Old but not forgotten

1st September 2011 by Tim Girling

Churches in The Salvation Army have a fair share of older Christians. As younger people it can be tempting to set aside this group as irrelevant to the future of the movement, especially as we are often told that we are the future of The Salvation Army.

While this is true, we must also acknowledge that there is so much to gain from the insight and wisdom of older generations. While generational differences may make it difficult to relate to this demographic in some ways, older Christians have something to offer that many of us will take years to gain – true, Spirit led wisdom. So it is very important that we make the effort to share life with these people. That said, as we endeavour to build relationships with and view life through the eyes of an older generation we should keep a few things in mind.

Relationships aren’t one-way streets

Just like every friendship that we have, it is important to keep balance in the relationships we build with the older Christians of our church. When we interact and get to know older people, it is important to not only find out about them, their lives and their hearts, but to also share about ourselves. It is an amazing opportunity to share our hopes, dreams and trials with people that have a different perspective to us – a perspective that we may not get from people our own age. Sometimes it can be hard work to get to this point with people from a different generation, as we may not have a lot in common. But be reminded that we have the ultimate head start in getting to know each other because we have something in common – salvation through Jesus!

To be old and wise you first have to be young and stupid

I first saw this slogan on a T-shirt in 1999 worn by a kid my age at a Salvation Army camp. It’s always stuck in my mind, and as I have grown a little older and made many mistakes, I’m beginning to understand the sentiment. Wisdom comes from mistakes as equally as it does from successes. Many of the older Christians at your corps will have had a lifetime worth of both these things. So when those from the older generations offer advice, don’t discount it as words from someone out of touch. Take it as wisdom from a person that is more than likely drawing from personal experience, and who cares enough to share this knowledge with you.

Everyone needs kind words

With all their experience and achievements, it can be easy to forget that older Christians need to be encouraged and affirmed. We are all human regardless of age, and all appreciate kind words and honest encouragement. So when doing life with these older legends, just make sure to tell them when they have helped you, thank them for their comments, praise them for their past and current achievements, and pray with them in times of need, times of happiness or times of sorrow. It is always surprising to see how much encouragement can mean to people who we would usually think don’t need any! So we should be bold and honest in our kind words as we uplift these older people that we encounter.

All generations for Jesus

My passion for intentional contact between older and younger generations comes from a passion to see unity in Christ. Those of us that attend The Salvation Army are privileged to be part of a multi-generational community built around Jesus. Whether experienced or inexperienced, young or old, if we put Christ at the centre of our lives and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in fellowship, we can learn from each other, grow with each other, and truly love one another.

Comments

Pixie

September 06, 2011 at 5:23pm

We share a property line with our Corps, and when I was a toddler they built a retirement village next to us. I spent most of my formative years being carted off with mum to visit her friends in there as well as having many of the them attend our Corps. There are many of the retirees who lived there who have had significant impact upon my life, mostly because they had the patience to love me despite my bratty self. Many of them have been promoted to glory now, and I really miss their love and wisdom.
We have so much support from the older generation at our Corps, who regularly let us know they are praying for us and always have a kind word. I really don't know what I'd do without some of them, and the love from them shown to me was one of the main reasons I stayed at church when I would have left. They are constant reminders of Gods love and I am all the more blessed because of them!

Great article, I couldn't agree more.

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