My children have finally forced me to watch Talkin bout your generation in order to help me determine if I am a ‘baby boomer’ or ‘gen x’.
For those of you who don’t know the show; three generations: baby boomers (roughly born 1945-1960), gen x (born 1960-1980) and gen y (1980-2000) compete to show mastery of their generation and to defeat those of other generations. The assumption is that each generation thinks and operates differently to the others.
While there are lots of laughs to be had, one thing that struck me was that the show does not help in thinking through how best to relate across the generations. If the assumption that each generation is different is correct, and I think that there is much evidence to support this, then it is important to work at relating to each other in a godly way.
An example
As I am not of ‘gen y’ I don’t get the ‘just in time’ mentality or the commitment that has ‘subject to a better offer’ attached to it. It shows up in sporadic attendance at events and activities and lateness in committing to things. Over the past few years I have noticed that while God has raised up a fairly constant number of incoming students at Moore College, their submission of applications gets later and later every year.
It is easy for me to see this as sinful. I think that non attendance shows a lack of respect and lateness a lack of concern for other people. However, my attitude may betray shortcomings in fluidity, flexibility and accommodation – all things that ‘gen y’ think are important.
Common to all generations
After watching Talkin bout your generation I was unable to determine which generation I am closest to, but I know that each generation, despite their differences has much in common due to our common humanity and fallen-ness. One of the common fruits of our fallen-ness is the domination of self in our thinking. ‘Gen y’ has the “I” everything: iPhone, iPod, iPad. But the baby boomers also think that they have the right to dictate how our society operates.
Relating in a godly manner
So I conclude that no generation is any more or less godly than any other. If I look down on another generation for something, I need to ask what is it that may need to change in me. At the same time I need to be talking to those of other generations about the impact of their actions; after all that is what believers do- they chat about the life of faith.
I have also decided that I will look for what is positive in other generations, and thank God for it, and seek to increase it. It is so easy to only see what we find annoying.
Finally, I need to work at being a servant across generations, and also being willing to be served by people of other generations (something I find very difficult).
Feature photo: patrickreza
