Cool Pastors

[steadfast7]

Thanks for the good responses. I can definitely see the trend of noting that many people "try" very hard to be cool - very obvious when you see it.

I think "coolness" the way we use the word does not have much to do with one's virtue, warmth, and godly character, but some sort of edgy toeing of the line with the world, with pop media and pop culture. Given that this were a more accurate definition of "cool," could a knowledge of, or interaction with, the world be a beneficial thing in pastoral ministry? For example, should a pastor to unchurched urban young people be aware of the top 40 recording artists, the latest trends in fashion, the recent expressions of slang, etc?

 

[Unoriginalname]

For example, should a pastor to unchurched urban young people be aware of the top 40 recording artists, the latest trends in fashion, the recent expressions of slang, etc?

I would say yes because a pastor needs to know the context he is pastoring and what the church in that area lives with. I think those things you listed should be sorted in with general apologetic knowledge. A pastor should know what ideas bombard those he is with in order to give them a fair assessment. I believe ignorance of the culture leads to the sort of fundamentalist alarmism we have all seen at one time or another. That said, being aware of something does not necessarily mean mentioning it in ever sermon or using it as an example. But I am also a punk kid so I would love to hear more mature input.

 

[KMK]

As a trombone player and Star Trek fan, I just exude 'coolness'. If that comes through in my preaching, there is nothing I can do about it. Some people just have 'It'.

Not only are you cool, you are Will Riker Cool!

No, I meant the 'cool' Star Trek

View attachment 2434

 

[RobertPGH1981]

Given that this were a more accurate definition of "cool," could a knowledge of, or interaction with, the world be a beneficial thing in pastoral ministry? For example, should a pastor to unchurched urban young people be aware of the top 40 recording artists, the latest trends in fashion, the recent expressions of slang, etc?

I would say he should know the audience he is preaching to. He should be himself, and if being himself is cool then that's who he should be. Although, pastors should be aware that they are leaders of the church. People who are marked as cool may not be seen by the public as a fully respected leader, but more like a friend. I think that would be the distinction between how cool you are, and how its perceived in the church. For example,

Lets paint two scenario's here of Popular Preachers that I think are cool..
1.) Mark Driscoll
2.) Paul Washer

If I wanted to go to a sporting event I would take - Mark Driscoll because he is animated and it would be like hanging out with one of the guys.. (could be an age thing).
If I wanted one of these Preachers to disciple me I would ask - Paul Washer because I view him more as a leader and look up to him more as a preacher (could be an age thing).

I think both preachers above are great. I see Mark Driscoll appealing more to the youth, and Paul Washer appealing to the church as a whole. The ways both preachers above carry themselves are cool in different ways, but they are perceived differently by the church.

 

[Brother John]

1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. - 1 Tim 3:1-7

Nope, nothing in there at all about being cool.

---------- Post added at 11:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 PM ----------

genuinely cool people are cool because, well, that's them. It's not a facade that they put on.

Amen to that.

When we hear about pastors being "cool" some of us think of the 40-something youth pastor who is trying way too hard to look edgy and be accepted by the younger generation. That is the opposite of cool.

"Cool" is using your natural gifts to attract people. Cool people are enjoyable to be around. Not everybody is cool, and that is OK. I'd rather be around a guy who is comfortable with not being cool than a guy who is trying.

 

[RobertPGH1981]

1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. - 1 Tim 3:1-7

Nope, nothing in there at all about being cool.

Just because it doesn't say be cool doesn't mean its wrong. I think this is a matter of personality and charisma rather than somebody trying to appeal to culture. Our culture is very diverse so being cool is open for interpretation. I think Paul Washer is a cool guy but somebody that isn't a christian would argue me on this point. Somebody would say that Lady Gaga is cool and I wouldn't agree with them. Being cool in culture is different than being cool in the church. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with it. You can be cool, christian and appeal to the church and culture. I don't see how somebody could argue that its wrong for a preacher to be cool if he has some style and is socially adept. We are all different and have different gifts and there are some people that others naturally gravitate to, and I would like to add that Jesus was a really cool dude. Look how many people follow him He dressed like a Rabbi (Rabbi's were cool by Jewish Standards) and he was socially adept. By definition he was a really cool guy in Jewish culture.

 

[J. Dean]

As a trombone player and Star Trek fan, I just exude 'coolness'. If that comes through in my preaching, there is nothing I can do about it. Some people just have 'It'.

Not only are you cool, you are Will Riker Cool!

No, I meant the 'cool' Star Trek

View attachment 2434

"spock.... I.... can't... beLIEVE!.... howcoolIam... Kirk out."

 

[Zach]

1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. - 1 Tim 3:1-7

Nope, nothing in there at all about being cool.

Just because it doesn't say be cool doesn't mean its wrong. I think this is a matter of personality and charisma rather than somebody trying to appeal to culture. Our culture is very diverse so being cool is open for interpretation. I think Paul Washer is a cool guy but somebody that isn't a christian would argue me on this point. Somebody would say that Lady Gaga is cool and I wouldn't agree with them. Being cool in culture is different than being cool in the church. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with it. You can be cool, christian and appeal to the church and culture. I don't see how somebody could argue that its wrong for a preacher to be cool if he has some style and is socially adept. We are all different and have different gifts and there are some people that others naturally gravitate to, and I would like to add that Jesus was a really cool dude. Look how many people follow him He dressed like a Rabbi (Rabbi's were cool by Jewish Standards) and he was socially adept. By definition he was a really cool guy in Jewish culture.

