Counter-Cultural Church: Episode #207: September 7, 2014

Hear the episode Counter-Cultural Church

Well, this is kinda exciting. Pastor Vermon is working on a book in conjunction with The Gospel Coalition. Unfortunately, stars got in my eyes when I heard the phrase “working on a book,” but it’s my understanding that The Gospel Coalition is planning a five-book series (working with The Good Book Company), and Pastor Vermon’s forthcoming bestseller will be the second one in said series, which will focus on the “Counter-Cultural Church.” While you might get a little teary-eyed over the fact that it has nothing whatsoever to do with Harry Potter, please join me in taking comfort and finding peace in that it also bears little resemblance to Fifty Shades of Grey. Actually, let’s be clear about this: it bears no resemblance to Fifty Shades of Grey.

I have to admit that I was a little confused by the concept of counter-cultural. What were the implications? Counter-cultures, by definition, run up against mainstream cultures. Were we talking about Bohemians? Hippies? Hipsters? Punk? Hip-hop? Comicon again? (You guys!)

And, of course, the very use of the terminology begs another question: what is the mainstream culture?

Pastor Vermon’s discussion (which is also featured in a sermon series that you can find here) draws largely on the metaphor of the counter-cultural church acting as a light in a dark world. This metaphor hits upon a major concept: the church is distinctly in the world, but not of it. No matter how many times you long-term believers have been exposed to that lingo—in the world, but not of it—it behooves you to think deeply about it again.

What does that mean? To be in the world, but not of it? (I especially liked when Pastor Vermon noted that light is meant to operate in the darkness—not shine brightly in a light shop. It reminded me of that light store on Central Avenue in Phoenix; it’s been there forever—I think I went there in the seventies with my parents).

Perhaps, this really requires us to not live in fear!

Let’s be honest: it’s not easy to be a Christian in a secular world. There’s a tendency to withdraw, go all commune-y, create our own kinda weird and often off-putting rules of engagement; OR we sometimes rush into the world like—pardon the cliché—bulls in china shops, making all kinds of statements to put people in their rightful place, letting them know just who speaks Truth. We get weird, and/or we get in your face.

I guess the big question, then, is: Even though you’ve probably heard this in the world, but not of it business a million times, what does it actually look like for you?

In order to be more than vocal protestors or conscientious objectors, we need to be creators of culture. We need to build, and not just destroy. How do we build? Pastor Vermon discusses a number of topics, including the not-so-hot trend of homogeneity within the church body, and the need to be self-sacrificing church in a self-serving world.

A few standout moments from this show illustrate why we’ll need to get this book, and see if he’ll autograph it too:

·      I thought a very good and relevant point was made when Pastor Vermon noted how we often want to do good on our own terms, and Pastor Bob added, “We want to get these good deeds over with and get my reward.” As much as I hate to admit it, I think this is often the spirit in which we sign up to do charity work. Our time spent in service is an opportunity to feel good about who we are as people. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Not sure. But it gives one pause.

·      Christians often settle for strained familial relationships, and Pastor Vermon issued my favorite quote in the show when he said, “It is compromising your humanity.” Yikes. We totally accept strained familial relationships—BUT this can’t mean that we make nuisances of ourselves, asking them when they’d finally like to let Jesus into their hearts, since their life sucks, while we’ve so obviously got it made. Again, we’re forced to think of familial relationships in this context: How should we be in the world but not of it when it comes to in-laws or those pesky atheist siblings or unsavory-but-loveable-for-maybe-one-hour relatives who show up at major holidays?

·      Pastor Vermon mentioned that one of our biggest opportunities to show that the Gospel is in fact the Gospel is in the area of joy; we can be joyful in the midst of suffering. Can you say conviction? Here’s what I’ve previously written about joy.

I think, then, this topic requires further exploration. There seems to be this unspoken spectrum on being in but not of the world. On the one had, we can be too in. On the other, we can be withdrawn, misfits, weirdoes. But, even as I write this, I (who struggle with worldliness) honestly wonder if we should be misfits and weirdoes. Should we kinda embrace misfitery? Is this part of suffering for Christ’s sake? Didn’t Paul have a lot to say about this?

There you go. The spectrum might need to be filled out quite a bit.

Review by Roosevelt Community Church member, Jennifer Bell