Creating Intergenerational Division

The ‘News’

My work laptop has multiple browsers installed (in keeping with New Testament Churches and the example given, I am not a full time ministry worker – I have a ‘day job’). When you work around technology, and work with different companies, you learn that it is best not to just rely on one web browser. I have my ‘go to’ favorite, but I have other options too.

Anyway, this is a long way around to say that when I open my least favorite browser I see the latest ‘news’ headlines. (I put this in quotes because, in my view, they ceased to provide news a long time ago.)

Driving Disunity

I’ve noticed a very concerning trend that has been consistent for sometime now. There is an active push to drive a wedge between Millennials and the Baby Boomers. There is now, also, a push to drive a wedge between Gen Z and the Baby Boomers.

Take today (August 23, 2023), as a typical example. Just scanning for a few seconds, I see:

1. Millenials and Gen Z Rejoice as 23 Boomer Traditions Face Their Final Bow
2. 12 Stupid Trends That Will Hopefully Go Away With The Boomer Generation
3. Boomer Wins: Why the Older Generation is Thriving While Millennials Struggle
4. Why Gen X Is Secretly Laughing at Both Boomers and Millennials
5. Boomer Skills That Millennials Say Aren’t Relevant Anymore
6. Woah! Check Out the 15 Outdated Boomer Skills That Millennials Say Have Bitten the Dust
7. 20 Fashion Trends Boomers Thought Were Cool But Gen Z Think Are So Out
8. 17 Things Boomers Wish Could Make a Comeback
9. Home Trends Boomers Adore, But The World Wants To Forget
10. Millennials’ 21 Must-Have Luxuries that Have Boomers Shaking Their Heads in Disbelief
11. Millennials Highlight 18 Pieces of ‘Wise’ Boomer Advice That Just Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
12. Boomers’ Fading Fancies: Once ‘Cool,’ Now Just Cringe-worthy
13. OK Boomer 20 Trends Millennials Refuse to Follow
14. Gen Z Has Done It Again, Millennials and Boomers Are at a Loss for Words
15. Baby Boomers and Gen X Have It So Much Easier, Say Millennials
16. 15 “Bad” Boomer Advice Millennials Are Tired Of Hearing
17. 18 Epic Fails by Boomers That Left Millennials Picking Up the Pieces
18. How Boomers’ Actions Impact Millennials’ Future
19. 16 Funny Things Boomers Say That Make Younger Generations Say “Ok, Boomer”
20. Sorry, Boomers — Your Earnings Peaked in Middle Age
21. 12 Things Boomers Like to Do That Millennials Don’t Understand

I had not realized just how many there were until I actually looked. I had seen 2 or 3, but not 21!!

I do not believe in coincidences, and it is certainly no coincidence that a single site, msn, just happened to find 21 articles fomenting inter-generational strife all in the same day.

We can also see that there are a few articles that are critical of Gen X, and grouping them in with the Baby Boomers.

At the same time, they have an article that is “trying to understand” the “Boomer Hate” – as if they were not the ones creating the intergenerational “hate” in the first place!

• Understanding the “Boomer Hate”: A Generational Perspective

What can we do?

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 3:28–29

Unity of Spirit will lead to unity of thought, resulting in there being no way for the enemy to divide God’s people.

However, many church leaders seek to create unity of thought, believing that ‘forcing’ this will lead to unity within the body. Unfortunately, there is only one way of achieving unity of thought without first having unity of spirit and that is total totalitarianism.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

Ephesians 4:1–8

Ah but, I hear you say, Paul did also talk about unity of thought:

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

1 Corinthians 1:10–11

As you can see, this is true. However, how do we achieve this without unity in Spirit? It is simply not possible, and still to be true to our Faith. We must pray to God for the Holy Spirit to guide us, to teach us, to lead us and speak through us. Only then can we achieve unity – in Him.

Guard Yourself

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Matthew 6:22–23

The most important thing we can do is to protect ourselves from consuming the information – images, text and sounds – that will cause us to turn our back on Christ. This could be in the form of encouraging our disunity.

Identity politics is all about ‘divide and conquer’ – but that is a topic for another day.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:2–4

Protect yourself, protect those you love – especially your children – from the influence of the enemy. Being in the world but not of the world it is not possible to completely protect ourselves, without becoming a hermit, but it is our highest duty. This is one reason that we are to pray without ceasing – meaning that we constantly ask God for his wisdom, guidance and help.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–22