What's Wrong With 'Church Swag' Anyways?

Ok.  

My kids accuse me of being 'old' all the time because I don't 'get' the new slang terms that they use all the time.  

This is the case with the term 'SWAG' as well.

So I went on my Google hunt trying to get a clear cut definition of exactly WHAT is swag anyways.  Moreso because I hear more and more young people 'in the church' use the term 'church swag.'

Here's what I found:

According to Adrien Chen in 'The Old Person's Guide to Swag,'  swag is:

"Swag just isn't the new cool.  Swag is a noun, an adjective, a verb, an all-around expression of endorsement or agreement..."

According to some kids on Twitter quoted in the article, Swag is:

'Charisma.'

'The way you are like how you walk, talk, and present yourself...its a good thing.'

'Sexy with a bit gangster.'

'It means cool.'

Chen goes on to tell the readers that the term 'Swag' comes from hip hop.  "Swag, meaning superlative style, has, of course, been around forever...." 

And this kids' 'forever' is back from the 90s...and he goes on to quote some examples of rappers from that era (who I have NEVER heard of, by the way) who first introduced the term 'SWAG' in their rap songs.

(I guess I am old!)

Anyway...

He brings up a very good point.  

The fact of the matter is-from what I can tell-'SWAG' started out in rap music.  I was into rap in the era when rap was intelligent, informative, empowering and helped young people know their history....NOT the era (the 90s) when it sort of morphed into this hyped up, it's all about me, no one is better than me, rap music that hijacked one of the most expressive, informative and empowering original music forms ever....I feel even more impactful than what is termed 'gospel' music.

(Another blog for another day....)

I bring all this up to try and understand HOW in the world a rap term from hip hop rap music ended up in a setting where the people are supposed to be worshipping God?????

I guess it was the efforts of church folks to try to be relevant to 'the world,' to try and evangelize 'the world.'

Well, let's just look at how 'the world' responds to 'church swag:'

Now, 'Q Deezy' brings up some good points in this vid as well.  The main one I want to focus on is his observations on the hierarchical system that is more than obvious to him.

Just the fact that it exists is a complete TURN OFF to him wanting to even go to church, or come back anyways....

And I imagine once he heard 'the word,' he would probably run for the hills!

The fact of the matter is the words 'church' and 'swag' don't go together.  The TRUE church (not this microcosm that represents church where people go to show off their 'swag') does not have 'swag.'

The Ekklesia doesn't operate that way.

Church Swag represents another form of pride and vanity....a conspicuous form of idolatry and ambition....that has permeated every church system.  One doesn't have to hear the praise and worship or choir sing, or hear a sermon or witness an altar call or a shouting session to know that there is something inherently wrong with 'church' or 'church swag.'

Church Swag is just another ploy to try to make an institution that God is NOT a part of relevant in a society that, at best, laughs at most churches.

All the 'church swag' in the world-with all of its bishops, apostles, and elevated positions, and folks lifted up on pedestals/pulpits to be seen, with all of its 'kiss my ring because I'm better than you are,' with all of its just plain old demonic worship and idolatry...not to mention all the sinning going on behind the scenes-is not going to draw REAL believers to your church.

Young people are not drawn by 'swag.'

The Word of God says men are drawn to God BY HIS SPIRIT.

SWAG is a work of the flesh.  Period.

And that which is flesh cannot yield results in the spirit.

No matter how impressive....
No matter how well dressed
No matter how talented
No matter how anointed
No matter how glitzy and glamorous it all appears
No matter how much rank you pull
No matter how much theatrics and entertainment you put in the mix
No matter how many signs, wonders and miracles appears (David Copperfield can do the same thing)
No matter how beautiful

IT SIMPLY WON'T WORK!!!!!!

I know someone else who had 'SWAG,' too.  The Bible talks about him....

Ezekiel 28: 12-19

"You were full of wisdom and beauty, the image of perfection.  You were in Eden, God's garden.  You were covered with gold and every precious stone:  carnelian, topaz, and moonstone; beryl, onyx and jasper; lapis lazuli, turquiose and emerald.  On the day that you were created, finely crafted pendants and engravings were prepared.  You, a winged creature, were installed as a guardian.  I placed you in God's holy mountain where you walked among the stones of fire.  From the day you were created until iniquity was found in you, your ways were assured.  But because of your trade, (the KJV says 'merchandise'), you became impure."

(MAN!  if I was still preachin, that would PREACH!  Merchandise?  Prosperity?  Hmmmm!)

"So I expelled you from God's mountain.  I removed you, winged creature, guardian...you exalted YOURSELF because of your beauty and corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor!"  

"I will cast you down to the earth ... and I will make a spectacle of you....you made sanctuaries impure."

"Everyone among the peoples who knows you will be appalled because of you..you will become a terror....from that time on, you will be nothing..."

Allow me to set the tone here...

The Prophet Ezekiel was sent to prophesy to to the prince of Tyre, Ithobal, a wicked king, a wise king/leader, who thought he earned 'divine honors' equal to God because he believed he and he alone was 'the protector' of the Israelites.

God may have tried to use him to help the Israelites...but where he went wrong was in 'believing his own press,' so to speak, and taking the honor and the glory for what GOD had done upon himself.

The prophecy starts out addressing Ithobal directly, then the Spirit of the Lord leads Ezekiel to address THE SPIRIT that is operating in the haughty king, that of LUCIFER.

So, you see, SWAG began before man was ever created.  The first being to have SWAG was LUCIFER.

And you see where it got him!

I would leave that swag thing ALONE.

Pride and ambition is a dangerous thing, y'all!  Also, the incessant need for public approval and acceptance.  Affirmation and confirmation....

Look at this picture of a bishops' ordination.

It leads to pride and ambition....

Many a leader started out humble, wanting to serve the people and please God, but developed SWAG....WHY?

To please the PEOPLE...and THEIR FLESH!

I want to point out one more thing....

Did y'all catch that in the scriptures where God told Ithabol/Lucifer that his WISDOM was CORRUPTED by his beauty????????

THAT thing BLEW ME AWAY!

You see, we all can appreciate beauty.  We all love to see things pleasant to the eyes.

BUT, according to what I read here, WISDOM (which is supposed to be the PRINCIPAL thing anyways) can be CORRUPTED by beauty!

There is a little vain person in EVERY last person on this earth; it is part of the fallen nature.

There is a little portion of us all who loves attention.  We love to be accepted.  We love the pre-eminence and power over people.  If you give the seemingly most humble of persons a little power of something or someone, they WILL abuse their authority!

NO one can resist the temptation to LORD over another!

Also, people, in general, are always looking for someone to worship.  To emulate.  To look up to.

The enemy knows this...so I do believe that (especially in the organized church setting AND in the music industries) the enemy KEEPS sending BEAUTIFUL, TALENTED, ANOINTED creatures to get the people to worship!!!!

In AND out of the church settings!!!!!!

Now don't get me wrong.  I am not saying that all beautiful people are sent from the enemy.  Nor are all talented or anointed.

But we need to be VERY careful today.

We can NO longer judge people AFTER THE FLESH!

It is TIME to judge RIGHTEOUS judgment!

And THAT is based upon SOLELY the spirit and NOTHING in the natural realm.

Definitely, not by SWAG.

SO, What's wrong with 'church swag?'

It's sent from the devil!  HE developed it!!!!!