Which generation are you in? Traditionally, the generations have been named:
- Silent Generation, 1928-1945
- Baby boomers, 1946 – 1964
- Generation X, 1965 – 1980
- Millennial’s, 1981 – 2000
- Generation Z, 2000 - 2015
I first become aware of generational characteristics many years ago. I was in the leading edge of the Baby Boomers. Every class I was ever in from the first grade through my doctoral program was the largest class the school had ever had.
When I first read a description of the characteristics of Baby Boomers, it clearly described me! I remember thinking, “How did they know I was like that?!?”
As the Baby Boomers began to enter the adult world and make their impact on society, I remember hearing a member of the Silent Generation say, “The thing that bugs me about baby boomers is that they think they’re young by choice!”
I remember thinking, “We’re not?!?”
Now, 50 years later, I realize we were not!
Some years later, a blinding realization hit me: if I were born when my father was born, I would be like my father! Even more incomprehensible: if my father were born when I was, he would be like me!
It began to dawn on me what a powerful influence our generation has on each of us! And even in very effective families in which children embrace many of the better characteristics of the parents, they also often take on characteristics of their generation, and sometimes the unhelpful ones.
Christians must understand their generation
This is vital for Christians to understand, because every generation has its strengths and every generation has its weaknesses. It is incumbent upon each generation of Christians to assess the strengths of their generation and the weaknesses – and to capitalize on the strengths while endeavoring to minimize the weaknesses.
This is part of how we respond to Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:2, to “not be conformed to this world.” If we just float like a cork down our generation’s stream, it is going to take us places a Christian ought not to go!
Historic cultural shift
As I mentioned in a recent blog, we are facing
a cultural shift unlike any culture in the history of the world. It used to be that truth was objective; absolute right and wrong were recognized and accepted, and we generally agreed that we all are to do what is right. This brought great cohesion and stability to our culture.
Now, after this historic cultural shift, truth is considered to be relative and individually determined. Incomprehensibly, our culture agrees that something might be true for you, but not true for me.
Based on this remarkable cultural shift, there are three dominant beliefs of younger American generations:
- Truth is what I say it is.
- Feelings are a reliable source of truth.
- Individual happiness is the highest good.
These beliefs are almost universally accepted by younger generations in secular culture. And, because they are constantly being touted, Christians are being influenced by them, because the mind does not always believe what is true. Sometimes, it believes what it is told most often.
So, a great challenge of a younger Christian is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of his/her generation, and choose to capitalize on its strengths while resisting its weaknesses.
In the process, we must accept that those three dominant beliefs in this latest cultural shift fly in the face of biblical truth, which says:
- Truth is what God says it is.
- Feelings are not a reliable source of truth.
- Holiness is the highest good.
Truth is what God says it is
Scripture clearly teaches that truth is objective, is determined by God, and is true, regardless of whether or not we know it or believe it.
- Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
- Jesus also said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
- Again, he said, in a prayer to God for his disciples, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Feelings are not a reliable source of truth
The Bible spends a good bit of time warning us about the dangers of following our feelings.
- “Be quick to hear slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19 – 20)
- “flee from youthful lusts…” 2 Timothy 2:22
- “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
Holiness is the highest good
The Bible calls us to holiness over happiness.
- “be holy yourselves also in all your behavior…” (1 Peter 1:15)
- “let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
- “what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.” (2 Peter 3:11)
However, a complete understanding of the subject of holiness reveals that holiness is actually the pathway to true happiness.
Conclusion
The fact is, God wants us to be happy. But because we are created in his image, we can only be happy in one way: by becoming like him.
The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:22 – 23: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These are the marks of God, and the characteristics that He wants to give us, and will give us as we follow Him.
Take just the first three of those: love, joy, peace. If you had those three, would you need anything else?
As Timothy Keller said, “
If you understand what holiness is, you come to see that real happiness is on the far side of holiness, not the near side.”
So, if we want to be happy, if we want to live a life that God can bless, if we want to be recipients of the good promised to God’s children in Scripture, we must reject unhelpful generational values in favor of biblical values.
Do you want some help embedding biblical values in your life? I’ve created a 15 minute video with some tips on knowing and reinforcing truth from the bible. If you haven’t done so already, you can still get that video for free here:
Master the Bible So Well That the Bible Masters You.
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