My Generation
2008
April
10
Yesterday seemed to be the day of blog posts on the millennial generation. I want to point you to three posts from yesterday:
- Rhett Smith on millennials and how it effects the PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of the USA).
- A response to Rhett’s post by Neal Locke at Presbymergent.
- Scott at Read Scott on some unknown truths about postmoderns.
These are 3 of the best things I’ve read in a while, as far as describing my generation.
Now I’ll add a few of my thoughts.
- Rhett talked about the disinterest in issues surrounding homosexuality for millennials. I think that is right on.
- Authority is found within the consensus of those around you. Around you is no longer just those within your daily footprint. Your footprint reaches people around the world, just in a different way.
- I agree with Locke, in that some type of system of government or decision making is in place with every church or denomination. Some have a government hierarchal system, others rely on one pastor to make all decisions. I don’t think that postmoderns or millennials are necessarily drawn to one or the other.
- Scott is right on with the whole music thing. My generation loves music, good music. We often worry about doing new songs in church, but I think it applies less and less. Everyone can listen to everything (thanks iTunes)
- Reaching people for Christ comes through relationship and conversation. Most other forms are not as effective.
You might wonder why I talk a lot about the emerging church, or postmodernism, or the millennial generation (all kind of fall under the same umbrella). I have a passion for reaching my generation for Christ. Nearly all of my friends from high school no longer attend church or care about the Jesus they loved when they were younger. The church (all believers) has done a horrible job of finding ways to speak to my friends. I hope posts on this help you come to know how my generation operates.
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Tyler Braun.
Right on brother! There seems to be something lacking in this generation. Previous generations seem to think that just talking about Jesus during the sermon and “sticking to what the church has always done” will reach lost people of OUR generation. Not at all!
I know that if I was trying to be reached now and I heard a 30 minute sermon about Jesus, but didn’t see people living it or asking me about it, or simply expanding their horizons to include me in their walks with Jesus, I WOULDN”T FOLLOW.
We need to be so vigilant about generations that continuously change and their needs to know Jesus. Why would someone want to follow Jesus if all I do is talk about Him, especially in this “visual age.” People are much more inclined to check something out when they SEE US IN ACTION! Why do you think it is so important that we live as Jesus would, with His vision for the world.
Good finds on the other posts too brother
ER
Thanks for chiming in, Tyler. I think the driving force for a lot of us (even for Gen Xers like me) is waking up one day and realizing that all of our youth group friends are now passionate atheists. Actually, if not for a chance progression of events (like working for a church) I might have been one of them.
But I also believe that the church is waking up to this fact, even if it is a day late and a dollar short. Maybe if we all seek to understand more than to be understood, we can begin the path toward reconciliation among the generations and the people of faith.
great thoughts neal and evan.
thanks for adding to this.
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