by as these types of businesses attempt to set up shop in our neighborhood. As the Rev. Massey himself says, the Bible commands us to go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone. It doesn't say we should actively bring “the world” and its sin to our doorstep in order to reach these lost folks.

The Bible does say that we must “be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith. “(1 Peters 5:8-9a). This passage indicates an assertive stance against the adversary's operations. Because of the devil's aggressive hostility, Christians must be spiritually alert, not only to withstand his attacks, but in prayer and spiritual warfare opposing him. This is our intent in opposing this business.

The Rev. Massey alludes to the passage in the Bible where Christ drove out the pharasaic money changers from the temple (Mark 11: 15-19). Old Testament Law required people to sacrifice animals to God in order to be forgiven of sin. Many were very poor and had to spend all they had to purchase a dove or a lamb for this sacrifice. Many wicked merchants saw this as an opportunity to sell animals for sacrifice, at inflated prices, to earn a handsome profit.

Was this “legal?” Yes. (No doubt it would have passed through the “planning commissions” and “town councils” of that day). Was it morally right or godly? Obviously not. How did Christ react to this? Did He encourage this as an opportunity to reach these sinners, and ask them to return? No. Quite the contrary. He overturned tables, grabbed a whip and drove them out of the temple.

Yes, there is a place for righteous anger and standing up for what is right. Did this win Christ any favor or help him win any popularity contests? Definitely not. In fact, this was just another event that angered the Pharisees and eventually drove them to seek for, and receive, the death of Christ. Popularity didn't matter then, and it still doesn't matter now, as long as we stand up for what is right and good.

Rev. Massey, we all share the same commitment to reaching the lost. We don't however, need to bring the sins of the world to our town in order to have the opportunity to do it. We as the body of Christ must awake, rise up, and stand up for what is Godly and right, no matter what the cost. We can no longer afford to try to appease society or be “politically correct.”

Should we succeed in our efforts to stop Hooters from coming to Fayetteville, our mission field is still as great as ever. Should our efforts fail, I look forward to seeing brother Massey and others at Hooters' front door, witnessing to the lost.

Dave Buck

Tyrone

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