true counter culture

In a downtown environment, much is made of being “counter cultural.” Whether the talk is predominately about art, politics, religion, coffee (aka, “religion” ) or any other topic, a downtown frame of mind influences the discussion. The church, of course, is not immune. Being in downtown Phoenix, I am beginning to feel the unspoken pressure to somehow be “counter cultural.” One problem, a downtown or midtown culture, really isn’t counter cultural, it is simply a subculture. Regardless of the context, i.e., downtown, uptown, the burbs or the sticks, that environment will shape the content of any church. Downtown there may be different dress, different words, different places to meet, different people, but downtown culture is not true counter culture. Perhaps counter to other subcultures, but the people and businesses downtown are an expression of the culture that exists here.

When I think about the church’s role in society (regardless of what subculture she resides in) I first think of how Jesus did His ministry on earth. In Jesus, I see a Man who was true to his day: dressed like they did, worked like they did, taught where they taught and used stories that were culturally relevant. But, Jesus never appealed to a subculture…He was truly creating a counter culture, one where power did not come from the robes that you wore or the position that you held. Want to be first? Be last. Want to save your life? Lose it. Want to be rich? Give all that you have. Want to be something? Become nothing. Now that is true counter culture.

Can day|twelve create that counter culture? As much as I wish it weren’t true sometimes, it no doubt starts with the leader and goes from there. Please pray for me as we endeavor to create true counter culture.

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love relentlessly. serve sacrificially. lead humbly.