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Cartoon from “toothpaste for dinner”

“People committed to being cool do not trust each other. They’re cynical, skeptical and suspicious of one another. Cool people tend to look at each other with derision and worry that someone else might soon assume the crown of cool. Thus, a definite sense of withdrawal and removal goes along with hipster relationships; they only let so many people in and those who do get in are allowed only limited access. Cool people tightly guard the inner sanctum of their hip cachet. All of this bodes ill for Christians who are called to put away all malice, deceit and envy and rather be  ’harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit’ (1Peter 2;1; 3;8).”

The above quote from Hipster Christianity came to mind yesterday in Church when we read & heard a sermon on James Ch 2.

“For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing……..”

………..and, like always its the done thing to say ‘good sermon’ or ‘that was powerful.’ It really was though!

The sin of partiality – as dealt with in James Ch2 – whether in the name of what’s ‘hip & cool’ or in the name of good old ‘twisted judgmentalism’ is a vile trap we all manage to fall into often enough. I need to work on it – so do you!

Thinking I am better than, cooler than, smarter than, Holier than, wealthier than etc. We all do it!

“It’s hard to deny yourself or take up any cross daily when you’re chained to the shackles of hip”

“Christian hipsters cringe at mega churches, altar calls and door-to-door evangelism. They don’t really like John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart or youth pastors who talk too much about Braveheart. In general, they tend not to like Mel Gibson and have come to really dislike The Passion for being overly bloody and maybe a little sadistic. They don’t like people like Pat Robertson, who on The 700 Club famously said that America should “take Hugo Chavez out.” And for that matter, they don’t particularly like The 700 Club either, except to make fun of it. They don’t like evangelical leaders who get too involved in politics, such as James Dobson or Jerry Falwell, who once said of terrorists  that America should “blow them all away in the name of the Lord.” They don’t like TBN, PAX or Joel Osteen. They do have a wry fondness for Benny Hinn, however.

Christian hipsters tend not to like contemporary Christian music (CCM) or Christian films (except ironically), or any non-book item sold at Family Christian Stores. They hate warehouse churches or churches with American flags on stage, or churches with any flag on stage, really. They prefer the term “Christ follower” to “Christian” and can’t stand the phrases “soul winning” or “non-denominational.” The could do without the weird and awkward evangelistic methods including (but not limited to): sock puppets, ventriloquism, mimes, sign language, beach evangelism and modern dance. Surprisingly, they don’t really have that big of a problem with old-school evangelists like Billy Graham and Billy Sunday and they kind of love the really wild ones like Aimee Semple McPherson.”

from Hipster Christianity by Brett McCracken

Ahem! Guilty as charged on most of the aforementioned….

I wonder do I have actual opinions about the things I “tend to not like” or “cringe” at? Perhaps there is an inbuilt device in me that knows its not cool – like gaydar or a kind of kitsch detecting prophetic gift?

Maybe its just a bad attitude or an ill informed lemming-like response to peer pressure?

“It’s hard to deny yourself or take up any cross daily when you’re chained to the shackles of hip”

Read Part 1

Banana Juice
H/T Smashing Magazine

Instead of the usual conversation about why i don’t eat chicken & therefore had the vegetarian option yesterday, i managed to tell some folks about my Top Gun comment!

A while ago, we watched Top Gun again and during the Volleyball scene (see below) i innocently said “I bet this would have been awesome on the big screen.” I definitely meant the whole film, but my timing was, at best a little poor & at worst a declaration of my raging homosexuality………..(i’m kidding)

If you really want to know whats going on in Top Gun, what its really about? Check out Quentin Tarantino’s expert opinion here

I rarely wear a suit!

I rarely wear a tie, and when i do it is usually with jeans because they compliment a tie so well and i need to uphold my cool persona!

Today, i wear a suit, for a wedding. I can handle that, suits can be cool enough i guess. In some circles though, they still send out a message to those around you. In business, in some churches and in politics, they are a sign of………….well……….something, im not quite sure what!

I grew up in a well known “church denomination” who, i think, believe the suit is some kind of 4th cloth member of the Trinity. God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the suit! My issues with suit wearing probably arise from this, though i cannot blame every little fickle thing on the ‘dippers’……i really must stop doing that.

In business it is still regarded as standard practice to wear a suit, its a sign of importance, the man in a suit gets respect & attention from those around him. The man, usually me, who chooses to not dress this way, often gets mistaken for someone who has got lost and is in the wrong part of the building. The beard never helps either…….but i reckon it has been my destiny to buck the trend!

As i said, today i wear a suit………..and all around will respect me, like never before!