The Global Conversation

One thing that Brett did not address is how widespread is this movement? Is this much ado about nothing?

Josh Kelley, Pabst is king of hipster beers, fyi... I read the similar article in Relevant Magazine and was left just as unimpressed by this. Maybe I'm too close to "hipster Christianity" myself, but this article seems way too gimmicky and throws around so many labels and generalizations that sound so seemingly out of the norm because American Christianity has been so co-opted by conservative politics and lifestyles that are so far out of sync with the heart of the Scripture that anything different is new and trendy. I hope the book this is based on has a lot more to offer than stereotypes and reactionary judgments. But questions of the impact of such movements within the Church in regards to race and class are certainly interesting and of value to discuss. And yikes, I sure wouldn't want to be lumped together with Mars Hill under the banner of "Christian hipster."

Fair assessment on most parts. What I find the most interesting phenomenon in non-Hoosier churches is the utter dismissal of it as shallow and not centered enough on theology. Perhaps the rejection of the traditional American church is as much an indictment on a perceived hot and tittle christianity as anything.

An interesting assessment of what the rest of relevant church leaders more commonly refer to some brand of postmodernism. (as opposed to the vintage term 'hipster') I hesitate to comment on an article which is obvious attempt at sensationalism, but I have a hard time accepting the idea that all of Christendom should be homogenized into the same culture. Jesus said at the end of Matthew to 'go into all the world' not the let the world come into our pointy evangelical suburban stockades. Fads come and go, but the message remains the same: Jesus is for the broken. (even if they are evil enough to listen to Rob Bell and Sufjan Stephens or use Twitter) remember when Luther brought the organ from the Pub to the Church (not to mention a tune or two?) I would invite the author to become a part of a world in which real people live, rather than stand at a distance and ridicule adiaphora at the detriment of the beloved bride of Christ.

I'm so hip, I have absolutely no interest in this article.

"One of hipsterdom's positive values is its concern for justice—whether it be sweatshops or sex trafficking, water wells or finance reform. Hipsters almost always champion the cause of the underdog (immigrants, the poor, minorities) over those with power and privilege." I do not think that statement is always true. Hipsters seem to mostly champion causes that are popular in the secular media (opposition to the Iraq War and "Islamophobia"; support for amnesty for illegal aliens, gay/lesbian marriage, global warming, etc.). Far from being rebels, hipsters generally seem fairly docile and obedient when it comes to challenging the assumptions and beliefs of the secular culture they seem eager to follow. Apart from some quirky features (such as graphic sermons on sex) these hipster churches do not see very different from a lot of mainline denominations that are dying away.

In addition to the comments I made earlier, each culture has what it considers 'sin'. In many countries tatoos, for example, are not considered sinful in need of repentance by the wearer. I know a young man who did not fit in with mainstream school, church, or culture. He WAS a Christian who hung with tatooed people who were struggling to find their spiritual place, but most mainstream 'Christians' rejected them, saying 'surely they cannot be one of us'. He took his life, due to depression that was related to his rejection by the church. If the mainstream, biblical church accepted people like my friend, then there would not need to be a fad or movement for hip people to follow. BTW, I am VERY HIP and COOL (for my age, lol), and I have a hard time fitting in with mainstream Christians, but I love the mainstream church in its doctrine and practice. And, more importantly, I love the Christ who came to accept us all.

What comes across very clearly in this article is that it's hip to be against being hip, which makes his lack of hipness actually hip. Furthermore, his article is about as well researched as a Barna statistic (ohh, let's survey 100 people and make sweeping claims about the church- that's a good idea). Would really like to see this kind of garbage stop getting printed. Christians are notoriously hard on themselves and will often twist statistics to be so. BTW, don't people have anything better to do with their life than bash Mark Driscoll? Seriously, its like the Christian national pastime. I'd like to see one article that objectively explores what Driscoll is doing in Seattle, with thousands not only coming to Christ, but being more doctrinally sound than the average baptist!

If we are the body of Christ, then why are there such things such as the 'they occasionally drop the f-bomb', and also engage in behavior that can be seen as worldly and conforming to the world. I heard a lot about God but where is Jesus Christ the Savior? Where is the mention of salvation? Or is it just a group that uses Christianity as a means to gather numbers? Such as a political agenda party? We are to be set apart, while it is hard to live in this world and do that, we should at least have respect for our faith, and try to reach people for Christ, we can empathize, we can understand, but for instance,I go and volunteer at a drug rehab to have church services.We (my dad and I), read scriptures to encourage the people, they might share stories, events, but we don't go out and drink because they do. (My dad was an alcoholic).We don't go out into the bar and find these people. I've passed out gospel tracks OUTSIDE a bar during a parade. I think it's just a fad. But only God knows.

As I did some browsing through the internet I found that Hipsters (Mostly secular versions) are not liked very much and are made fun of frequently. They are often are deemed to be lazy and arrogant and demand much conformity from those who are in their subculture. If Christian Hipsters can do anything they can help to mend this attitude of arrogance and strict conformity by being counter-counter-cultural. If not they will gain very little respect and will be a very short lived movement.