Titus 2:1–8 is a brief encouragement from the Apostle Paul to the different generations about how they should view one another and how they should act toward one another. This bible passage is not a complete list but it’s obvious that God cares about how the older generation models their Christian faith and character to the younger generation.
If you are in your twenties, don’t disregard this New Testament passage as being just for your parents or grandparents. These biblical words are also for you. There is likely some Jr. or Sr. High student that is within your sphere of influence in your church family. If not, start to look around and begin to ask God to lead you to a younger Christ-follower (or a few of them) whom He wants you to have a positive influence on.
What could be more rewarding for an older person than to have someone of the younger generation observe your life and say something like, “I respect that person, because although they may not understand me fully, they are interested enough to ask me questions in order to try and understand what life is like for me and my generation.” Again, as an example, if you’re 30, you’re still older than many.
Several years ago, Joseph Rhea wrote an article entitled, ‘Why the Church Needs Intergenerational Friendships’. In this article he honestly wrote:
“Cultivating friendships across generations will lead us into uncomfortable situations. There will be awkward silence and unfunny jokes. We may have to labor for that next connecting point. To ask about that opinion we don’t share. These can be work, and they’re not comfortable, but the labor will pay off.”
I love the dynamics of an inter-generational church. It gives much opportunity to do the Christ-like thing of putting the interests of others ahead of our own (Philippians 4:2).
Within the Eaglemont family, here are just a few examples of what I hope and pray would increasingly become ‘normal’ behaviour from the older generations to the younger – that older Christ-followers would:
1. Pray regularly for our students and our 180 Youth Leaders, and that they’d let them know they are doing so.
2. Walk up to a circle of students who are chatting together after the gathering and, as they step into the circle, ask a question like, “What makes living for Jesus really difficult for you these days?” and then just listen.
3. In conversations that you seek out with younger people, be willing to say this phrase often: “Help me understand…”
A Berkley article entitled: ‘What Happens When Old and Young Connect’ makes the case that it improves both groups’ well-being. This is true, not because Berkely says so, but because God had already said so.