Continued: VOICES STUDENTS HEAR

CRITICISM - the disposition that is preoccupied with the incomplete or imperfect.

In the words of James (name changed to protect the guilty) a 16 yr. old, "they want us to come to Christ but when we do, but do not look, act, and sound like they do they complain."

From a Youth Pastor in Georgia: "There are those who complain and criticize this youth culture but they do not want to be part of the solution."


Jesus has always valued life over lifestyle. To know this all we have to do is look at who He chose as leaders or who He would go after (Luke 19 Zacchaeus).Yes, this generation of youth culture is totally different than any other that has come before them.

Traditionalists born prior to 1946
Baby Boomers born 1946-1964
Gen Xers born 1965-81
Millennials born 1982 - 2005

The traditionalists believed that you work your way up the ladder and earn respect then you find meaning to life.Millennials start out looking for the meaning in a job, a relationship, a church, and even the big picture of life rather than quote "earning their spot."  The traditionalists criticize them for skipping steps.

The boomers who quite frankly are not at all sure of their own identity yet are critical because the Millennials are always looking for the big "meaning to life" behind every project or relationship. I have heard the boomers say of this generation, "they ask to many questions instead of just falling in line." Since when did the boomers just fall in line? Check out the 70's!

Many of the Xers are still so steeped in skepticism (which we will be the next voice I blog about) because of the their deep disappointment they feel about all that was promised them that never came to pass. They are critical of anyone who is looking for meaning to life like the Millennials because they just think it is all hopeless. Including the next group of teens to come down the pipe.

This group of students we have on our hands now are the ones that if properly challenged rather than criticized will be the ones to find the solutions we are looking for in our world. Why do I believe this? Because that are connected to each other via social networking in a way that creates collaboration with people they have never even met face to face and they will work out a solution to a problem. None of the other generations to come before them would ever dream of doing this because of trust issues, knowledge issues, and belief system issues. This generation called Millennials, Gen Y, Gen Next, Google Generation, and even the Tech Generation is totally unafraid of finding solutions to the issues of life in a form and a place that others will not look. Why? The are truly purpose driven, solution driven, or big picture fanatics.

Rather than criticizing them lets turn them loose and see what they can do. Rather than tethering them to a style or a method that they do not get nor are they energized by; lets turn them loose with a message and some new methods that light their fire.  Maybe just maybe they can reach the largest youth culture to ever exist (half of the six billion people on the planet are under 25) in way none of us ever dreamed.

Lets stop criticizing and start releasing and challenging.

In His Grace,
Ed