From the Urban Dictionary: Cool. "The phrase cool is very relaxed, someone who never goes out of style, and people will never laugh at you, they are people who care more about what's in."
What's in? Facial hair, popularity in a social hierarchy, being with the right people, and you are calm all the time. Hey, Twinkies are Cool, swag is Cool, being funny and crazy is Cool, jean vests are Cool, converse are Cool, fohawks are Cool, and getting good grades are Cool. Listen, a Coach purse is Cool, backpacks are Cool, and a longboard is Cool. Being first is Cool.
And Cool creates stats. Like increased cutting because of a lack of self-acceptance from the pressure to be a certain way or dress a certain way or talk a certain way. And Cool creates stats like teen drug abuse because 'everybody is doing it.' And Cool creates stats like teen pregnancy because of the dating or hook-up pressure to put out because it is 'normal'. To be honest, Cool is creating so much pressure to be something you are not that teens are actually more willing to be themselves rather than trying to fit in. Do you really want to be 'Cool'?
How about being 'UnCool'?
From
the Urban Dictionary: UnCool. "Being yourself and not trying to be what
other people want you to be. Being cool in your own eyes, staying true to
yourself.”
See, ‘UnCool’ is different than 'Cool'. It is comfortable self-acceptance. Confidence. Not worrying about what others think about us! It is going the extra mile, and giving your coat and shirt, and turning the other cheek. ‘UnCool’ is service. It is not concerned with the pressure to be different. It just is. It is Not popular or acceptable, a way of being that allows you to be true to yourself.
This is counter-culture and not pro-culture. In the words of the pop hit from Echosmith in the song 'Cool Kids', not everybody is impressed by 'Cool':
"She sees them walking in a straight line, that's not really her style.
And they all got the same heartbeat, but hers is falling behind.
Nothing in this world could ever bring them down.
Yeah, they're invincible, and she's just in the background.
And she says,
'I wish that I could be like the cool kids,
'Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in.
I wish that I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids.
I wish that I could be like the cool kids,
'Cause all the cool kids, they seem to get it.
I wish that I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids.'
He sees them talking with a big smile, but they haven't got a clue.
Yeah, they're living the good life, can't see what he is going through.
They're driving fast cars, but they don't know where they're going.
In the fast lane, living life without knowing."
And so, as Christian Teens, how can we choose UnCool? How can we redeem culture and not succumb to it? I believe that comes from reading the Word and choosing the right Friends.
A FEW WAYS TO USE THIS BLOG TO INCREASE YOUR ‘UNCOOLNESS’:
1. Read your bible 2 times a day (before you get
out of bed read a Proverb, before you go to bed read a Psalm)
2. Memorize the 10 Commandments - Only 30% of Christian teens know 3 of the Commandments
3. Memorize a verse each week (on your phone, a 3X5
card in your bedroom, with a bible buddy)
4. Ask your Youth Pastor to preach from the Bible - Teaching in the youth group and to
build theology in the small group setting
5. You need to change your friends - You need peers
with word knowledge. Who goes first? Who are the solid teens I need more time with?
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