Book Recommendation: Hipster Christianity
The drive to be respected and well thought of by outsiders isn't new. And it's not all bad either. However, we must never forget that our message and our fellowship appear foolish to the world. We will never be the cool kids. We are christians.
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)
As Pastor Eric has been preaching through 1 Corinthians 1, he's referenced Hipster Christianity by Brett McCracken a few times. This is a great treatment of the topic and temptations we face as a church. And bonus points for all the research on a number of churches in Southern California.
"perhaps Christianity is hopelessly unhip, maybe even the anticool. What if it turns out that Christianity’s endurance comes from the fact that it is, has been, and continues to be the antithesis and antidote to the intoxicating and exhausting drive in our human nature for cool..."