The Global Conversation

Listen, can somebody make sure my comment shows up in Helvetica? I'm worried the young people won't be able to read it otherwise. I hate to say it, but the lack of any real voices–and by that I mean interviews with these so-called Christian Hipsters–leads me to a place of detachment. Mr. McCracken has constructed a stereotype (a bogeyman, even) with whom few, if any, Christians will identify and of whom even more Christians will now be afraid. Its usefulness as a stereotype is therefore highly suspect.

It's a really well done article. He's practically spot on. He also should have quoted himself for it: this is perfect- "Why listen to more Third Day albums if Radiohead could provide me with something even more holy and transcendent?" that's it. although no one wants to be labeled a (christian) hipster. on the critique side, why did he have to use the word AUDIENCE? really? audience? people who gather to love and praise God and enjoy community are members of an audience? that word could have been avoided and should have been.

Half a decade or so late on these useless sociological stereotypes. Journalism?

an additional coment: The enemy uses devices and coercion to control people whereas God uses the awesome power of His Love to tranform us. Jesus said: "By this shall all men [the world] know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." Jn.13:35 Is this not where our main focus should be? We do not have this unconditional love without Jesus! It is all grace! Only what is truly of the Lord will remain all else will fail. I have often said that if all the organized Christian churches disappeared my faith would stand because my faith is in nothing and no other, save my Lord Redeemer and Best friend Jesus the only Christ!

Personally speaking I think organized Christianity has to evangelize and be in the world but not of it. This article begs the question: are we over compromising to fit in the world? We are called be God's instruments of transforming the world through the Gospel with the power of the Holy Spirit: the only true power able to redeem humankind through the once and for all sacrifice and victory of our Lord Jesus! Regardless of where or how we worship we need Jesus for without Him we are truly nothing! We the church body gather for fellowship (as we should) at various places and in various ways, but it is Jesus who must be obeyed, worshiped and loved above all. He must permeate everything we are and do!!! Nothing should supersede or be esteemed higher than His presence! It will be how we truly love Him enough to really be His friends that should define our faith more than where or how we gather for worship. We must beable to worship Him privately as much as corporately!

...the Apostle Peter clearly exhorts every Christian to holiness of life and conversation: God’s children ought to be holy because God Himself is holy! I am of the opinion that New Testament Christians do not have the privilege of ignoring such injunctions. There is something basically wrong with our Christianity and our spirituality if we can carelessly presume that if we do not like a biblical doctrine and choose to ignore it, there is no harm done. God has never instructed us that we should weigh His desires for us and His commandments to us in the balance of our own judgments—and then decide what we want to do about them. -A.W. Tozer

A Lower Level O God, You have taught me from my youth Psalm 71:17 There are leaders within the Christianity of our day who will surely answer for their failure to apply the disciplines of the New Testament to the present generation of young people. Much of Christianity today does not hold to the necessity for disciplines in the Christian life...of professing Christian young people. It is not my calling to assess blame, [but] to proclaim the fact that no one, young or old, has the right to come to Jesus Christ and stake out their own conditions and terms. Segments of Christianity have made every possible concession in efforts to win young people to Christ; but instead of converting them to Christ, they have “converted” Christianity to them. Too often they have come down to the modern level—playing, teasing, coaxing, entertaining. In essence, they have been saying to them, “We will do everything as you want it,” instead of Christ’s insistent word, “Take up your cross!” -A.W. Tozer

After my 30 years of ministry, I am amazed how much effort modern movements put into trends (from the most fundamentalist to the most liberal) to attract their target groups. Sadly, most ignored is the desire of Jesus Himself to have a church which is known for its love of one another & its obedience to Him personally. Without a "gimmick," churches who love one another & Christ struggle. A simple examination of the early church, however, indicates that it did not "reach out" or even "care about" the poor - it clearly was poor! It did not seek political power or social approval - it sought to be obedient to Christ. It was a society of slaves & free people (owned by the economic conditions of its day) whose connections to the world around them were only a means to introduce the non-believers to an eternal world in the dimension of God's kingdom. They dealt with both physical & spiritual reality from the viewpoint & lifestyle of Jesus; the no. 1 failure of all "trendy" movements.

Thanks for the article. I see a lot of people denigrating it in the comments. One wonders if they've had any contact with Hipster Christianity at all. I'm an ancient-hymn singing, Sufjan listening, home-brewing, liturgically worshipping graduate student and the majority of my friends would be described (though not self described) as "hipster Christians." My entire church (we are a mission/church plant) goes out for decent brews after the evening service). Brett has the lot of us pretty much pegged, down to the tattoos and tobacco. The challenges to our faith, that Brett sheds light on, are certainly real challenges and anyone who identifies with this sort of emerging Christianity should take note (I certainly am). Also, Susan, I think you should reread the article more carefully. Nowhere in the exposition is there any bitterness for not being hip (that is almost a laughable complaint, having carefully read the whole thing). Brett gives a completely fair account of this current trend.

So 20-something Christians like the same things as 20-something non-christians. Well, so what? Middle aged Christians drive the same cars, wear the same clothes, and like the same music as the middle aged non-christians around them. And the worship style at their churches was new once too. Let the young be young.