age

We recently had a discussion about age and getting date of birth information in a staff meeting. It raised a question for me, why are people in our culture so sensitive about age? It seems to me to be yet another way we've missed biblical teaching (even in the church at times). In my position at Grace it is not uncommon in any given day that I find myself in a room with college students 10-15 years younger than me. Then in the afternoon I'll find myself at a lunch with someone 10, 20, 30 years my senior. That said, I feel the tensions of Living the Gospel in an intergenerational church like Grace.

That said, I'm surprised how often we in the church seem to be disproportionately concerned with the impressions, opinions and desires of the young. I'm surprised that Christian Believers would feel embarrassed by their age. I think of the Proverbs,

The glory of young men is their strength,
but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
(Prov. 20.29)

Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
(Prov. 23.22)

In fact, Paul had to exhort Timothy, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers tan example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. " (1Tim. 4.12). It seems youth was the bigger obstacle in their world. Proverbs begins by citing the lack of wisdom possessed by youth.

To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth
(Proverbs 1:1-3)

I wonder, in our media-saturated culture, where body image is such a prevailing issue, and teens and even pre-teens (with their disposable income) are targets for marketing, if we are not swayed into thinking that youth is somehow more valuable than age. Perhaps it's even a by-product of being part of a young country that has always valued social and economic mobility. Perhaps it relates to Hollywood's portrayal of "reality" where the young and beautiful generally reign. I'm not sure what the cause, I do know the seniors in our midst feel the impact of our youth-based culture at times. (As a side note--I had the opportunity to lunch with our Young @ Heart crowd last week. They are a wonderful group of folks! Among other parts of the afternoon, there was an impressive bubble gum blowing contest!) I know the older generations have more life experience, a generally stronger work ethic, and wisdom to offer that I am years from acquiring.

Anyway, these are some thoughts on my mind someone encouraged me to blog about--what do you think about this issue?