Erik Guzman February 11th, 2011

I took the "Are You A Christian Hipster" quiz at HipsterChristianity.com. Here's my result…

Your Christian Hipster Quotient:
89 / 120

High CHQ. You are a pretty progressive, stylish, hipster-leaning Christian, even while you could easily feel at home in a decidedly un-hip non-denominational church. You are conservative on some issues and liberal on others, and sometimes you grow weary of trendy "alt-Christianity." But make no mistake: You are a Christian hipster to at least some degree.

Mark Graham February 12th, 2011

I walked into a large church with hipster worship…leader had the 'outfit' on, etc. The older folks were obviously miserable. The younger folks were enjoying themselves. I'm tone-deaf so always waiting for the sermon to begin…wherever I attend.

I t seems that some want to meet the culture. They maybe see a desperate need to connect with youth…knowing that there are many other forces connecting with them. There would probably be less tension and 'war' with a blended focus. But in some cases maybe that would just turn out badly. The 'good intent' of all of us is so much more important than our excellence (personally, I really hope that is true

Some questions: Can we me the culture without and attitude of 'rebellion'? Can we meet (and impact) culture with our art, thinking, and discourse with a mind to lifting it up a notch (trusting results to God)?

Brett McCraken mentioned something along the lines of being who we are first and then moving out from that. What if the church sought to promote that idea? I can imagine people becoming comfortable with that whatever their age or thinking on non-essential matters. And this being a good place to draw the line in the sand. But vocational pastors and leaders seem to have so many masters (and master's programs) to answer to.

Well, this was just a discussion and survey of a church movement. And not a 'problem to solve'. Can you guys please produce less thought-provoking programs?! You're killing us.

Obed February 12th, 2011

Dude, Erik, you're hipstery-than-thou (or rather I), but only by a bit. The only thing I'm not sure about is its claim that I'd be at home in a non-denom. I think I've had my fill of those.

Your Christian Hipster Quotient:
83 / 120
High CHQ. You are a pretty progressive, stylish, hipster-leaning Christian, even while you could easily feel at home in a decidedly un-hip non-denominational church. You are conservative on some issues and liberal on others, and sometimes you grow weary of trendy "alt-Christianity." But make no mistake: You are a Christian hipster to at least some degree.

Lamar Carnes February 12th, 2011

Hipster so-called Christianity and Biblical models may be something we should examine. After listening to your interview with the particular individuals on this subject, I was thrown back into thoughts which moved me to the question "how were the prominent saints throughout the Biblical era responding to their cultures" and does the scriptures speak about these issues? In otherwords perhaps it would be great to exam people like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Judges, the Kings of Israel such as David and Solomon, the Major and Minor prophets life styles, and then progress into the life styles of the Apostles, especially the one's who wrote the inspired documents insofar as to what they did and how they reacted and lived among the culture of their day. It would seem that the Holy Spirit who was highly manifested in all of these key individuals would direct them in such a manner we could say that "this is a more correct model" to follow than any outside of their biblical era. Just because we are living some 2000 plus years past the day of Christ, doesn't mean we have to change the "life style model" that these individuals had only because of cultural changes and time progression forward. Some particular aspects of a Life style may be able to be seen and studied if someone would take the time to do so. Would it not be a interesting study? Certainly it may help those of us who are floundering around in this "maze" today!

Bruce Szwast February 12th, 2011

I see we have all the bases covered this morning. So maybe I will just talk about myself. I did not have a good Friday. A problem at work kept me from my golf practice and from a quiet amen corner where I could reflect on my week and concentrate on my dream of playing in the Masters. Well maybe in heaven.

Last weekend I had to suffer through the Waste Management Open where one hole is designated the 'trash talking arena'. Golf is a game of rules, dress codes, discipline, and appropriate behavior. Yet on one hole spectators can drink beer, boo, and make noise (the most popular viewing hole I might add). Good to blow off steam I guess. Thankfully Augusta is right round the corner, and so is heaven. Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, what a relief it is.

As I put my head on the pillow last night, I was thinking about the AM, and then I remembered ETC and what a pleasure this program is. But I must confess I have to play Solitaire while listening – it keeps my brain in my head and focused on what the issues are. Solitaire is a game of chance somewhat but it has rules and some discipline – especially the computer version, one cannot cheat, but who would want to.

