Bridging The Generational Gap

Intro- Generations are.... different. - The Silent Generation, Baby boomers, Generation X, Millenials, Generation Z

There are some in here, who do not know what a rotary phone is

There are some in here who run their entire lives/businesses off of phones/computers, and there are some who don’t know how to turn one on.

Every generation seems to look down on the younger, while wishing that the older would lighten up a bit.

There are some people today who take great pleasure in watching videos of other people playing video games...

There is an older generation who had a lot of fun as a kid with their pet rock… I say all of that so that I can make sure I have offended everyone equally… And to point out the obvious… we are all different. That didn’t shock any of you… But it is important to discuss because.... Although we are different, we are called to be one...

“Every generation imagines it’s self to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” - “Generations at Work”

“Every generation imagines it’s self to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” - Generations at Work

What The Older Owe The Younger.

Loving mentors

Titus 2:2–6 ESV

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

This passage is clear as to what the design of the church should be. Older, teaching the younger. It just makes sense. I don’t sit down with my children with a math book and ask them to teach me (although they could probably teach me a thing or two.)

However, I think there are some important distinctions that need to be made here. This passage does not indicate that those who are older, can’t learn from the younger. It also doesn’t mean that It always needs to be an older person teaching or preaching in a public setting… Paul wasn’t talking about a public assembly here.. He was describing a way of life

The word used for “train” in Verse 4 literally means- “to encourage, or to show”

This wasn’t a simple guideline for how to teach a Bible class, rather it was a command to encourage the younger men and women to live right.

This isn’t just true of younger generations, but is true of all people… we don’t just want someone to tell us something, we want to be shown the way.

Far too often the model has been that the older generations will look at the younger, and either distance themselves completely from them or will simply throw out some instructions to them in lecture form. What God expects of older men and women is a willingness to come alongside the younger, work with them, invest in them, and show them the way.

Willingness to change

Anytime we talk about change in the church, I feel compelled to throw in the disclaimer, that we are not talking about issues of doctrine. If it is written, then it is settled, and there is no change that can bring glory to God.

What we are talking about are issues of judgement, preference, or tradition.

Tradition is a tricky thing. Its a tricky thing, because often times there is or at least was a reason for certain traditions to be in place. Traditions are almost always accompanied by emotions and nostalgia. They can be very deadly, because they allow us to spend our time fighting the wrong battles. Rather than fighting for the advancement of the kingdom, we find ourselves fighting to keep everything the way that it has always been.

Autopsy of a Deceased Church/ Thom S. Rainer - “The most pervasive and common thread of our autopsies was that the deceased churches lived for a long time with their past as their hero. They held on more tightly with each progressive year. They often clung to things of the past with desperation and fear. And when any internal or external force tried to change anything, they responded with anger and resolution: “We will die before we change!” and… they did.”

Thom goes on to clarify yet again, they were not issues of doctrine, rather issues of preference.

Describes in great detail 2 kinds of traditions. 1 kind of tradition (ceremonial washing of hands) bound things that God did not bind. The other tradition (Corban/ taking advantage of a loophole to avoid taking care of their family) loosened a law that God had bound. Jesus condemned both of these things equally.

We understand the mission of the church in that we are to seek and save the lost, Just as Jesus did ()

Listen to me carefully, I would submit that you and I should use every tool, method, and means possible to do that. We should do anything that it takes except for sin, to reach the lost.

That will often mean, changes to the approach that is used, methods, presentations, functions etc… As long as the Word of God is not being violated, we must be willing to change. Otherwise, we send clear signals, that we care just as much about “Our way of doing things” as we do Obeying God.

Any congregation that marries it’s self to the traditions of one generation will be widowed in the next.

Loving Mentors

Willingness to change (non doctrinal matters)

What The Younger Owe The Older.

Respect

There is a general belief about younger people that they do not have respect for experience or authority. While no general statement is true of every individual… There is a reason for that general belief. If you you view yourself to be part of the younger generations represented in the church, You need to look carefully how you walk, and make sure that respect is prominently displayed in your life.

1 Timothy 5:1 ESV

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,

Within the church (just like any family) sometimes tension arises. Timothy occasionally had to do some uncomfortable things, such as reprimanding one who was in the wrong. Believe it or not, sometimes that one who was in the wrong was older than he was. Which made the situation that much more uncomfortable. Paul charged Timothy not to “rebuke” - A sharp criticism, that often brought shame upon the one receiving it. Notice, that He was not to do this to one older than him. Rather, he was to spend time encouraging the older man, and prodding him on to better things.

Why? Why wasn’t Timothy supposed to be just a harsh with one who is older as he would be toward someone that was his peer? Because the older man deserved his respect.

If you just think about the history of this congregation… You think about all the work that has been done in the past. You think about all the souls that have heard the gospel, you think about the great preaching… We must always realize that we are standing on the shoulders of giants who have gone before us.

If we ever want to earn the respect of the Generations that are ahead of us, we must make sure that our respect for them is on full display.

A listening ear

There is a general feeling that those in the younger generations aren’t very good at listening. The reason for that general feeling is… It’s true.

Proverbs 18:2 ESV

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Proverbs 19:20 ESV

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Proverbs 19:27 ESV

Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

While no Christian is old enough or mature enough that they no longer need to listen, It is especially true of younger Christians. We ought to look at how blessed we are to have such a great wealth of knowledge sitting among us.

One of the reasons why older Christians are hesitant to change some things is because they feel as though those who are younger don’t understand why things are the way they are in the first place. Not that they got it right every time, but they would be more willing to change, if others were more willing to listen and understand.

understanding is so critical. Far too often when there are disagreements of viewpoints, insults are hurled, accusations are made… and we look just like the world. May we never be (young or old) people who don’t care about understanding others, but only care about our opinions. We are called to be better than that.

This is something that isn’t just for young people to give to older, this is for everyone, but I would submit that sometimes those of us in the younger generations aren’t very good at this.

Why should we take our unity seriously?

If we don’t we will damage the cause of Christ.

John 17:20–21 ESV

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

As Jesus was approaching the end of His time on earth. He prayed that God would help His disciples to be one. He then prayed for us… That we would be one. He gave a reason for that… The reason was so that others may believe in Jesus.

That is what unity does.

If every older generation digs in their heels on their preferences and refuses to change, or consider improving, it creates division. If every younger generation refuses to respect, and listen to those that have gone before, it creates division and we look just like everyone else on the planet.

We are called to be different. How can people with different backgrounds, expertise, financial status, race, gender, and age present a unified front? It only happens if everyone lays down their self, and picks up their cross to follow Jesus (Luke 9:23)

Conclusion- I want to challenge those who are older among us… Are you willing to set aside your preferences? If not, can I encourage you to consider more closely Jesus’ command to deny yourself. I want to challenge the younger among us. Are you willing to set your ideas aside and listen to those who are older and seek to understand them and why they feel the way they feel regarding certain things? If not, can I encourage you to consider more closely Jesus’ command to deny yourself?

Maybe you are worshipping with us today, and what we are describing (everyone laying themselves aside and being united for a common goal of following Jesus) Is appealing to you, we want you to know that Jesus has made it possible for you to join in that effort. Beginning your life anew, being born again. It isn’t easy, but it is worth it.