Hipster Christianity, Revisited

Why the medium of cool isn’t a neutral vehicle for the gospel

Four years ago I published my first book, Hipster Christianity (Baker Books), which sought to explore the complexities and questions surrounding what happens “when church and cool collide.” I wanted the book to provoke discussion — which it has — and inspire critical thinking in the church about her identity and the meaning of “relevance” in the 21st century.

Though “hipster” is in the title and much of the book (especially the first half) discusses the overlap of hipsterdom and Christendom, the book is less about hipster faith particularly than the notion of “cool” generally: how is it leveraged, manifested, and interacted with by churches, pastors, Christian institutions, and individuals? Perhaps more than anything the book is an invitation to consider the way form matters in the Christian life. Indeed, a common response from those who feel implicated by the questions of Hipster goes something like this: “What we’re doing is simply putting the gospel in different packaging and updating the style of its delivery as to be relevant to a particular audience. The medium may be different and new, but the message remains the same.” Read more