"Cool" Christianity?

Brett McCracken wrote this interesting article about the dangers of making Christianity seem "hip" and trendy to attract younger worshippers. (Hat tip: Rev. Paul McCain at Cyberbrethren)

I have no problem with making Christian worship services more agreeable to the congregation. Truth be told, personally I find many traditional hymns downright dreadful. Some Christian worship services seem to be more like funerals rather than celebrations.

But I do draw the line at discarding the Gospel to suit culture or politics.

There seems to be a variety of lurid possibilities out there. In addition to the politically-correct goddess worship of "Herchurch", one can also find a pastor who describe sexual techniques in the pulpit. If that is not "edgy" enough for the would-be Christian, there is another pastor whose life was chronicled 24/7 via Webcam.

But all this poliicking and voyeurism raises three important questions. At what point does the church morph an episode of The Jerry Springer Show? How long will these thrill-seekers hang around if there is no new "cutting-edge" material to keep enticing them every week? And it it really showing inexperienced Christian converts Christian love when they are being deceived by a false version of Christianity?

Here is now Mr. McCracken sees it:

If the evangelical Christian leadership thinks that "cool Christianity" is a sustainable path forward, they are severely mistaken. As a twentysomething, I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don't want cool as much as we want real.

If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it's easy or trendy or popular. It's because Jesus himself is appealing, and what he says rings true. It's because the world we inhabit is utterly phony, ephemeral, narcissistic, image-obsessed and sex-drenched—and we want an alternative. It's not because we want more of the same.

Indeed. As Jesus Himself said:

I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

John 10:1-5 (NIV)