Cool

 

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

 

I dropped by our church office this morning to have some copies made for my Small Group Bible Study, and there was one of our Worship and Youth staff members wearing a baseball cap backwards on his head. I jokingly asked him why he was doing that and he replied that he has heard that wearing a cap backwards was a “cool” thing to do. The Webster’s dictionary defines the slang term “cool” as fashionable or hip; having or showing awareness of or involvement in the newest developments or styles; Trendy, up-to-date and marked by ephemeral, superficial, or faddish appeal or taste. It started a discussion on who defines what is considered “cool”, does a Christian need to be “cool”, and to what extent or cost? 

I know that Romans 12:17-18 says, “Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men”, but does that mean that a born-again, transformed, converted, consecrated, sanctified, Holy Spirit-indwelling Believer must conform to the latest trends of the world, to be cool and blend in to the point that nobody can outwardly tell the difference between the natural man (led by the fallen self and the desires of the flesh) and the repentant, saved by the Gospel, Bible-believing, God fearing, Christ-following, kingdom of Heaven citizen (led by the Holy Spirit)? Sounds like there should be. And granted, times change, styles switch and the latest fad or craze is the contagious practice or excited interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal. It seems that the human race gets bored with life remaining the same for any long period of time. The word “secular”, by definition, means relating to the worldly or temporal; of this day and age and not overtly or specifically religious; not of or relating to a church especially as an established institution, and not bound by monastic vows or rules. What are we mirroring? 

 

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

 

There is a point were being cool in the world and the secular interests of unsaved non-believers is uncool to the Lord. We are in the God-rejecting world, which is lost in sin and destined for eternal damnation, but not of that world; by repenting of sin, accepting God gift of grace of Salvation and receiving Christ as Savior and Lord, we were saved from all that inequity and regenerated to new life with a new heart. The old flesh is still desiring the works of the flesh, but the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Counselor lives within us and battled the sinful temptations of the flesh, the world and the devil. We just need to walk in the Spirit daily, pray without ceasing, and be about our heavenly Father’s business here until glory. What is cool with the Lord is what really matters.

 

Jesus said in John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Darkness hates being exposed by light (John 3:18-20), understood. 

 

In the world, but of the world; that’s cool!

In Christ, Brian