By Glynn Young
About a year ago, when I started tweeting on Twitter, posting on Facebook and blogging, I began to come across references and links to various Christian writers/bloggers/tweeters who were gaining quite a following, generally a generation or so behind me. I explored their blogs, followed their tweets, became Facebook fans, and occasionally had my hair singed by what they wrote.
It was a kind of Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill over-the-top frankness, a Mark Lowery humor with razor blades, and a general willingness to offend. Well, perhaps not a willingness so much as a determined obliviousness. But the voices were original, and they were different, extending across a fairly broad spectrum of candor and humor. The writers also had no reluctance whatsoever to take on any sacred evangelical cow.
Bryan Allain writes on pop culture, faith, humor, and the Amish. He lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; that explains the preoccupation with the Amish, like this photo caption: “This is a truck full of Amish people. You can’t read the back window sticker, but it says, ‘Al Qaeda Hunting Club.’” He’s also posted on what he calls “Jack Bauer’s Bible:” “The entire Pentateuch is nearly unreadable because of a bullet lodged between Genesis 1 and Deuteronomy 7.”
Moving along the spectrum, you find Matt Appling, who blogs at The Church of No People. Matt is a teacher during the week and a pastor of a house church in Kansas City. He writes primarily on faith, and from a set of his own experiences and likely the experiences of his family (his father is a minister). So he’ll tell you about 10 people who will kill your church; explain who only certain genders can fill certain church roles; and then offer free xxx-rated Christian porn (actually, a post on the prosperity gospel).
A little more along the spectrum is Jon Acuff, who lives in the Atlanta area, writes at Stuff Christians Like and is publishing a book this spring with the same title. Gently, or usually gently, Jon tackles the culture of evangelical Christianity – the things we surround ourselves with that we think are in the Bible but aren’t. And he does more, like wishing there was a Christian version of Lady Gaga; or providing a guide to understanding your metrosexual worship leader; and acting surprised when God doesn’t seem close.
As we approach the far end of the spectrum, we find Nashville’s Matthew Paul Turner, the 9.0 on the candor Richter scale, who blogs at Jesus Needs New PR. A freelance writer and the author of several books, including the forthcoming Hear No Evil, Turner takes on Christian culture, popular culture and anything in between, and does it with gusto (see his 16 Highlights of 2009 for an example). Last fall, Turner took issue with a tweet by theologian John Piper about pornography addiction, and the online Christian world ignited and melted down – outrage poured into the comments section of his blog, and he lost Twitter followers by the bucketfuls. (When I defended his position on my blog, I lost followers, too, and I had vastly fewer to start with. I still think Turner was right.)
There are others, of course, but these four writers are a good sample of what’s happening. What strikes me about all four is that, beyond writing, they’re also social and cultural critics of the church. They point out our failings, our foibles, and some of the ridiculous things we do. These use humor and, occasionally, shock. They don’t say the things we Christians are supposed to say, especially about ourselves. They infuriate us at times, but when they do, I suspect, is when they hit the closest to home.
I don’t agree with everything they say, but I find all four to be provocative, funny and stimulating. But I also find four people who care deeply about the church, and are willing to take heat and often abuse to do that.
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good post.
i agree, that behind edginess, there are a lot of people that care about the church.
one just has to read between the lines sometimes to see how much people care.
I haven’t heard of most of these guys, have read only Stuff Christians Like, and enjoy Jon Acuff tremendously. Just goes to show how much I need to pop my head out of the sand.
I am always surprised by the labels we put on different perspectives. Like the emergent church. I have one friend who is afraid of Don Miller and Rob Bell because they are part of “the emergent church”. I know I should really get out more, but I tend to read for truth and creativity. Have been challenged by many of their thoughts and believe they have helped me form a more authentic faith.
Still not exactly sure what the emergent church is. Guess i need to read more. I think if we labeled less and listened more we would find beauty in each other that keeps our faith growing.
I better check some of these guys out so I can be informed. Thanks, Glynn.
Good post.
I actually ended up following many of those links to check out what those writers had to say. Terrifically interesting stuff.
i already follow all of them on twitter, and subscribe to their blogs. and i have really enjoyed their writing and grown from it.
In the world where men are not going to church and find themselves in a church that resembles the stage of an Oprah production the idea of edginess is a welcome change.
We have wussified the church. What will it take to bring in a person to the church when the flowers are all arranged and the carpet has been color matched to the cushions and the lobby has designer coffees. “Why Aunt Ruthie, isn’t it just terrible that the Gen-X group wants to hold their outreach at the sports pub. Why to talk about Jesus in a place where it would not be in Jesus’ character to even enter.”
It is interesting how these men, these churches are taking “it” to the edge. They are reaching out to people that are struggling with sexual issues, alcohol, social influences, and making it real.