QUESTION RECEIVED:
What is a "Christian Hipster?" How concerned should I be concerning this?
It seems they want to just be like the world.
MY ANSWER:
Hipster Christianity seems to me is how some in their late teens and early thirty's approach their faith today in a stylish way. It is easy to take shots at other generations. Dress, attitude and what you declare as important are always suspect to the other generation. One thing about hipsters, I have never met a hipster who said he was a hipster. They seem to explore any and all styles of worship. They do not often share traditional evangelical Christian views not only concerning church doctrine and practice but they want to differ on tobacco smoking, alcohol use, clothing, along with worship and doctrine. They want to be unique yet retro-traditional but with their style. Often this is in rebellion to tradition or a reaction to other established church traditions. What hipsters will suffer through, like The Jesus People of the 1960's and when all things were Gen X in the 1990's, is their search for authenticity and truth will be summed up in a fad of it's own actions. Christ is Lord of all who call on His name. We have over 2,000 years of New Testament tradition. Why would you want to throw that away. In Acts we were first called Christians. We do not need to say hazy answers like we are "Christ followers". Many weird philosophies can say they follow the teachings of Christ. We have a heritage, love it, embrace it. Love Christ, His People then serve the world. The world needs redeeming so why ape it?
This verse applies to all Christians and not just Christian hipsters.
1 John 2:15-17 (NASB) New American Standard Bible
"15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."
This book link provides info from a young man with solid academic conservative credentials that addresses what Hipster Christianity is.
http://www.amazon.com/Hipster-Christianity-When-Church-Collide/dp/0801072220
In Acts it is noted in Athens at Mars Hill philosophy and new ideas were the in thing. Yes, even the Apostle Paul had to worry about snob appeal and the "latest thing".
Acts 17:19-21 "Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Be patient. The gospel will and does work. Even some of the "cool kids" got saved at Mars Hill in Athens.
Acts 17:32 "When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others."
Hey, we are not a "cool religion". We are a bunch of redeemed sinners. By the death of the life of our God/Man Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, He paid the price of our sins. Our punishment for sin, the wrath of God, was poured out on Him at Calvary.
He received the wrath of God intended for us sinners. We, the redeemed, receive forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and eternal life in Heaven and the New Earth with the Father. We are all unworthy and do not merit salvation. Our salvation is given through grace by the life death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
There is nothing cool about humbling ourselves and confessing our filthy sins and helplessly turning to Christ. All glory is His. We are are lost, doomed and hopeless without Him. We are totally dependent on Christ and His gracious offer of salvation. The end.
My advice- be patient with the latest fad now and the ones to come.
Just love the Savior more and glory in the gospel as we know that it lasts through eternity.
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