Who's the hippest of them all?

I go to a church with a pastor who has long hair and wears shorts to do a Sunday sermon. My friends and I don't think twice about having wine with dinner. We play ultimate frisbee. We are passionate and get involved in areas of social justice (homelessness, human trafficking to name a few). But does this put us into a category of believers dubbed by some as "Hipster Christians"?

In the article "Hipster Faith: what happens when cool meets Christ" , author Brett McCracken writes about this group in what I feel is a too simplistic and narrow view. This new article in Christianity Today is based on a book written by McCracken on the same theme.

Sure, I admit that I find some of what the 'traditional church/mega-church' has to offer is too rigid and too hypocritical and too inwardly focused. But it shouldn't be that younger Christians (or Christ-follower as McCracken writes we prefer to be called) can't try and find their own 'church' where they feel comfortable.

But just like anyone, even 'Hipster Christians', can forget who we should all be keeping our eye on. And it's not making sure that the other Christians, or unbelievers think we're cool. We should keep our focus on the hippest of them all - Jesus Christ.

He is the way, the truth and light. Not free coffee in the hallway before a sermon. Not allowing drinking at church functions. Not 'shocking sermons' that will bring in the crowds and get people talking. Not rebelling against organized faith/politics/corporations. Only Jesus can give us the 'cred' we need to live the right life here on earth and then in eternity.

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Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:5-7 (NIV)

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:3-5 (NIV)