If you are of the older generations alive today and were asked for descriptive words of the youngest generations today, what words come to mind? Likewise, if you of the younger generations today were asked for descriptive words of the older generations, what words would you use? Were most of your words negative or positive?
Unfortunately, for far too many people, when thinking of other generations we tend to focus on the negative and we categorize an entire generation (fifty-seventy thousand people) as a whole. “Old, curmudgeon, stuck in their ways.” or “Lazy, ungrateful, entitlement attitude.” Why is it we lean to finding the negative in other generations? Would we not be better off focusing on the positives, the things we have in common and the positive traits of others that may be lacking in ourselves?
Indeed, we would! We need to take the time to understand other generations who may have different thoughts, opinions, and practices. Perhaps the first idea to eliminate is that every person in a particular generation is a clone with all bad traits. Each person in every generation is a unique individual created by the God of the universe to live today in this particular nation, state, and local community for a purpose.
Once we understand this, we should strive with great effort to employ the greatest avenue of understanding others – through genuine relationship. It is only through relationships that you and I can understand each other in our uniqueness. God created us this way and He has placed people of different generations in your life to assist you and for you to assist them, in learning and in life.
As the church we must understand that truth (God’s Word) is best understood in relationship. God created us this way and demonstrated it for us. God Himself came down from the splendidness of heaven to walk among us first in the garden of Eden, and ultimately as Christ, the Messiah, kinsman redeemer.
He could have sent an angel or other messenger, but God created us for relationship. Jesus came in human form to live among us so that we could know the intimacy of a relationship with the God of the universe. Jesus lived life with His Disciples and others. He ate with them, walked with them, went to the market, prayed, attended church services with them. Jesus lived life in relationship with His Disciples and others so that we could all understand loving relationships.
God’s principle remains today, truth is best learned and sustained through relationship. You and I must relationally commit to passing on truth to other generations through our daily interactions with those around us, bringing them into the fold of life and introducing them to God’s truths through loving relationships. We each must teach, practice, and personify God’s truth through fostering new relationships with people of various generations. How will you lovingly practice God’s truth in fostering relationships that please God with other generational people in your life?
George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.