The Global Conversation

I wrote about this subject to my blog. It's from the point-of-view of a 18-year-old Finnish Christ-follower. Feel free to check out and comment: http://christandstuff.blogspot.fi/2013/11/what-is-our-generations-model-of. html.

I think the most significant point about the "Hipsters" is that they are evangelical Christians who are trying to reclaim their faith while repudiating the evangelical culture they were raised in. from the point of view of young people who are faithful Catholics, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, etc who were not raised in evangelical culture, the "hipsters " are trying to hard to be cool. Whether or not these congregations can draw in the unchurched in addition to the dechurched, or whether they are a way station to being unchurched is up for grabs. For now they are an extension of the youth group or college ministry the "hipsters" came from. Soon this style will pass and will seem just as outmoded as megachurch worship is to many of us who outgrew "light rock" and arena concerts by the time we turned 30.

I think this somewhat over-generalizes hipsters. And as soon as you start creating a list of things to do, you risk legalism... do what comes from the heart, and persue the hearts of others. Just be real, real with yourself, God, others, and that helps them to be real with you :)

I think McCracken is a little bit cynical in thinking that these folks are just trying to be cool and fit in. Or that this is just some sort of trend - to call it a trend is to somehow simplify it. Really, it seems to me that `hipster christianity` is nothing more than a search for authentic christianity. Good-bye plastic, mega-churches with music that doesn`t really apply to life. And good-bye programmes that seem only intended to hype people up, but not make a difference. Even good-bye to (some) traditions - ie: robes and liturgical furniture - that do not seem in keeping with authentic, life-giving, world-changing `salt and light`Christianity. Solid intellectual discussion that recognizes the complexity of life, simple faithful worship, a purpose beyond materialism, and a non-judgemental attitude is what folks are seaching for. Being real is what this is about and I for one welcome it.

A few constructive points: McCracken's assertion that Christians should be "set apart" thus hipster Christians are doing the exact opposite is weak at best. While superficially in dress and artistic taste, they may seem similar, most Christians in this situation feel wildly set apart when they actually express purpose for their life beyond these cultural boundaries. Second, McCracken brings up a much more interesting point toward the end of his article regarding church reflecting your community, yet doesn't fully explore it. All of the churches he references are in young, urban centers where this makes sense. Third, the picture of Claiborne's group shows a diverse group of believes both in age and race. How ironic to include this.

It is apparent from this article how far the "church" has moved from the Word of God. America is falling and many are too blind to see why. But the fault lies in the church and its backslidden ways! We have become so proud as a people that we can't even admit we're wrong. I'm just going to say it like it is: This whole thing is disgusting and a stanch in God's nostrils. When someone is saved, they repent which means change from their old ways. No wonder Paul said the following: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;" 2 Thessalonians 3:1-4 KJV It is evident that we are truly in the Laodicean era and fit the description that Jesus gave of th

Ultimately, Brett McCracken's article "Hipster Faith" is just another manifestation of the narcissism the church has uncritically adopted, for the phenomenon he is analyzing, and critiquing is his own extremely small demographic of young adults who grew up in the church, went to Christian colleges, and are now disaffected with the faith they were handed down. What McCracken fails to take into account is, like good missionaries, first generation believers like Erwin McManus and Mark Driscol initially set out to start expressions of the church that would connect with the people they were relating to. What they probably never anticipated are the throngs of disillusioned Christian kids their churches would attract. What Christian Hipsters are really rebelling against is not the form of Christianity they were handed down, but the substance. Growing up in a Christian subculture and never being challenged with the realities of discipleship has its unintended consequences.

I just can't believe how bad this article is! Sloppy, illogical, collapsing all distinctions into a handy cartoon. Here's just one tiny example: in the section on the intentional use of shock, the author mentions Anglicans enjoying wine, beer and cigars. News flash: they're Anglicans, and that's not shocking. I've been reading CT since 1989, and to use an old hipster expression, you all really jumped the shark with this one.

I'm sorry, I just can't take a magazine seriously when it advocates the use of Helvetica to attract hipsters, yet doesn't seem to understand that Trebuchet MS is a web font and uses it all over their front cover. Or, well, when it implies that a god exists, but that's a secondary point.

I can't tell if I was laughing so hard because this guy is stereotyping the heck out of a generational subculture or because it is so true in quite a few ways. And what does a hipster hate more than anything? Being stereotyped. Quick one liners about lectio divina and Helvetica were priceless. In fact, this article is so over the top in its systematic line-by-line analysis of hipsterdom, I think it morphs over into slight satire (maybe?) or irony (at the very least) -- which, I submit to you, that hipsters would love even more.