Generational Upheaval: Where is the Hope?

 

I got the new issue of Relevant Magazine in the mail the other day and the cover story is particularly intriguing. They are taking a look at the values and beliefs of the current twenty- and thirtysomethings and asking the question of how this generation is shaping and changing the face of Christianity. From my viewpoint, it seems that we are continuing down this road of transition - the baton being handed from one generation to the next - and points of tension are increasingly becoming apparent. In the little Nazarene corner of Christendom, we have seen the birth of a grassroots campaign that is antagonistic and critical (some may even say concerned) of current leadership, questioning their decisions and seeking an upheaval in both theology and praxis. What's strange, though, is that this grassroots campaign isn't springing up from the exuberance and enthusiasm of young people (in general... there are exceptions to every rule of course), but from an older generation that is desperately grasping and clinging to what it believes to be the core tenets of the church that are now being demeaned and destroyed. It's been a bloody fight with even a few casualties along the way, as sad as that is to admit. I have seen dear friends stripped to the core by baseless and hateful attacks. I've even seen peers contemplate (and some even making the decision of) leaving the church, finding no hope in loving and serving a group of people that wish only for their demise. I'm not gonna lie... in my darkest moments, I too have considered this. Aggressive attacking and mudslinging is bad enough out in the secular world (just focus on the current "class warfare" debate that is going on in the press), but it is magnified even greater when it occurs in the context of the church. You know why? Because we should know better. Because we are called to a higher standard. Because Jesus taught us to love our neighbor, to focus on our planks instead of obsessing over others' specks. It's an absolute shame to see conversations that start out with good intentions and dialogue quickly regress to attacking, mudslinging, and condemnation.

So, in the midst of this generational upheaval, I ask a question that I try to ask continuously in every circumstance: "Where is the hope in this?" It's easy to focus on the negatives (trust me) but you cannot learn or progress if hope is not identified and sought. So, here are four places I see hope:

• 1. Conversation is happening.  Even though it has a tendency to backslide into dangerous and downright sinful territory, the simple fact that conversation is occurring is encouraging. Discussions are taking place on topics that wouldn't have even dared been brought up just 10 or 15 years ago. This is a good thing, as it forces us to continuously evaluate our stances and our structure. Evaluation is so important... you can't be right about the future when you're wrong about the past (to borrow a lyric). We continue to move forward and forward motion is the goal: it is what gets us closer to the Kingdom.
• 2. Essentials are being identified. "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity." In the midst of these conversations, we are identifying and distinguishing the essentials and non-essentials. This is the key step in this evaluation process. What unites us? Focusing on that and discovering what that looks like brings hope. Even in the midst of what can be frustrating and banal conversations, we are learning what those things are that we can have some wiggle room in and conversely, what those things are that must unite us in orthodoxy.
• 3. The truth is being sought. Both generations are earnestly seeking the truth and that is encouraging. Real truth is blind: it does not know our preconceptions and motivations... it just is. The desire for finding that truth is a holy endeavor. My only prayer is that we seek that truth, being truly unafraid of what we may find. The truth will set us free.
• 4. And most importantly, God is working. I've had the absolute privilege recently of reading and interacting with testimonials from the event I worked on this summer. Every single one of them reflects the beauty of God's work. He is doing great things in the midst of our brokenness and it is so exciting to witness that. I'm not going to lie, I was concerned about the response the event may engender. It was a key event in the lifecycle of the church and has come at this crucial point of generational upheaval. It was entirely possible, in my mind at least, that the negative reception of a vocal minority could drown out the beautiful work that God was going to do in the event. I'm so glad I was wrong. Criticism remained solely in the realm of logistical frustration, which you're going to have no matter what when planning an event of this size. There were no picketers, no online petitions (at least none that generated more than 36 signatures...), and no theological distractions. Just the real, authentic, and honest work of the Holy Spirit. Thousands of young people received the call at NYC and I'm so excited to see this generation continue to find its place in the church and build confidence in the knowledge that they really do matter to God's work of restoration in this world. Trust me on this, God is up to something big. If you can't find hope in that, then you must have no pulse.

What do you think? I would love to hear feedback and comments from others on this topic. Where else do you see hope in the midst of generational struggle? In the coming days and weeks I will delve into the more specific aspects of the Relevant article, including the topics of family, politics, faith, and society. Okay... maybe I'll stay away from the politics one!

It is my hope that His hope encounters each of us in an undeniable and unmistakable way as we continue to grow into this new reality, this new picture of the church as it continues to march into the 21st century.