There were times where Jesus was decidedly "uncool", so much so that everyone left him.

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
(John 6:66-69 ESV)

Ultimately, what keeps the disciples around is the fact that he is who he is, the Holy One of God, not that he is cool. Not to mention when he died on the cross as the cornerstone who was rejected by men, denied three times by Simon Peter, and had God the Father turn his back on him.

 

[he beholds]

1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. - 1 Tim 3:1-7

Nope, nothing in there at all about being cool.

I think well thought of by others could be cool.

I think a pastor is allowed to be cool if he is cool and another doesn't have to be cool if he isn't. I don't think one has to purposefully be un-cool.
The only problem is, I think we all have way different definitions of cool. For me, cool is someone who likes music that I like, is a pretty chill person, doesn't wear fancy, seer-sucker type clothes, or hip, skinny-jeans, but is smart, fun, and funny. (Basically my husband. I don't think his being pretty much the coolest person in the world should disqualify him from being a pastor if that was what he was called to be.) But to others, my definition of cool would be pretty mild. (Though all would agree about my husband. It's just they might think he'd be even cooler in skinny jeans or seer-sucker, depending on your persuasion.)

So I think this question comes down to, is a pastor allowed to have preferences and a personality? And I say, of course.

 

[py3ak]

Cool is a general term of approbation.

Cool is also the identification of a particular, changeable, style that has cultural cachet.

In the first sense, it were absurd to work for someone to be universally reviled.

Pursuit of a style can be just preference - though our preferences don't always say nice things about us - but if done for marketing purposes can easily become worldliness. For instance, one person may grow a goatee because they feel more comfortable with a clothed face; someone else may grow a soul patch to give the impression that trendy people come to his church. But trendiness is not one of the marks of a true church.

 

[Andres]

I would like to add that Jesus was a really cool dude.

Is he also your homeboy?

 

[LawrenceU]

I am a pastor and I am cool pretty much all the time. That's a first for me. I think it has something to do with losing about 40 pounds.

Seriously, I think seeking trendiness has been the bane of many pastors. A pastor is to be a mature man. A mature man is comfortable with his personality, gifts, and varied abilities. I think that sort of contentment is what real 'cool' is. It can look very different on different men, and should.

 

[AThornquist]

Seriously, I think seeking trendiness has been the bane of many pastors. A pastor is to be a mature man. A mature man is comfortable with his personality, gifts, and varied abilities. I think that sort of contentment is what real 'cool' is. It can look very different on different men, and should.

That's a good word. I would describe many people on this board as 'cool,' and trendiness isn't what's on my mind. It's not wrong to even be trendy, but it depends on why and how. Usually it it isn't for the better.

 

[Philip]

That's a good word. I would describe many people on this board as 'cool,' and trendiness isn't what's on my mind. It's not wrong to even be trendy, but it depends on why and how. Usually it it isn't for the better.

Someone is genuinely cool when the things they genuinely like and do are things that happen to also happen to be "on-trend."

Alternatively, certain people will always be genuinely cool, no matter what the trends are. That is, they are cool because they stand above the trends.

 

[RobertPGH1981]

I would like to add that Jesus was a really cool dude.
Is he also your homeboy?

I wouldn't refer to him as my homeboy. I don't see anything wrong with somebody referring to him in that way, but I would hope its not simply an association or cliche. God is holy but he is also approachable.

 

[moral necessity]

Just one more thought to add:

My pastor in the late 80's/early 90's wore old suits from the 70's when he preached. People who came definitely were not coming because he was hip with his wardrobe. His intention was attract them only with the gospel, not style. He referenced Christ's words that, "His sheep know his voice", and that is what the shepherd uses to draw his sheep to himself. Christ even drove away those who followed him for other reasons. I wonder how many preachers of today would do that? He once even set his focus on the 12 and said, "you too don't want to go, do you?" And Peter said, "To whom shall we go...you have the words of eternal life."

 

[Pergamum]

My pastor is hip . . . if you like the 17th-19th century Presbyterians. And that's a compliment. Westminster Confessionalism is the new black.

We can bill ourselves as going "Retro" or "Vintage" I guess.

 

[JS116]

My pastor is hip . . . if you like the 17th-19th century Presbyterians. And that's a compliment. Westminster Confessionalism is the new black.

No wonder I've been attracted to it!

 

[RobertPGH1981]

My pastor is hip . . . if you like the 17th-19th century Presbyterians. And that's a compliment. Westminster Confessionalism is the new black.
No wonder I've been attracted to it!

Cool is Subjective as you can see.... I do not think wearing a 70s suite during a service is cool, and it could have an opposite effect.. Non-Christians most likely wouldn't think Paul Washer is cool, just like most Jew's didn't think Jesus was cool.. The disciples may have described Jesus as being "cool"..

If you look at society as a whole then its right for Christians to stay away from certain aspects of our culture. Women in Hollywood dress sexy and it is considered cool, however, our culture may view women that dress modestly in the church as being unattractive and uncool. This would be correct to avoid as it would be sinful for a christian woman to dress to cultural standards. However, if a christian woman purchases a pair of designer jeans at a clothing store, but maintains her modesty (def... having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech, dress, etc.; decent: a modest neckline on a dress.), it shouldn't be considered unacceptable (let's assume she bought them on sale to avoid other arguments). Just like it shouldn't be considered unacceptable to meet people where they are at in their walks by using certain speech and slang (obviously within reason).