The Greatest Generation

I grew up during the "hippie" era of the 60's and 70's. It was a time when we rejected the values of what has been called "The Greatest Generation." My parents, who were part of that generation, persevered through the Great Depression, fought and defeated fascism and imperialism and then rebuilt a prosperous world on the ashes. They handed us a much more stable and prosperous world than they had inherited.

But, unfortunately, the one thing that the Greatest Generation seemed incapable of handing over to us was the solid Judeo-Christian morality that inspired their work-ethic and self-sacrifice.

And so, the hippies thumbed their noses at their parents. "Don't trust anyone over 30," was their mantra. And as a result, we became the narcissistic generation. Prospering materially, but dying spiritually. We believed we knew better. Instead, we have proved what it looks like when the immature get to run the world.

Of course, our children and grand-children look at us and thumb their noses as well. They have rejected the materialism and preoccupation with "self." But what to replace it with? With so many children of divorce, no one seems to be able to deal with their own insecurities and general sense of abandonment.

This is where the church needs to step in. To a disconnected and fatherless generation, can we build a healthy model of family? Can we baby-boomer leaders set aside the building of our own empires so that we can spend our energy fathering and grand-fathering the next generation?

The "Jesus People" (often called "Jesus Freaks") were birthed during the hippie movement. One of our favorite words at the time was "koinonia" which is the Greek word for "common life" or "fellowship."

In Acts 2: 42-47, Luke describes the first spontaneous expressions of the new believers. That impulse was to gather together continually, to share meals, to pray together, to learn and grow together--and even to share financially during a time of great distress.

"All the believers were together and had everything in common" (Acts. 2: 44).

Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating that we all live in communes. But what I am saying is that one of the signs of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God, besides signs and wonders, is the spontaneous and joyous spiritual koinonia--shared life--that springs up.

And the rest of the Jewish community knew there was something special going on. "...enjoying favor with all the people...the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (vs. 47).

I don't know about you, but I think it is time to give myself away to the next generation. He's calling me to put it all in--everything He as given me--throw it all into the pot so that the community life is benefitted. Perhaps the greatest generation is yet to come.