Feb 5, 2012
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Brett McCracken has just released a new book called Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide
It makes the problem of individualism worse
It alienates people
It fosters pride and vanity
It’s too much about rebellion
For another snapshot, you can check out McCracken’s Wall Street Journal Article “The Perils of ‘Wannabe Cool’ Christianity.” He reminds us of the work of David Wells, who says:
The born-again, marketing church has calculated that unless it makes deep, serious cultural adaptations, it will go out of business, especially with the younger generations. What it has not considered carefully enough is that it may well be putting itself out of business with God. And the further irony is that the younger generations who are less impressed by whiz-bang technology, who often see through what is slick and glitzy, and who have been on the receiving end of enough marketing to nauseate them, are as likely to walk away from these oh-so-relevant churches as to walk into them.
I have a close friend that has been involved with Anglican Church Planting for the last few years. He contends that he has seen many Anglican plants go out of their way to be cool in an attempt to attract people to the church. After watching this play out for awhile, he has come to the conclusion that Anglicans are not cool - being cool or “hip” is not compatible with Anglican identity and ethos.
What do you think? Can Anglicans be cool? Should they be?
Posted on August 30, 2010
I wish that being cool wasn’t so…, well, cool. Nerdiness is also “in” so I can still count myself as somewhat cool. What could be cool is an Anglican church in Waco.
Posted by Holly Fish on 08-30-2010 at 12:30 PM
Holly, I definitely agree that an Anglican church in Waco would be quite cool - maybe in an ironic, nerdy kind of way!
Posted by Daniel Adkinson on 08-30-2010 at 06:14 PM
We’re still here in Waco, mostly nerds associated with the University. But we’re the seeds of something, sparks that can be focused into flame.
‘Pray we then, O Lord the Spirit, on our lives descend in might; let your flame break out within us, fire our hearts and clear our sight, till, white-hot in your possession, we, too, set the world alight.’
Posted by Jeff Fish on 08-31-2010 at 09:13 AM
There is, or at least appears to be, an Anglican church in Waco.
King of Glory Anglican - http://www.kingofglorywaco.org/
As far as coolness goes, if you can pull it off, great. But I try to remember that substance transcends style. Which means that nerds need not envy the cool. Each can bless the other as they share in the abiding substance of faith, hope, and love in Christ.
Posted by Fr Gregory Crosthwait on 09-03-2010 at 09:26 AM
As a follow-up, I’ve found that King of Glory doesn’t have a critical mass for regular worship. God willing, something in Waco will be one of the 1000.
Posted by Fr Gregory Crosthwait on 09-05-2010 at 01:14 PM
Jeff and Holly,
I remember with great fondness my time with your group in Waco last Fall. It was my second time to celebrate the Great Thanksgiving as a presbyter and your group was wonderful. The tour of Baylor and fajitas at your home were tremendous. Glad to hear you guys are still faithfully at work in Waco.
In Christ,
Daniel+
Posted by Daniel Adkinson on 09-07-2010 at 08:21 AM
I looked over the Hipster Christianity site and took the quiz (ironically, of course)... I think Anglicans are cool - and everyone who wants to be cool wants to be us. We have liturgy. We have symbolism. We have cool clothes and vestments. We can drink. We have CS Lewis and NT Wright (if only Henri Nouwen would have converted…we’ll have to give one to the Roman Catholics). All in all, the answer is yes. Like James Dean, Anglicans personify cool…
Posted by Clint Kerley on 08-30-2010 at 11:21 AM