Sadly, these kids often used worldly tactics to get this social capital. They were not opposed to making fun of people, using profanity, or insinuating that they were starting to drink alcohol or “smoke weed”. They did whatever was trendy or popular at the time in order to gain prestige and attention in their social circle. The berated those that were outcast by society and worshipped those who were lifted up by society.

Adult life is much the same. One need only watch a sports discussion program, YouTube, TV (in general), the news, or the movies to find out this is true. The internet term “clickbait” is the epitome of someone striving to be a “cool kid”. It means one is doing whatever is necessary to gain attention (even if that means being dishonest).

Many television programs follow this tactic in part or in whole. On these programs you will regularly see people talking trash about others, putting others (who were previously in their corner) down, selling useless products, stripping themselves practically (or literally) naked, and cursing like sailors.

“Cool Kid” Syndrome is Everywhere

In fact, I daresay that one need not even watch television or internet programs to witness this phenomenon. Everyday life is full of “cool kids”, or maybe we should call them “popular adults”. They are at your work, they are in your family, they are throughout society. They are just old “cool kids”.

It does not matter to them that wrinkles have replaced freckles and gray hair has replaced pig tails. They continue the game, after all, they can dye the hair. These people ride the wave of the culture and embrace whatever methods necessary to gain fame, money, popularity, and power. And once they begin it is likely that they never will stop.

This, of course, requires that one ignore what God says about morality. But such is the price of fame. The sad truth is that in order to be popular and accepted by today’s society you will very likely have to sell your soul.

What is the Cost?

Even more disheartening is that the desire for social acceptance and social capital is an unquenchable hunger that cannot be satiated by anything here on earth. If we take this path we will leave this earth with nothing but a tattered and moth eaten soul and we will stand before the almighty God with a hopelessness that cannot be adequately described with words.

So, what is the solution? Look to Jesus for your example. Though He was despised by most of the popular and powerful here on earth, he ended up seated at the right hand of God in heaven. He knew that popularity here was fleeting and futile, and that eternal life was far more important than temporary earthly gain.

The great news is that if we follow the New Testament pattern we too can spend a glorious eternity in heaven. Then, I am sure, that a faint smile of relief will play across our lips as we suddenly realize just who the “cool kids” were all along… 

The post Being One of the Cool Kids appeared first on Jay Scott.

I think it does a person well to ask themselves if they are living life for an outside audience (those of flesh and blood) or if they are living life for God. If one is living life for an outside audience I believe that one should be ready to stifle their assertions and tone down their message. This especially applies when one is discussing the controversial topics that God puts forth at truth.

For success delivering messages in this world:

1. Only reveal truths that people will like, can handle, or will tolerate.
2. Make it exciting and full of hope (even if the topic isn’t really so full of hope after all).

If one were to follow these two guidelines then I am quite confident that they would have “worldly success”. However, worldly success is like a vision of island vapor oscillating in the desert heat – it lulls but fails to satisfy. Still, so many trade their honor and integrity for such an illusion. In fact, they often trade their very souls for such a vacuous mirage.

Didn’t Eve (and Adam too) trade the Garden of Eden for such illusory power? Did they not partake of that forbidden fruit only to turn to one another reviling their nakedness? Too often today we see those promoting truth (that of Jesus our Savior) pushed to the wayside for the glory of a promising mirage…

Alas, the journey to the mirage is one of carefree and impetuous whim – no worries, only castles in the air. But will the charade be so full of glory when one dips their head to the shimmering aquatic hallucination and receives nothing aside from a mouthful of dry sand? Such it will be in the day of judgment and such we should seek to avoid.

The post For Your Audience or For God? appeared first on Jay Scott.