Cross that Generation Gap
George McGovern once said, "I’m fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.” Did you know that the idea of a ‘generational gap’ is actually a new thing? The word ‘teenager’ first appears in the English lexicon in 1673, while the concept of a generational gap didn’t popped up until over 200 years later, in the nineteenth century.
The gap between different age groups are drastically shrinking in society today, to as little as 2-3 years between younger generations. The primary reason? Modern technology. In a New York Times article from 9 January 2010, Brad Stone distinguishes generational gaps between the “Net Generation,” who are in their early twenties and the “I-Generation” that is a few years younger. While the first group spends a lot of time on cellphones and email, the I-generation spends more time texting than on phone calls. They also prefer Facebook rather than email.
Higher life expectancy is also leading to brand new generational gaps between higher age groups. In this case, better medical care is the primary reason. New technology and knowledge drives shifting generational gaps, both of which have shorter lifespans than ever before. A typical video game currently sell 60-70% of their total sales within the first week of release. All knowledge within technological, medical and most other fields is basically outdated within 4-8 years.
These fast changes and the accompanying new generational gaps remind me of a lost generation that happened between Joshua 24 and Judges 2. While the older leaders of Israel promised Joshua that they will serve the Lord, in Judges 2:10 we read that the generation after that grew up godless. They knew nothing of His great deeds. How do we prevent a repeat of Judges 2 in today’s fluid world? Well, the way of love through Jesus is still timeless and not bound by generation. No generation is love resistant or immune to respect. 1 Peter 2:15-18 explains what a timeless (and generationless!) way of doing good in the name of the Lord looks like – This includes having respect for others, love for fellow believers, fear of God, and honour for authority.
Interesting enough, the New Testament never thinks in terms of age when it comes to living a life of faith. People are never too young nor too old to live relevantly in tune with the heartbeat of Jesus as the Scriptures teach. Peter's teaching during Pentecost in Acts 2:17-18 explain beautifully that the Spirit connects with older people in dreams and with younger ones in visions.
We should naturally not be blind to the growing generational gaps. Different age groups need to actively serve each other with God’s love and shouldn’t wait for paid spiritual leaders to do it on their behalf. Own generation ministry is unique and needed as well.
In the same breath, older generations must also care for younger generations if we want to make a significant impact in the Name of the Lord in South Africa in the next few decades. The 2011census found that 29,2% of South Africa's population is younger than 14 years. Only 5,3% are older than 65, while 49,2% South Africans are younger than 24. Older people urgently need to become mentors in their communities to serve and lead them. Younger generations equally urgently need wise mentors while older generations can learn from them how the new world works.
Our calling is to bridge the generational gap between people in the name of the Lord. In Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9 – we must be willing to be a Jew for the Jew and a Greek for the Greek. Otherwise, more lost generations will be our future.