There has been trend for many Christians to adopt the garb of sub cultures such as the Goth, Punk, and other sub cultures. To look like Alice Cooper and Kiss, and something in between to attract people in those communities. This trend I believe parallels the Seeking Friendly Movement, which sought to make churches more appealing to the world with concert like bands, and coffee houses. The problem is that this mutation (latin Mutantar) is not something the apostles did. You do not see the Apostles James, John, Peters, or Even Paul dress up like Children of Darkness to preach the gospel through lifestyle evangelism. No they got up and shared, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:8-11).
Jesus said that we are to be light of the world, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deedsand glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). How can we shine before men if we dress like Vampires and look no different than the Seeds of Darkness? What gain is there to mutate and so confuse those who look upon us, wondering why we look no different than themselves? The apostle Paul warns us in the Old King James, “abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Sadly man translations omit appearance, which is crucial, because looking like Black Sabbath and the prince of darkness would violate that verse.
The concept that we can somehow win more to the Kingdom by looking like serpents, and shadows in the short term seems plausible, maybe some Goth, Grunge, and Grateful Dead types will come to Christ at concert where Skillet, and other Christian bands who have this look sing. But in long term it robs them of the out, that at some point when this playing at being Sons of darkness no longer satisfies, or even terrifies because of demonc often in found in these circles; that they do not have before them candles of hope, light shining from a city on hill but instead graveyards as still as the ones they listen to their death metal at. In essence this entire enterprise backfires because the mutant Christians offer no juxtaposition, no counter to the darkness, their Light is hidden under bed or bushel, and cloaked in the creepy light of Sleepy Hollow or The House on Haunting Hill. I understand some of these types do not want to be trapped in the cardigan sweater or vest, and have to look like a yuppy preppy person, but that isn’t the point. If you emulate darkness, you arn’t emulating Christ, because there is no darkness in him, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.” (1 John 1:5).
I believe the church ruins its witness when it adopts the styles and methods of the world, for Jesus told his Disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18-20). How can one be persecuted for His sake if we look exactly like the dead walking in the world? Why are Christians consorting in tombs with people, when our Savior’s Tomb is Empty and He is the Light of Life? Is not this attempt to blend, and combine darkness with light being lukewarm, “But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16).
I have heard ountless defenses of life style evangelism, that if you just hang about dark souls, and even dress as they and do some of the stuff they like, they somehow by osmosis will come to Jesus. This is not what the apostles teach, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14), “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life,” (John 5:24), “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction,” (2 Timothy 4:2), and “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” (Mark 16:15). Nowhere in there says dress like River Styx and Boatmen of Death, and rock out, and somehow that will reach people for the Lord! No, if someone says they do not preach or teach the Word, the Gospel, then beware! They are going against Scripture, and commands of Jesus and His apostles.
My intent is not to rag on those bands and Christians who think they are reaching people with their edgier ways. I simply am calling into question if this methodology is really effective and beneficial. I do not see how we can be a City On A Hill and the Light of the World if we cover ourselves up in darkness and act like its The Day of the Dead. How can this possibly be a witness? How does looking like the spawn of Satan reach people for The Savior? Why would we attempt this mutation if our Messiah and Lord tells us not to? I am asking honest questions of this and the other Seeker Friendly methods the church in our century and the one before adopted. Have we mutated so far that when Jesus returns he has to squint to tell which are his Sheep and which are Goats?! Of course He knows His Sheep (John 10:26-30), I am simply making the point of why would we want to look like sons and daughters of darkness on the eve of the Parousia, the Advent and Return of our Savior?! Amen.
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