Talkin' Bout My Generation

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”  and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 1 Peter 2:7-8

This passage of scripture from 1 Peter is better sweet for me. It reflects the glory of knowing Jesus Christ, of the special place the believer has in his kingdom but it is also inclusive of those who do not believe and a destined to be separated from God forever.
I was born on the tail end of the “baby boom” The “boomers” are a generation full of creativity and genius both socially and technologically. It is the generation that broke the bonds of racism off of the globe. It has advanced the role of women in the workplace and increased the access of education to every class of society. It is also a generation that has been consumed with materialism and promoted sexual fulfillment to the level of global addiction.

The prophets of the baby boomers are musicians and artist. Simon and Garfunkel wrote “the words of the prophets are written on the subway wall.” This thought captures the concept that truth in this generation is accessible to all and easily found, unfortunately it is also easily ignored. When I reflect on my generation I am saddened by the fact that so few of the voices being heard are the voices of righteousness. The desire for truth and the brevity of time are heard in the songs of the generation. I am reminded of the Steely Dan song Reelin' the Years. The song begins with the lines “your everlasting summer you can see it fading fast” This everlasting summer is life it self, it passes very fast. The song continues, “you grab a piece of something that you think is going to last, you wouldn't even know a diamond if you held it in your hand the things you think are precious I can't understand.” My point is that much of my generation has confused what is precious.

Fading summers are not just for the old Steven Tyler of Aerosmith wrote Dream On when he was 23 stating “Every time when I look in the mirror, All these lines on my face getting clearer, The past is gone.” The early 70's when these songs were written was a time Americans lives would change forever. In the midst of that time, the Jesus movement was birthed. Many who had embraced the message of “all you need is love” came to understand the glory of Jesus and his truth. They could connect with the fact that Jesus was “everyday people”. They came to understand that in Jesus the yellow one could accept the black one and the black one the red one and the red one the white one.” That different strokes for different folks was related to the expression of worship and not divisions based on ethnicity or race. It grew is such a way that the most diverse institution on the planet is now the body of Christ. But those who have disobeyed the message are a mixed multitude that are stumbling into hell. Hell can be imagined away but that does not change the reality of is existence.

If I did not trust in the goodness and justice of God this thought would consume me with hatred for God. When all truth is laid before us each of us will come to understand that God did not reject men in a arbitrary or inconsistent manner. He desires that none will perish but that all will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The rejection of the loving power of God is what I believe the unpardonable sin is and the ultimate blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. We will come to know that rejection for the evil that it is and understand the mercy of God when he delays his wrath. I was once you of the disobedient but now I am part of a chosen people. God's grace taught me the difference between what was precious and what was useless, He created a bridge for me over troubled waters so that one day I can be gratefully dead.