Stop Chasing Cool: the Truth About Our Need for Approval

We all struggle with wanting to be cool.

As young people, we’re caught up in a constant battle against peer pressure, secular culture, a desire to be a ‘cool Christian’, the darkness of the sin-cursed world around us, and the desires of our own sinful flesh. It’s so easy to get slack, to pull back from fully serving the Lord because, after all…who wants to be known as the ‘weird Christian kid’?

If you’re anything like me, you care about what people think of you.

Sure, I may have a façade of unconcern, and in some areas, I’m happy to do what’s right regardless of people’s opinions. But overall, I crave approval, whether that’s from the world for not being ‘too Christian’ or from fellow believers for being a ‘bold Christian.’

In both situations, the need for approval stems from a belief that God isn’t enough, and that our worth is somehow reliant on keeping up a good reputation and self-image.

We cherish our self-esteem and the admiration of others, and so we often prioritize that temporary comfort over living unreservedly for Christ. But the sad truth is that, when we pull back from living a life that is blatantly Christian, we’re pulling back from the only One Who can give us a truly meaningful existence.

Often, we spend so long searching for spare change in the muddy gutter, that we completely forget to look up to see the soul-shaking splendor of the cathedral ahead of us. We seek our fulfilment in the temporary good things here on earth (such as entertainment, respect from others, friendships, money, a good job, and nice things) and yet forget the One Who created those good things for us to enjoy and utilize for His glory.

Don’t Look Back

In Christ, we have been forgiven, justified, redeemed, adopted, and given eternal life…so why do we keep looking back? Why do we place so much emphasis on living our ‘best lives now’ and making God an ‘add-on’ to our plans when we could spend our whole lives devoted to Him and preparing for eternity? Why are we so easily distracted by the glitter of this world but barely moved when we are reminded that God loves us, that Christ died for us, or that we’ve been made into new creations?

The world is highly skilled at the art of intrigue and novelty: Satan knows how to take the same old lies, cleverly polish them up, and then sell them to us again as a new and exciting idea. He rebrands ‘selfishness’ as ‘self-love’, ‘pride’ as ‘understanding your self-worth’, and ‘idolatry’ and ‘lust’ as ‘enjoying life’. He’ll do anything to get us distracted and off-track because an apathetic Christian doesn’t pose as much of a threat as a Christian who is devoted to serving Christ.

So don’t look back; keep focused on serving Christ, no matter the consequences. As you focus more on the unfathomable depths of God’s character, you’ll see how shallow the world really is.

Stop Chasing Cool

It’s so much easier to get focused on the tangible things of this world than it is to stay focused on the unseen realities of eternity, but only one of these options lasts forever. We have to choose which side we’re willing to stand for.

As Rebelutionaries, we’re not here to be apathetic; we’re here to fight for truth, and to live every day wholeheartedly serving Christ, even if it costs us.

As J. C. Ryle wrote, “True Christianity will cost a man the favor of the world. He must be content to be thought ill of by man if he pleases God. He must count it no strange thing to be mocked, ridiculed, slandered, persecuted, and even hated.”

As we live out life to the fullest, as we enjoy the good things here on earth, we need to faithfully live for God rather than trying to preserve our coolness in the eyes of others.

“A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian” (D. L. Moody). Jesus saved us, and we should be unashamed of living in a way that proves it.

As we live a life that seeks Christ over comfort, we will start to notice our appetite for temporary things and worldly approval fading. The more we seek the approval of our Savior, the less we feel the need for the approval of others.

Is God Enough?

If “God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son for us” (John 3:16, ESV, paraphrased), why do we so often live our lives trying to earn the admiration of the world? Isn’t God enough? At the heart of the issue, it all comes back to whether we believe He is.

If God isn’t enough, then we shouldn’t risk our reputations and comfort to serve Him; but if He is enough, then no loss we suffer for His sake will be greater than what has been given us in Christ. We will never lose out on life when we put God’s glory in the forefront.

We’re here to live fully for Christ, to ‘do hard things’ for Him; and there’s no better time to start than right now. As Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Everything here fades over time; we can’t keep our money, our friends, our dreams, or others’ respect forever. But whatever situation we find ourselves in, there are a few things we can never lose: our salvation, the love of Christ, or our purpose in life –to glorify God where He puts us. Whether that’s by prioritizing sharing the gospel over remaining in the ‘cool group’, by being more overtly Christian rather than trying to keep it toned down, by being willing to forgive as you have been forgiven, or by prioritizing the local church over earning extra money, that witness for Christ will never be wasted.

Do the hard thing. Rebel against the culture of Christianized apathy. And wholeheartedly live for the glory of God:

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” -Colossians 2:6-7, ESV

God is enough; are you willing to live like that’s true?