I have been looking for the creator of Solitaire without success. So I made up my own hero. Saul Terieski, a Polish mathematician who designed the game to teach the disciplines of math skills to his students. Of course the wife of 'Soli' complained that he could not 'tear' himself away from such a silly game. Light bulb!

Tomorrow we will go to a Church where they have a quiet service, traditional music, contemplative sermon, thoughtful people, and a Bible Study from the Bible (what a novel idea). Maybe I am in Heaven already. Of course after a quiet and reflective Sunday the chaos starts all over again. Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, what a relief it is.

Bill February 14th, 2011

Loved the show…I took the quiz and basically came out as a Christian Dork…55/120. It said i'd probably go to a church where people where Hawaian shirts…I was even thinking about buying one until it said that…screw Tommy Bahama's now.

I think the question that killed me was saying i enjoyed a John Macarthur sermon . I know the OLD WHITE GUY doesn't like him, and I know Macarthur can be a bit pricky at time, but he's not so bad is he?

What I think saved me from the abyss was picking NT Wright and Tim Keller as well. So there!!! I am tragically unhip and will be eternally jealous of those who are. What's really sad is that I'm still in my early thirty's. IT can only be downhill from here.

West III February 14th, 2011

I'm past 50 and this was my score.

Your Christian Hipster Quotient:
78 / 120

High CHQ. You are a pretty progressive, stylish, hipster-leaning Christian, even while you could easily feel at home in a decidedly un-hip non-denominational church. You are conservative on some issues and liberal on others, and sometimes you grow weary of trendy "alt-Christianity." But make no mistake: You are a Christian hipster to at least some degree.

Greg February 18th, 2011

Hipsters: I respectfully think the conversation missed the mark (great show as always though). I am convinced that the Biblical approach is to communicate a countercultural message in a culturally relevant medium.

I heard the guest seeming to waffle on cultural relevance saying we need to be careful but not defining specifics. I am convinced that this is endemic of a problem that I often see within the church where we confuse the message for the medium.

When God sent His son to be incarnate, to take on the form of a man, that was the ultimate example of cultural relevance. Christ could have presented us the father ("Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." John 14:9) in any form that He so chose. He could have appeared in a ghostly metaphysical form, or in some strange alien incarnation perhaps akin to what Isaiah saw with the seraphim in chapter 6).

But Christ took on human flesh because we could best relate to God in such a form. Acts 2 is another example of God using a culturally relevant medium to communicate His truth. The Spirit of God testified of His great works in diverse languages to reach a diverse audience.

Paul said to the Jew I become like a Jew and to the Gentile, he becomes like them (I Cor 9). The medium can be style, "think of channels on a t.v. or radio", language and presentation. It is like silly putty in the Christ followers hands. We are Biblically free to form the medium in any way that reaches the listener as long as we don't compromise the message.

OTOH, the message of God… now THAT is countercultural. It is counter cultural to preach that if you want to gain your life, you must lose it for Christ's sake, if you want to lead, you must serve and if you want to live, you must first die.

This message can be preached in the "hipster" style to reach a people group that are best reached by "hipsters". It can be preached by "non-hipsters" to reach "non-hipsters". The key is to always make a distinction between the message and the medium lest people confuse following Christ with being cool, or contemporary or traditional worship music or with speaking in the King James.

There isn't anything necessarily wrong with doing those things, but they are not inherent to the countercultural message of Christ.

This is just my opinion, but I have had to face these issues as a worship leader who has often been commissioned to "wage the worship wars" to engage churches in reaching certain people groups….

WordVixen March 2nd, 2011

My quiz result: "Your Christian Hipster Quotient:
51 / 120

Low CHQ. You probably belong to the purpose-driven, seeker-sensitive, Hawaiian shirt-wearing Christian establishment, even though you are open to some of the "rethinking Christianity" …stuff. You seem to like edginess in some measure but become uneasy when your idea of Christian orthodoxy is challenged by some renegade young visionary who claims the virgin birth isn't necessary."

They are so wrong. I'm the one that claims the virgin birth isn't necessary (for salvation- obviously it's necessary for prophetic fulfillment). And I'm definitely not in the Purpose Driven camp! But I think it's my punk/goth tendencies that screwed me. Same disdain for society- totally different way to play it out.