Why YOLO Is the New WWJD
Might Christians learn something from the ridiculous catchphrase of 2012?
[posted 1/4/2013]
Thinking about making a resolution for the new year? How about a motto that will last all year?
That's what rapper Drake did in 2012 with YOLO, the ubiquitous, often grating acronym (and noun/verb/adjective) that made it onto Oxford's shortlist for ...
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Daniel McGinty
At my Youth group we are actually encouraging our students to start a movement to redeem YOLO by posting something online #YOLO that is meaningful and Christ-Centered instead of risky and self-serving. Put together a video that I would like to share with all those who want to live out what it means to be redeemed: http://fbcdspipeline.weebly.com/1/post/2013/05/bc-7-redeem-yolo.html dir ect link: http://youtu.be/Mf2IYuGh_Nw
Jim Clark
First time I've heard of YOLO. It's catchy but not quite the message that I want to send. The new WWJD though is LTLYG (Love The Lord Your God). It's catching on in the UK - check out the gear at http://www.spurtrading.co.uk (and they've got a sale on plus a new US collection for US friends). LTLYG is taken from the Greatest Commandment, specifically in Mark 12:30, where we're called to Love the Lord our God with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind and all of our strength. Jesus, when asked about it, doesn't rescind the command but reinforces and emphasises that it is indeed the Greatest Commandment... a commandment that many of us shrink back from. Trace it back to Deuteronomy 6 and you'll find that we're encouraged to tie it round our wrists and heads and paint it on our door posts. Young people in the UK are beginning to wear the wristbands and the hoodies & t-shirts. If there is anything that a follower of Jesus should wear surely it is LTLYG.
Christina
@George-- I believe that would be YODO (You only die once). Not that it'll ever catch on as an acronym... I'm still laughing at "carpe diem for stupid people." It almost makes me want to get a Twitter account, just so I can retweet it.
Steve Skeete
This is the first time I have heard the term, but people are so gullible these days that even a poor salesperson can sell 'snake-oil'. 'WWJD' was for bible surfers. Those who truly study the bible know that what Jesus said and did is quite enough to guide his followers. As for YOLO it is patently false. There is this life and the one where those referred to as 'the children of God... shall be like Him' for they 'shall see him as he is.'
Adam Johnson
Does this article not ignore Acts I wherein Luke reports that Jesus, "after His suffering, gave many convincing proofs that He was alive"? So, wouldn't Jesus be the ultimate debunker of YOLO?
George
Actually, the YOLO comment is biblical, IF you add the rest of the verse, "but after that, the judgment."
Nora
Thank you for writing this! I work with teens every day, and I have watched them use yolo as excuse to wreck their lives, one bad decision at a time. But this post redeemed the term for me. Hopefully I can pass this message on to them!
Lesley
I think you make such a great point when you say, "To take every opportunity is often to miss the most important ones that come your way. But I believe that we can also fail to fulfill our purpose in this world by passing up chances, avoiding risks, or putting off what we have a heart-level urge to do (as Paul said elsewhere, let peace be your guide) because we are formulating a good reason to convince ourselves or others." The YOLO thing has been interesting to watch this year. In my 20s I' had a tendency to believe I should take every opportunity I could to travel, and I justified this by saying things like: "I'm only young once" or "It will be harder when... (we have kids/we have careers/etc.)" These are all other ways to say, "You only live once!" And while it may be true that travel is often easier when you're young, I think there's a generation of people who believe that life owes us certain experiences at certain times.
Doreen Ashley
How about YOLO, as in use your life here on earth to do good, be an example of Christ, and exemplify His love and forgiveness whenever you can? Put YOLO on its ear, so to speak. It's not all about me.
Christy Stroud
This post comes at an interesting time because we're actually mentioning the phrase YOLO in our youth group Bible studies tonight as we discuss Ecclesiastes. So thank you for this timely post!
Tim
YOLO is nothing more than the old beer commercial that told us "You only go around once in life, so go for all the gusto you can!" As you said so well, Alicia, it takes discernment to know what to pursue and what not to pursue, gusto or no gusto. Tim P.S. As it happens, though, Yolo is where I live.
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