From Mars Hill...

Although this is a bit late i really wanted to get it up here.

On my last Sunday in the States, while in Seattle, I got the chance to go to Mars Hill Church. Mars Hill is a place I have heard much about as I'm sure some of you who will read this have heard. Both positive and negative things. Certainly it has a controversial reputation and Mark Driscoll, the head teaching pastor and man behind the beginnings of Mars Hill is no exception to this truth as a very orthodox and matter of fact preacher. Two things that aren't always the most popular attitudes to have in our current culture.

But Mars Hill sees itself as a Church that 'lives for Jesus as a city within the city—knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus'. Something that the church as a whole is striving to do at this time around the world. But Mars Hill has a reputation as a place that is really making progress in this area. Reaching a side of society that has been notoriously difficult to reach. That part of society that finds itself labeled 'alternative'. That part of society that has to a large extent rejected pop culture. That part of society that likes to look at itself as more discerned, more gritty. Whether it is, is another matter but it is a part of society that I think i would normally associate myself with.

So to get to go to Mars Hill was exciting to me and in a sense I went expecting much but at the same time wondering how much I could expect as I had seen so many churches and ministries profess a 'knowing of culture' and a relevance to it but in reality still be far removed from it.

But in a sense Mars Hill blew me away. Well as far as an analytical, thoughtful Scot can be. I was seriously challenged. Mars Hill has been the first time that I have stepped into a church shaped for it being truly contemporary and relevant to its culture, to the culture I associate myself with, and actually having my expectations and hopes largely fulfilled. This church's aim at being a contemporary church for once actually held meaning for me. I saw the underground being reached. The place I feel I have come from actually found levels of common ground here and my 'contemporaries' are the ones being reached. For once for me the cries of 'contemporary' and 'relevant' held weight.

I want to be careful not to overstate this or in any way say that churches like Hillsong do not hold any truth in their 'contemporary' shouts. For they do but I feel, and have always felt that Hillsong and others are still deeply embedded in the 'christianyness' that many in our society increasingly don't get, and appeal only to a pop culture which alienates those that are labeled under the 'alternative' sub-culture. The part of society that considers itself grittier and more discerning, even if these adjectives do hold delusion in them.

I do not say this devaluing the work of Hillsong and others because it is clear to me that they are producing great fruit and bringing many to, and growing many in, Christ. Reaching a diverse and important demographic. But the demographic that I have identified as the 'underground' is a demographic that is too often missed by these churches. Mars Hill is the first church I have seen to hit this demographic that i have longed to see the church hit.

And the most important thing is that all this is founded in strong evangelical, biblical teaching. Not wishy,washy, society pleasing pap! It has been too long since my writing hand has been worked so hard in a church service and maybe I find that the most exciting thing. Here is a church firmly grounded on the word and that brings weight and power.

There is no doubt that there are things in Mars Hill that i will not agree with and things that do not relate or hit me but I am excited to see the work of this church multiply and touch my demographic. Here I see many of me coming to, and being strengthened in Faith and Christ.

This is both interesting and exciting.