Age and wisdom, and lessons to be learned.

Yesterday, we discussed how increased life expectancy is creating a widening generation gap within our culture, which in turn, has impacted the Church. If you missed it, you can read it here: “How Has Increased Life Expectancy Impacted the Church?“

My starting point for today’s post is a caveat; generally, we should cling to the old adage that, “With age comes wisdom.” The older a person gets, for the most part, the stronger their ability to make the right decision in various situations. That being said, we can’t ignore the conflicting cultural motto, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.“

Which one is true? Both, depending on the situation.

Church situations seem to bring out the bookends of both mottos. After over a decade of ministry experience, I have found that within the local church, there’s constant evidence of both. Though I struggle to understand why the latter hangs on.

We should always be willing to learn a new trick!

One would deduce that maturity in age (and therefore increased wisdom) would give a person the ability (and desire), to make more of an effort to keep learning and growing. I’ve witnessed it firsthand, seniors in their 80s still reading and watching content, striving to learn new skills. They never lost a hunger to learn, but more importantly, they embraced a humility to learn.

Why is humility more important than hunger? Because younger generations are typically the ones on the cusp of new processes and programs, many of which relate to new technologies. It takes a humble spirit to connect with young people and learn how to relate to younger generations in order to pick up some of what comes so naturally to them.

If the desire is awakened and the courage is embraced, decades of maturity and wisdom can actually aid in bridging this gap. If the older generations could just take the first step to invest in the younger, they’d experience amazing growth in skill and knowledge, and build some incredibly life-giving relationships as a side benefit.

Alas, for most local churches, this isn’t happening.

Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed too many local churches being treated like property, in which those who have had the longest claim, rule according to their preferences. This position might feel easier in the short term, but if younger generations don’t have a voice, they will leave.

This is why we see more and more young adults abandoning the churches they grew up in. Either to plant new churches that reach their demographics or sadly, to abandon organized churches entirely. For the churches they leave behind, the lights will soon go out and the doors will close.

The end result is too often a stalemate.

We see more and more churches defined by the generational majority in the building on Sunday morning. Each demographic clique points at each other, which doesn’t help either party or the Church as a whole.

Although I’m only in my 40s my preferences are being locked in. I feel it creeping in day after day but I’m determined to fight against it. My pride can cause me to discount what teens and young adults want to experience, but I need to remember who they might become.

• What if they end up leading our worship ministry one day?
• What if they’re the catalyst for a new outreach ministry?
• What if they become a Board member helping me cast vision?

Whether I like it or not, I need to be okay with that.

We all need to be okay with that! Everyone grows up, and “With age comes wisdom.” Let’s cling to that motto and not fulfill the latter. Let’s not become an old dog that can’t learn new tricks.

Whether we’re in our 40s or 80s, or anywhere in between, we should lead the way in bridging the widening generation gap. We should refuse to allow our personal preferences to break our spirit to learn, grow and continue to serve.

Regardless of what we may think the church should look like, we should continually strive to invest in the generations to come. It takes hunger, but it also takes humility. Let’s embrace both equally.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

• Is the widening generation gap dividing your church? If so, how?
• What is your church leadership doing to bridge the generation gap?
• What can you do this week to bridge that gap?