We live in a culture that idolizes youth, Stephen Nichols, in his article A Culture Fascinated by Youth states that:
Popular music, a barometer of popular culture, has followed this trend. Almost every heavy metal band of the 80s and 90s had this well-known melody about young heroes falling into a “glory splendor. “Other references in pop music underscore the invincible power of youth. Rod Stewart sings to be? (?Young forever?). In your coup? We Are Young? (?We are Young?), The contemporary group Fun declares that this young man will “set fire to the world”. The narrator sitting on a stool at the bar? Glory Days?Bruce Springsteen’s (“Days of Glory”) drowns out the sorrows of his fifties by recounting his exploits and high school triumphs. None of us want to relive the hard times of high school, but which one of us doesn’t?Accept the secret desires to be young again and seemingly capable of conquering the world?
This influenced the church in at least two ways: the first is segregation by age group, Nichols writes:
The idolatry of young people even leaks into the church. One way to look at this is to focus on youth groups in the church. Interestingly, Jonathan Edwards, in his letter to Deborah Hathaway, known as the Letter to a Converted Young Woman, encouraged her to join other youth in the church in praying together and discussing their progress in the sanctification of others. In short, he called her to start a group of young people. Youth groups can serve a meaningful purpose and can be an important ministry; however, in doing so, they can separate young people from other age groups in the church. The Church needs to worship, learn, and pray together, young and old side by side. Culture is trying to scare away the old man. The church can’t do that.
The way out of slavery from this undue celebration of youth is to promote a truly diverse community in our homes and churches, the gaps between generations can be unpleasant and become barriers for both sides to have authentic and authentic communion. He conceived His Church in such a way that we need each other. Paul specifically orders Timothy to educate the elderly to the youngest (Titus 2:1-4). We lose when we think we have nothing to learn from other people who are at different stages of life. The current church also loses when it thinks it has nothing to learn from yesterday’s church.
The second is contempt for the history of the Church. Nichols
Since we need the wisdom of the elders in the body of Christ, we also need the wisdom of the past. The youngest isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s worse; sometimes it’s not true. As a church, we are a people with a past. The Holy Spirit was not given exclusively to the church of the 21st century. We ignore or despise the past for our own loss.
Nichols in his article states that the idolatry of young people manifests itself in three areas:
Dr. Stephen J. Nichols is an associate professor at the Ligonier Ministry and professor of theology and church history at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is the author of the book Heaven on Earth: Capturing Jonathan Edwards?S Vision of Living in Entre.
By Stephen J. Nichols, www. ligonier. org. © 2013 Ligonier. Original Ministries: Culture focused on youth.
This article is part of the March 2013 edition of Tabletalk magazine on “A Culture Fascinated by Youth”.
Translation: Isabela Siqueira Critic: Renata Esperito Santo © Ministry Faithful All rights reserved. Website: www. MinisterioFiel. com. br. Original: A culture fascinated by youth and youth, do you spend time with your elders or alone with your small group?
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