The Missing Link Millennials Seek

The Missing Link Millennials Seek

Connecting Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y (Millennials), and Gen Z

Generational contempt is eroding the foundation of American society. We are suffering from the degradation of an ever-increasing divisive culture that must rediscover mutual respect or we will implode. The Bible is crystal clear that a nation, city, or household that remains divided will destroy itself from within. Jesus states this principle very clearly in Mat. 12:25:

Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. (Matt. 12:25)

Secular demographers collect statistical data to identify social conduct to predict future trends in behavior and decision-making. These predictions help governments, social service agencies, and businesses to anticipate and effectively plan for the future. These social scientists are largely concerned with identifying the characteristics of past, current, and future generations and contrasting their shifting, interest, values, and characteristics. How we think, what we like, dislike, love, hate, believe, purchase, and hope for all frame a philosophical profile for each generation. Therefore, demographers have summarized in general (years vary among researchers) the following social groups. The positives and negatives of each group are from varying perspectives. For example, which generation thinks boomers are homophobic? And which generation thinks millennials are lazy or entitled?

• Boomers (1946-1964) are currently 54-72 years old and comprise roughly 74 million people in the United States.
  1. Positive characteristics: strong work ethic, self-assured, goal-oriented, competitive, resourceful, focused, successful, religious affiliation.
  2. Negative traits: ruined the economy, bankrupted social security, can’t compromise, racist, sexist, homophobic, destroying the environment, criticize technology but use it, difficult to work with, and created the millennial attitude they hate.
• Gen X (latchkey kids 1965-1980) is currently 38-53 years old and comprises roughly 65.8 million people in the United States.
  1. Positive characteristics: somewhat successful, independent, resourceful, love for luxury, family-oriented, somewhat tech-savvy, and religious affiliation.
  2. Negative traits: identity crisis (part boomer, part millennial), lack of self-assertiveness, often using a parental tone with millennials, apathetic, slackers, overly guidance reliant.
• Gen Y (Millennials 1981-1996) are currently 22-37 years old and comprise roughly 71 million people in the United States.
  1. Positive characteristics: highly educated, highly tech-savvy, team player,  entrepreneurially-minded, diverse, result-oriented, and some religious affiliation.
  2. Negative traits: idealistic, easily offended, overly sheltered, lazy, entitlement mentality, know-it-all, out of touch with reality, technology zombies, cynical, narcissistic, 25% have no religious affiliation.
• Gen Z (Postmillennial 1997-2014) is currently 3-21 years old and comprises roughly 86 million people in the United States.
  1. Positive characteristics: 100% digital natives, accepting of others, value privacy, religious affiliation.
  2. Negative traits: seek instant gratification, self-absorbed, feel unsafe, 1/3 have no religious affiliation, most unchurched.

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Now I am not trying to debate, determine, or prove the merits of each perspective or who is right and who is wrong, but only that there is a huge divide between each generation and each perspective of the other. Having a firm grasp of the problem it becomes obvious that no human solution can heal the divisive nature of generational contempt. The solution can only come from another dimension, another realm, and another being not from this world.

As a believer and follower of Christ, I have enjoyed many wonderful blessings of God’s Holy Spirit in my life. When I first turned to Christ I discovered an immediate and supernatural unity with God and all members of the body of Christ irrespective of age, race, gender, nationality, etc. It is an absolute fact that there exists a “unity of the Spirit” imparted by the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit that creates an oneness in Christ as Christ has with the Father.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

This supernatural love and unity can only be realized when we turn to God in complete repentance and receive God’s forgiveness for all our sins. Through the Holy Spirit, we are supernaturally made as the body of Christ, many different parts forming one supernatural body of which Christ is the head. It is within this “unity of the Spirit” that we see beyond the gaps and barriers of generational contempt and discover a unity of heart that we never thought possible. A supernatural insight that causes us to see one another as though we were looking and loving through the eyes of Christ. What I am saying here is far beyond my human and natural ability to explain. It must be experienced to grasp the full impact of such a glorious truth, “unity of the Spirit.”

There is only one link that will connect all generations in a full Spirit of unity and oneness, and his name is Jesus. This “unity of the Spirit” is a sign to the world that Christ is real and sent from the Father to save us from our sins. The secular world is truly grouping in the darkness seeking answers to things that can only be understood through supernatural enlightenment.

To the Boomers who see lazy Millennials, the Millennials who see Boomers bankrupting social security, and to the Xers who can’t figure out if they are Boomers are Millenials, and the Zers who Boomers, Xers, and Millennials feel are too young to be considered important enough to have a valued opinion, please consider this:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb. 13:8)

People of all generations are clueless until they turn to Christ. After that, it is a whole new life and world seeing life through the eyes of Jesus!

You may also like…  The War Against Truth here