My Generation

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I read an interesting article the other day about how mainly four different generations are living together at this time in history. The Traditionals (born 1925-1943) living through World War II, Great Depression & Korean War, the Baby Boomers (1946-1964) living though Viet Nam and the new television era, Generation X (1965-1980) living through cable TV and the Gulf War and the Millennials (1981-1999) living growing up in the virtual world of electronics, social media and online everything. All create such generational diversity and a challenge as to how can the church effectively disciple each of these groups in a way that honors Christ? But in all actuality, “this generation” is all people alive on the earth at this moment.

Romans 3:21-24 Now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the  righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

I have noticed that there is today a sense of exclusiveness that seems to lose respect for the other age groups as the focus is on the dreams of what they call: “my generation”, with a rejection of older people and their ways. No blending or working together, but a “my way or the highway” attitude for the prior elder eras. I was talking to a 29 year old pastor Kyle this week, who agrees and he mentioned that entitlement has caused an out of balance culture that crosses the lines set "back-in-the-day". Every age has demographic differences, but one thing we all have in common is that the human condition is the same no matter when we were born. The wages of sin do not vary according to age. Therefore, whatever may be the particular challenges of presenting the gospel to each generation, they are overshadowed by the factors held in common with ever generation. So the task of the church is the same, regardless of age or generation differences: go out and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The author wrote that “discipleship” is the process whereby we seek to teach others the Word of God. Not only to teach people the commandments, but to teach them to “observe” and “obey” all that He commanded. There is a world of difference between teaching someone everything the Lord commanded and teaching them to obey everything He commanded. One is through words and the other through a way of life. Teaching someone to obey God’s commands requires intentionality in the context of relationship throughout the span of a lifetime. Disciple literally means both follower and student of the Lord/Master. As we study how Jesus interacted with others in this fallen world, we learn what discipleship looks like; by what we hear Jesus teach and by what we see Jesus do. Then, as we seek to live obediently by God’s grace, we teach others.  Jesus' command in the Great Commission (above) was not "hands off, live and let live, nor live and let die", but "go make disciples". Shall we answer: "No Lord." We are not perfect, but as I wrote this before: even our struggles demonstrate to those around us that truly it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone that we are saved … that all generations are saved from the wages of sin, to eternal life as a child of God. God made the family and all generations to work together here aligned with God's holy Word, Will and Way
for our common good and His glory. Children need godly parents and grandparents, and vice-versa. We're in this life, in this generation, together for a reason. Discipleship is for all ages and stages of life, with the unchanging Word of God. Not for "my generation", but for "regeneration" of all.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

In Christ, Brian