I confess. I am not a hipster. I am a hipster wannabe. I have proudly proclaimed before that I am a card-carrying member of the Goobers R Us Society of America.

I don’t have anything against hipsters, although I look at some guys wearing skinny jeans and think to myself, “Boy, you need a cheeseburger in the worst way.”

I think about the Bible and what it calls us as believers to be. I’ve come to the conclusion that we’re called to be neither hipsters or goobers. At least not in the long run.

According to Paul, Jesus didn’t call the wise or cool or trendy people. He called the nobodies and castoffs of the world. Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians:

“Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, which is a scandal to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. This is because the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:22-25 CEB)

Maybe the key is not what you think of yourself or how you perceive the way others see you. Maybe it’s not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less (as the old definition of humility goes). Maybe it’s getting out of the way so that God can get in the way, as a friend of mine used to pray frequently.

I don’t claim divine inspiration. My words are just as fallible as I am. But hopefully, both you and I can think about these things and maybe, just maybe, find a little freedom there.