(This is the first in a multi-part series on our fascination with the culmination and ultimate conclusion of history)

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about the end of the world. No, it’s not because there seem to be massive earthquakes happening everywhere in the world this year (though there have been a lot); and it’s not because I saw 2012 a few weeks ago (a wonderfully absurd film). Neither is it because of some convoluted reading of Luke 10:18 that claims the Bible names “Baraq O Bam-Maw” as the antichrist.

What do you think? Can the church be both attractive and missional? What would this look like? Or should church be only attractive or only missional? How do churches continually mobilize their congregants to be missional, taking church outside the church walls and into their communities?

In the classic Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbons, we find these words in chapter 2: ""The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful." Gibbons, of course, could have written these words yesterday for the New York Times and we would still nod in understanding.

Perhaps, this is why we have seen a veritable rebuilding of Rome in film and in fascination in recent years. We have now moved into a time period in American history where we are not only seeing the global influence of the United States brought into question or doubt, but also the global dominance of the United States brought under greater scrutiny. And so, the influx of films on Rome may simply serve to feed our fascination with a time period that, frankly, is becoming more and more familiar to us. Rome, a great civilization built upon the backs of an incredibly large military force and amazing technological prowess, was also a society in search of stability. The people longed for the glory years and men like Marcus Aurelius, Augustus Caesar, and Marc Antony served as not only images of power, but as examples to men who would follow. Will there ever be another leader like Caesar? Will we see an alliance the likes of Antony and Cleopatra again? How about a philosopher/leader like Aurelius, does our world still have room for men who would be known more for their ideas than for their charisma?

This past weekend, a new series entitled Spartacus premiered to rave reviews on the Starz network. This comes on the heels of the great success in recent years of films like Gladiator and 300. This also follows the acclaimed HBO series Rome, which I confess hooked me rather quickly. And I confess, I am caught up in the resurgence of the Roman Empire. Yet, I wonder how long this will last?

Most of the contemporary versions of Rome, unlike previous takes, are able to push the envelope and actually display graphic violence, sexually explicit material, and a raw spirituality, that was previously intolerable for well meaning people to watch. But, not only are we able to see Rome in all of its power and profanity, but we are also able to experience a Rome that elicits in us a longing for men and women who would rise above the masses and fight for something bigger than themselves. Part of the glory of Rome isn't even real; part of the glory of the Roman empire remains the mystique of it, the mystery of it. Part of the decline of Rome historically and its resurgence cinematically is found not only in the annals of world history, but in the recesses of our own imaginations. And so, I wonder if the mystique of the United States is starting to decline and thus our fascination with Rome is begining to rebuild and rekindle in us a longing for a civilization that is seen not only as great, but truly epic in scope.

Gibbons, in chapter 3 of Decline and Fall adds these words: "The influence of the clergy, in an age of superstition, might be usefully employed to assert the rights of mankind; but so intimate is the connection between the throne and the altar, that the banner of the church has very seldom been seen on the side of the people. A martial nobility and stubborn commons, possessed of arms, tenacious of property, and collected into constitutional assemblies, form the only balance capable of preserving a free constitution against enterprises of an aspiring prince." Perhaps, the rebuilding of Rome would be the thing that also wakes up the church to be 'on the side of the people', one that dares to stand against the principalities and powers that define a world enthralled with itself. Just maybe, this new Rome resurgence will also decline and eventually fall, but then again, such a decline won't happen overnight. Rome was neither built nor rebuilt in a day. 

As an entirely unscientific but perhaps accurate summary of the geographic loci of Christian hipster, here is a list of what I suggest are the ten most important cities for Christian hipsterdom. These may not be the cities with the most or the highest concentrations of Christian hipsters; They are simply the most important—for a number of reasons.

10) Orlando: This seems like an unlikely spot for a high hipster population, and indeed it is. But Orlando is the home of Relevant magazine, which immediately puts it on the Christian hipster map. It is also home of the ridiculously unhip Holy Land Experience, and hip churches with names like H20, Status and Summit.

Recently, Cathleen Falsani, a writer for the Chicago Sun-Times and author of Sin Boldly (which I loved and found to be her something of a kindred spirit), wrote an article for the Washington Post that is worth noting. The article is part of a series entitled 'The Worst Ideas of the Decade,' and Falsani focuses in on the 'Prosperity Gospel.' You can read her article here.

At this point, I agree with Falsani. This incessant need we have to call the American Dream a Biblical idea is more than alarming. The lack of self-criticism of professing Christians and their embrace of 21st century capitalism needs to stop. While there are a great many benefits of America's economic engine and its place in the global economy, calling all things 'capitalism' good and all things 'socialism' bad is too narrow minded. I rather enjoy the fact that Jesus is claimed by Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Baptists, and yes, even capitalists and socialists. Jesus lived his life in such a way that he's difficult to label and modern Christians would be wise to follow suit.

On this note, Falsani follows up with a second post found recently on the Sojourner website.
I think Falsani speaks truth again. Thanks Cathleen, keep up the good work, and if you're looking to send out signed copies of any of your books, my address can be sent out rather easily.

Church Name: Resurrection Presbyterian

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Head Pastor: Vito Aiuto

Summary: Resurrection Presbyterian is a noteworthy hipster church for a number of reasons. Launched in 2004 as a plant of the Redeemer planting network, Resurrection is situated smack dab in the heart of worldwide hipster culture: Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Not only that, but the church is pastored by Vito Aiuto, a full-blooded Christian hipster who is a reverend by day and indie musician by night. He and his wife Monique moonlight as The Welcome Wagon and released their Sufjan Stevens-produced debut album on Asthmatic Kitty in late 2008. The church itself bears many of the typical marks of a vibrant hipster Christian community: liturgy, pews, communion out of a common cup (with real port!), and a strongly infused mission-mindedness that includes local social justice work, HIV/AIDS ministry in Africa, and a leadership development/church-planting initiative known as the Brooklyn Church Project. I attended Resurrection on a steamy, stormy May evening in 2009.

I grew up before women in ministry were a popular trend. I'm not sure it's taken off quite yet, but it is more "in" now than it was 15 years ago. Sure the pastors' wives were around a bit. I even had coffee with them on occasion, but in terms of teaching, I was not formally taught by women in the church. When I left for college, other than my mother, I did not have a strong feminine mentoring presence in my life.

Halfway through college I discovered Anne Lamott. For maybe the first time in my life I learned what honesty was in the form of her short anecdotal stories. She was humorous, crass, vulnerable, and real. I gobbled up every book of hers on the market and over the past five years have been to every venue she has spoken at in Los Angeles County. 

What do pastors do when Sunday morning is barreling down on them and they realize they have absolutely nothing to say from the pulpit?  Women-in-the-pulpit theology aside, I’m awfully glad I will never be a pastor. The burden to create life-changing sermons week upon week must weigh on a man, especially if he is naturally a shepherd, a hand-on-the-shoulder guy, or just rhetorically average.

Inspiration is a tricky cat. If you believe in the Holy Spirit—and I do—you want to believe that God can zap our intellect, give us supernatural insight, and use his Holy Scriptures to shape our teaching. Yet I’m pretty sure God didn’t deem sacred the seven-day cycle of insights, where the Holy Spirit punches his time clock at certain intervals just in time for the church secretary to print the sermon title every Wednesday for the church bulletin.