Young and Old Need Each Other

Aren’t you getting a little tired of critical comments about today's young people? Admittedly, surveys of Generation X (people born between 1965 and 1977) pour out a stream of unflattering adjectives: Uncommitted. Directionless. Disrespectful. Easily bored. Unmotivated. Cynical. Not interested in serious Christian discipleship.

While these descriptions may fit some of today's twenty-something and younger crowd, they certainly aren't true of everyone. Some of the most faithful believers I know are teenagers and young adults who bravely serve Jesus in today's perplexing culture. People like Larry, a medical student, and his wife Lanah, a public school teacher. People like Luke and Tiffany, who are helping restart a struggling church in Australia. People like Kim, a busy ballet dancer who volunteers several hours a week to lead a small group for other university students. People like . . . well, like some of the people in your church.

Likewise, I'm concerned about the way so many today seem to disrespect or simply ignore the older generation. It's not fair to stereotype senior adults as stodgy old fogeys who are inflexible, out-of-touch and hopelessly out-of-date. Many older Christians deserve a lot of credit for at least trying to adapt to changes taking place in everything from church music to preaching styles while they continue to provide much of the church's financial support. Older church members sometimes feel like passengers in the backseat of a car—a little uneasy and carsick as they move through the turns, especially since they aren't exactly sure where this vehicle is headed.

Intergenerational communication has always been difficult. It's nothing new for youth to question their elders' values, while older folks shake their heads in bewilderment and sigh, "I can't believe what this younger generation is coming to!" From my middle-aged vantage point (I'm somewhere between Generation X and Generation X-ray!), it appears that Christians could do more to bring the generations together. Here are some suggestions.

Spend time with each other. As I ate lunch with a group of young adults the other day, 26-year-old Greg commented, "Sometimes I really just wish I had some older people to be around." I don't think Greg is unusual. Lots of teenagers and young adults would welcome more personal interaction with someone farther ahead in life's journey. For example, experienced married couples can mentor newlyweds. Separate age groups often prefer their own Bible classes and social events. But we also need times together as a body. Are we unintentionally sowing seeds of distrust when even in our corporate worship we insist on separating generations into different groups?

Listen to each other. Don't pre-judge someone from a different age group. Not everyone fits neatly into a Baby Boomer, Senior Adult, or Generation X pigeonhole. People of all ages deserve and need respect, love, encouragement, and a listening ear. That kind of communication should happen among all members of a church family, regardless of age (1 Timothy 5:1, 2; Titus 2:1-8).

Pray for each other. Why not establish prayer partnerships between youth group members and senior citizens? It's hard to talk behind a person's back when you're with him on your knees.

Solving the problem of intergenerational communication won't take the right programs; it will take the right attitudes. Every member of God's family is important. The church of the past needs to join hands with the church of the present as we follow our Lord into the future.