Dear Had It:
The lack of etiquette is not restricted to
just the youth today! There has been a
general decline in etiquette, manners and
civility visible in people of all ages.
Societal changes certainly play a large
part in this, regularly presenting the
"me�first" attitude as normal. Just take a
close look at many of the characters on
television today; it doesn't take long to
see that being nice is not always valued
or promoted.
The other main factor here is that some
children and teenagers honestly have no
idea what manners are, and it is largely
because they have not been taught. The
responsibility for this lies squarely with
the parents. If we don't teach our children
these things, who in the world will? We
also have to accept that even with the
best teaching, the brashness of youth,
peer pressure and poor modeling in the
media sometimes outweighs the best
home�based instruction. In the end, the
best way to receive mannerly behavior is
to give it, knowing that good manners
never requires an apology whether re-
ceived graciously or not.
AUNT SALLY is happy to provide free personal advice and opinions on a variety of subjects.
Need help with relationship problems, spiritual questions, parenting situations?
Ask Aunt Sally!
Send your questions or comments to Aunt Sally via email at [email protected] or by
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Questions appropriate for printing in the
War Cry will be answered through this column.
Dear Looking:
Many surveys, studies and statistics point
to a continuing decline in the number of
Americans who see themselves as "fre-
quent church attenders." The downward
slide began in a significant way during
the 1960s, an era of social and political
turmoil when it seemed everything Amer-
ica stood for was challenged. Many
events then and in the years since have
caused us to lose confidence in our insti-
tutions, including the church.
Factor in the many cultural changes that
have taken place, such as secularism now
replacing God as the center of all things
and the false idea that salvation is not sole-
ly through Jesus Christ or the only way to a
relationship with God and entrance into
Heaven. Many believe
that they can create
their own type of spiritu-
ality that has nothing to
do with an actual
church.
Of course, the church
must take some respon-
sibility. In some places,
the biblical teaching has
been weak, unbalanced,
watered down. The
Bible has been replaced
with a "Dr. Phil" psy-
chology lecture. Some-
times the overemphasis
on individuals being the
church has left the im-
pression that there is no
need to be a part of a
congregation, despite
God's instruction to us
to keep meeting to-
gether, in community,
with other believers.
The people who leave
must take some respon-
sibility. What was their relationship with
Christ, that they would decide against be-
longing to any community of believers?
In answering the first question, the sec-
ond question is also answered.
What has not changed is God's view of
the church. Believers regularly meeting
together in worship, discipleship, fellow-
ship and outreach is still God's model.
And it continues to be a key part of His
work in our world.
On an encouraging note, The Salvation
Army in the United States continues to
experience steady, if slow, growth. From
1995 to 2010, 24 new corps were opened.
The trend is moving upward, causing us
to have hope that more people are willing
to join with us in worship.
Dear Aunt Sally:
Why are so many people leaving
the church, knowing that without
God, they don't have a chance?
-- Looking for Answers
29
The War Cry | DECEMBER 2012
Dear Aunt Sally:
In our country it seems that our
youth do not have any etiquette.
Why do you think this is so?
-- Had It With Rudeness!
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