Young Coral Ridge Pastor: World Needs Christians to be Different

The newly elected pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church has just released a book that calls Christians to live a life that is counter-cultural.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - Tullian Tchividjian is a 36 year old Protestant pastor living the 30-something dream. He was recently elected as the successor to D. James Kennedy at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and has a brand new book that is getting critical acclaim. He's also Billy Graham's grandson.

Tchividjian's (pronounced "cha-vi'-jin," similar to "religion") book, released in April, takes on a common problem among Christians - how much should we be like the world to make an impact for Jesus Christ. Many years ago, while serving on staff with Youth for Christ International, we used to say it meant being "geared to the times while anchored to the rock."

In his book, "Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different," he challenges the notion that we need the church to be like the world to be relevant and appealing. Instead, he writes, "We need to remember that God has established his church as an alternative society, not to compete with or copy this world, but to offer a refreshing alternative to it."

"When we forget this, we inadvertently communicate to our culture that we have nothing unique to offer, nothing deeply spiritual or profoundly transforming. Tragically, this leaves many in our world looking elsewhere for the difference they crave."

Chuck Colson, Founder of Prison Fellowship and author of "The Faith," is quoted in the Foreward as saying, "Tullian Tchividjian, one of today's brightest young Christian leaders, makes a refreshing call for orthodoxy. He does not apologize for the Gospel; he wears it like a red badge of courage. Read this book to recover the faith once for all delivered to the saints in fresh, courageous terms."

Evangelical leaders from a variety of churches and ministries have been singing the praises of the book and the call to a counter-cultural Christianity.

Tchividjian is not calling for a stereotyped external image for Christians. In fact, after an interview one reporter was intrigued on the differences between the more businessman appearance of the late Dr. Kennedy and this new young pastor whose "hair is spiky, his beard sometimes scruffy, his skin tan."

More interested in Christian's re-discovering their life in Christ lived from the inside out, he is convinced that this is really the lifestyle and message the people are looking for.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Tchividjian said this was not just theory but personal experience. As a young man of 21 he had pretty much written off Christianity but, through the influence and witness of his grandfather, the Reverend Billy Graham, he found what he was really looking for.

"I was a seeker being reached, not by a man-centered, trendy show, but by a God-centered, transcendent atmosphere," he told The Post.

Recent reports from The Pew Forum and Barna Group show, that despite huge programming efforts by churches, people are unsettled in their spiritual direction and many are simply leaving.

Perhaps Tchividjian's book will help restore the uniqueness of the Christian life where seekers will encounter the Lord Jesus Christ through surrendered followers rather than something sensational or trendy.

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online. He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

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