Thank God for Elderly Members!

I hear people talk about the “graying” of the Church, and the concern it brings. They are right in some ways. If we only have older folks in the Church, we are in trouble, simply due to the realities of life and death.

However, there are younger people in the Church. Maybe we aren’t doing as well as we might like in reaching younger folks in certain pockets of the country, but I see a lot of  young families, young single folks, college students, and teens who are on fire for Christ and who are working with all their might to “sow the seed of the Kingdom.”

Sadly, many congregations have become so enthralled with reaching the young that they have forgotten the older members. They think that only a young preacher can reach young folks, so they get rid of a Biblically-sound, hard-working, and effective older man to make way for a dynamic young guy. They think that every program needs to be geared toward young families, so they cut the budget on things for the older members to next-to-nothing (at best). They stop asking older gentlemen to lead in worship because they speak a little slower or maybe even fudge a few words (as if us younger guys never do that!).

And on and on it goes. They are, methodically, “cooking off” the older members.

Which is as anti-Christian as can be.

Paul wrote to Titus that older women are to

Teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:3-6)

Also, Titus was to teach younger men both by word and example (vv.7-8). Further, to Timothy, Paul wrote, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). Finally, inherent in the term “elder” is one who has wisdom that only comes from age and experience.

A congregation that has aged members is blessed, indeed! Not only does that congregation have wisdom, it has several members who are retired and can, thus, spend more time serving the Lord and helping others for His cause.

The congregation is wise that finds ways for interaction and teaching to take place among generations, so that younger folks can learn from those who are older. The congregation is wise that allows those who are aged and wise to lead in different areas of worship and ministry.

In other words, the congregation is wise that puts ALL members–young and old–to work in serving Christ in this world.

Thank God for elderly members!

QUESTION: What are some ways your congregation integrates generations effectively?