A conversation I joined in recently was with a group of teens who were talking about a church event. It was proclaimed to me that the speaker who came to speak to them was the “coolest” guy they have ever met. And knowing these teens, that is saying something.
The speaker was a surfer/snowboarder/rockclimber/exdruggie/evangelist who surfs/snowboards etc. “for Jesus” and witnesses to the others in that surfer culture. His message- “Shred the gnar”. That is surfer talk for ”Go for it” or something like that. My question is- go for what? Perpetual adolescence? A care free life? No responsibilities? A life of adventure on your trust fund?
Don’t get me wrong, I am glad surfers get saved and witness to others. But why are these “cool” guys being promoted as a model for our youth? What I would love to hear from youth coming home from an event: “We just heard from a great man.” There are a lot of more or less “cool” guys out there. Many who are fast approaching 50 instead of 25, still wearing the cool earring, cool snap button shirts, cool hair, cool jeans, and even cool tattoos. Is the Kingdom really about cool. Where are the great men?
[...] great quote from Tim Challies. It kind of reminds me of this post. Thanks Anne! “We live in an age where too many who profess to be Christians rarely consider [...]
Would they recognize one if they saw one?
Too many of us are also unwilling to take on that mantle. It’s a corollary to the same phenomenon that caused men to say “Don’t call me Mr. Smith. That’s my father.” and this coming from a 58 year old man.