Portland pastor A. J. Swoboda has a new article posted at Christ & Cascadia that discusses the Northwest's trendiness. Swoboda writes, "The great Northwest urban environment is inebriated with a deep-seated thirst for attaining its piece of what's happening, what's new, and what's trending in the world." I wonder about the accuracy of this statement. Take Portland, for example. Is Portland trendy, or is Portland trend-setting? One is copycat, the other is cool.
If Portland is truly trendy, then its copycat habits may be deserving of prophetic criticism. If Portland is trend-setting, then poetic affirmation may be more in order--after all, setting trends requires creativity, and Christians believe in the creator God. One of the greatest challenges of cultural engagement for Christians and churches is knowing when to be a prophet and when to be a poet. Many trends are passing fads (although some trends turn out to be lasting directions). But Christians and churches would do well to learn from an innovative culture.
If Portland is truly trendy, then its copycat habits may be deserving of prophetic criticism. If Portland is trend-setting, then poetic affirmation may be more in order--after all, setting trends requires creativity, and Christians believe in the creator God. One of the greatest challenges of cultural engagement for Christians and churches is knowing when to be a prophet and when to be a poet. Many trends are passing fads (although some trends turn out to be lasting directions). But Christians and churches would do well to learn from an innovative culture.
Like the guidance in terms of when to be prophetic and when to be poetic. Gotta be careful though. Offering a prophetic voice where following the trends is ingrained can earn you a visit from an Administrative Commission.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt. Thanks for commenting, Jesse.
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