It's fashionable to be a revolutionary these days.
That's why I can start Girl Talk, say pretty much whatever I want, make grand claims about changing the world and the worst I expect to get is eye rolling looks as one of those slightly hippie-like idealists who probably drinks green smoothies and buys fair trade coffee pods for her home coffee machine...
There's a lot to be admired about the new trends - the way more people are identifying as activists, the way more people are challenging the status quo.
But what frightens me is when an old trend is just replaced with the new 'trendy'.
When we jump on bandwagons and support causes, are we really moved from deep within by compassion and love - or are we simply saying, "my status quo is cooler than your status quo."
That's why I want to be ignored.
I don't want to cave to appealing to the masses. I don't want to compromise to keep popularity. I don't want to mistake the high of having influence for the real influence of love.
I want to fade into the background while Jesus does His work.
Because while it's currently trendy to sacrifice and give - we are doing it from a place of safety. From a place of societal acceptance and even praise.
But if that stops? If it's no longer popular to act justly & love mercy? Was it based on Jesus or the shifting sands of social trends?
"Because Sexy Christianity feels pretty good until someone throws a stone at you....
And right after American culture moves on from Africa, humanitarian aid, human rights, and issues like the AIDS epidemic and human trafficking crisis, as I promise it will soon, what will our radical faith look like? When being a “sold-out follower of Jesus” and “living simply so that others might simply live” loses its cultural lackluster, what will be next?"
When the rest of the world moves on from the cause-du-jour, will I still be here, really loving God and loving my neighbour? Even if people ridicule me for it? Even if they stone me for it?
And that's what I want Girl Talk to be about. Building real unity and relationships to carry us through anything.
It's not about a movement or a campaign. It's not a once off fundraiser or 'good deed' for the year. It's not even about a new kind of lifestyle.
It's a true transformation of the heart that leaves us changed permanently. Because when we are in unity we get a glimpse of eternity, and we will never look back.
A cause will lose its popularity. A movement will end. A lifestyle will go out of fashion.
But Jesus - who is the same yesterday, today and always - will still be enough for us. Even if it costs us everything.
