By REV. CHUCK GRIFFITH
Religion Columnist

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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