| Each
month the editor welcomes a panel of experts to answer your questions
on subjects such as doctrine, theology, Christian living, and the
church. To submit questions to Holiness Today click
here. |
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Some of
the youth and young adults of our church have started dressing in
the gothic style that includes satanic and witchcraft symbols. Many
people in our church find these evidences of the occult intolerable,
especially in the sanctuary. We want to turn these young people to
Christ and away from this mode of dress and behavior. What is the
Christian response? |
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I believe
a Christian response would have two aspects: compassion and honesty.
The compassionate response values these young people within the Christian
community. It seeks to identify deeper issues at work within their
lives and answer those needs with the resources that only the church
can provide. There must also be courageous honesty that helps these
individuals identify who the church is. As part of the Christian community,
we must unapologetically explain what it means to be the people of
God. Within that framework, you can discuss the symbols, traditions,
and sacraments established within our identity as well as those that
detract from or disintegrate the fabric of that identity.
Simply to confront them with a “you’re
wrong and we’re
right” mentality
would drive them away from the community they are seeking. Confrontation
in an atmosphere of love and compassion and within the context of
building relationship is not only beneficial but also often necessary.
The church must be mindful of its opportunities to carry on its faith
tradition through the lives of emerging generations. The compassionate
church will be sure that relationship is formed so the message is
received in the proper way,
and the honest church will be true to its biblical identity and state
its values and purposes clearly so it does not create a community
in the throes of chaos.—tm |
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This
month’s
Editor’s Forum: |
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tm—Tim
Milburn
is director of campus life at Northwest Nazarene University. |
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