Brett McCracken writes about what happens when church and cool collide. He writes it from the perspective of a youth group kid excited about the day when Christian Band Switchfoot crossed over and became the kind of band that MTV was interested in, as if we were finally being taken seriously by the real world.

I’m finding it very easy to relate to the author. I can remember that day, too. I also recall sensing the dislike that many Christians had when Amy Grant did the same thing and went “secular”. Sad.

McCracken raises the question: is it okay that Christianity is now marked by a sort of counter-cultural/hip/relevant/fashionable flavor that is really a sanitized version of contemporary culture? We still pierce our ears and turn our hair blue, but you won’t hear one cuss word or ever smell liquor (except for our more liberal communion-takers).

I’m only a few chapters in, so this isn’t a very complete book review. I’ll try to let you know how it ends up if I’m not too busy cleaning my Rob Bell glasses before the next Sunday service.