When Did Being Cool Become a Requirement for Ministry?

Dec15
2009 Written by Warner Smith

I recently told someone who does several youth events annually that someday he would no longer be cool. Further I explained he would not be able to pinpoint when, how, or why it happened, but he would most certainly know that it had happened.

Like many in ministry I was once a youth pastor. It was then that I first encountered the advantages being cool has for ministry. I learned that I could effectively use my positive experiences from being popular in high school to my own ministry advantage. This was also when I first learned the limitations and problems associated with a “coolcentric” ministry philosophy.

1. Coolness changes rapidly and capriciously.
As a male who came of age during the Carter and Reagan administrations, my preppie look and jock physique made being cool in the early 80′s easy for me. Something happened, that changed what was called cool. The punk rock movement changed the definition of cool in my circle.
2. By definition everyone cannot be cool.
As someone who came to faith in Christ while in college I discovered that many of my cool friends were not interested in being inclusive of my newly made (non-cool) church friends. Please note that during this time much of our college life was spent separating ourselves into Greeks or Geeks. (This was before Bill Gates made being a rich geek cool). The church is the only institution in our society where everyone (cool or not) theoretically has the opportunity to be accepted. While we do not yet meet this potential at the very least it should be a ministerial goal.
3. The pride that is necessarily associated with being cool is spiritually problematic.
After my salvation I remember that as I grew spiritually I had to face my own pride. Being considered cool within your circle of influence can be used by Satan to lead you away from the cross-bearing necessary for spiritual growth and obedience.

The moment I had my greatest cool crisis was when after my wife became pregnant with our third child I purchased a minivan. Driving off the dealers lot I new I had permanently emptied my cool tank.

4. Is Christlikeness considered cool?

Here’s the thing I have learned. Being a devoted follower of Christ, a Dad, and happily married makes me the coolest I have ever been. This coolness, however, now hidden under almost totally grey hair and a less than athletic physique, is less and less visible to the world.

This makes me question why so many who do ministry today continue to seek coolness. Perhaps a better goal for our natural maleness would be to seek godly authenticity.

5. Can coolness and godliness coexist?
I know that many who are occupied with being cool are missiologically engaging a culture whom they are trying to reach for Christ. My point is two fold. First, we need to remember that the world we are engaging is increasingly pagan! Therefore, while we definitely need to proceed, we need to proceed cautiously. Secondly, the natural desires in each male to be popular (cool) and accepted on a manly level by other males can lead to pride, arrogance, and non-Christlikeness. We need to be careful not to allow our natural self to lead us astray.

Personally I need to be reminded not to forget that godliness is not optional for ministry but is foundational for ministry. I am increasingly aware that I need to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help me be more accepting of all people (cool or not) while at the same time becoming increasingly vigilant in keeping myself unspotted by the world (even at the expense of my own personal coolness).

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