Let’s Talk about SWAG!

The term “swagger” or ‘swag’ was made popular among our young adults by performing musicians, especially the ‘rappers’ who have applied the term in a vulgar manner. But for some knowledgeable youths, the term has nothing to do with its current reckless use. The use of this word is found in literary works by William Shakespeare - an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist – in his play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

According to some writers, the correct definition of the word has to do with carrying oneself in an audacious manner, not about wearing colorful sneakers or dressing like a hipster. Swagger is said to be part of a man’s attitude affirmed by his success or position in life, not in a new designer belt clinging to jeans draped just above the knees so boxers are seen in an obscene style known as ‘sagging’.

Swagger speaks of stylish confidence, a very confident and arrogant and aggressive gait or manner. It refers to the way you present yourself; having style, confidence, etc. So, in a nutshell, swagger is an attitude, a manner that incorporates style but it is also about conduct.

Swagger and the Christian Teenager

Swagger is a lot about ‘being cool’ – like arrogant, pompous, etc. The problem with wanting to be cool in our culture is that cool can easily become the new ‘foolish’. Everyone – friends, television, movies, etc – may regard it as cool but negative swagger only ‘looks’ cool, promoted by young people with little understanding (Proverbs 7:7).

Let’s see how Jesus defined what should be our ‘swag’? The smartest, strongest, wisest people in the world should be practicing this ‘cool’:

“Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them (thinking it is ‘swag’). But it shall not be so among you. For whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be the servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42–45).

So, the essence of our swagger is for us to be so mature, content, peaceful and courageous in Christ that we are set free from the insanity of those who think that swagger comes from our clothing, looks, position, material possessions, etc.

We are human beings created in the image of the Almighty God and destined to achieve great and mighty things (Joel 2:28). Nothing could be more foolish than to think that our significance, worth and greatness – our swagger - is in what people think about our outward appearance instead of what they think about our inner reality. So, let us, teenagers, wake up from the madness of the ‘herd mentality’ where some ‘cool’ bull leads the whole herd of cattle to destruction.

Let our swagger be about the really significant things we are doing with our lives — like Jesus - serving other people, making a difference in the world. Don’t try to be cool even if everyone is doing so but be a radical servant. Focus not on what you are not going to do or not going to be, but focus on what you are going to be — the things you are going to do for the good of others. He who would be great, with swagger, Jesus said, must be the servant of all. Ask yourself, “How can I serve somebody today”? not, “How can I get somebody to like me today”? That would be a truly radical and wonderful revolution!!!