Christians Young and Old
Christians Young and Old
Is there a difference?
It is importance for both younger and older Christian to understand the characteristic differences between each group. Youth comes before manhood or womanhood. Youthful Christianity pertains to the early part of someone's Christian life.
Youth is a period of impressions, molded by dreams, images, words and impulses. Jer.2:2, speaks of the "kindness of youth." When attempting to make a religious impressions on the young, the impressions should be deep, clear and containing the whole message of salvation.
Those who are younger in many instances may believe they have more religion than what they truly have. Why? Because their feelings are alive. They may at times exalt themselves, on the other hand they can be heard condemning others who are peaceful, quiet, or appear to them as being unmoved by doctrines that excites them.
They may be more sensibly touched by the Gospel message, but this has no real bearing on their faith concerning strength in belief. So what is the younger persons conception of the Christian life? They walk a yellow brick road, the future being painted in bright livid colors. This may be the reason for errors in that they expect to much, to quickly. Maybe not expecting more from the Lord, but definitely expecting more in many different ways, as in singing, music, youth projects, trips, get togethers, etc.
Older Christians who have seen and felt the crush of the reality of life, can reflect on how different the Christian life can be in them when compared to their brothers and sister. Seasoned Christians also understand how easily sin can overtakes them. They also understand the slowness of the evolution in the progress of a persons spiritual life.
As a hot iron would burn someone's flesh, various disappointments such as physical afflictions, downturns in finances, or the death of a loved one, and that event is not fully understood, it may effect even the most seasoned and sincere of Christian.
Youth is prone to fix things, to right wrongs, and usually look on the bright and sunny side of life. They stick to their thoughts, ideas and decisions tenaciously. In this their is always a danger when confronted by temptation or confused by sin. In their world when afflictions come, or some disappointment raises its ugly head, or some victory is not realized, or when things are not understood properly, doubt may set in, and their religion becomes a delusion, a shadow, a dream.
Youth looks at Christ as the mighty conqueror, yet they may overlook the equally clear predictions of Him being a suffering servant. In these things they can be misled and deceived, thinking a Christian life should be a continual state of peace and joy. They overlooking the equally distinct and emphatic testimonies of those who suffer religious persecution, warfare, injustices, starvation, sickness, etc. Youth forever yearning for that higher good.
The young attach to different parts of the gospel comparative values. They may look at one side of an issue, dwelling on it with extreme foolishness and blindness. In this they may carry an issue to far, being led away by emotions, false leaders, or bad doctrines.
They may also undervalue some important part of redemption. Older Christians may notice youths tendency to dwell exclusively on certain teachings such as the gospel's plan as a scheme of pardoning. Yet they give no thought to sin itself, or repentance, or the faith it takes to realize true Christianity, or the justification, sanctification and gifts given by a Holy God.
In many cases young people understand little of the troubles brewing in their own hearts. Their consciences may alarm them temporally for some wrongful deed or thought committed by them. Because of this the pardoning love of Christ Jesus is what binds or holds them. This drawing from them a deep admiration for Jesus. In this there is a disproportionate difference between the young and old.
The pardoning love of Jesus Christ can not be exclusive. It may shut out from a young Christians view the nature of the whole gospel: It as a scheme of holiness, the glory of God our Saviour and His authorship of a new born again holy life for fallen man.
Young Christian's have a less clear understanding of the Christian way of life as a daily intimate relationship with the ever present Saviour. Because of this, they have not learned the use of Scripture and especially the whole Scripture account. Youth confines itself to the basic outlines of Christ's history, a history without detail.
They strive to walk in Christ's footsteps always focusing on pardon. They are taught certain details of His death, but little concerning the truer and deeper meaning of His resurrection and ascension into heaven. And even less of the full workings of the Holy Spirit.
Youth tends to see only one side of an issue, without fully understand God's love for mankind. This with little or no understanding of Jesus special love for His own: or the universal offering of the Gospel to all. They may not fully understand the freedom of man's will, God's sovereign grace, or other receding divergent mysteries of Christianity.
Youth may be tempted to surrender or give up in some hard to grasp topic of Scripture. This with the idea of reducing a whole creed to symmetry. Yet because of this stronger hold they have on some one aspect of the truth, they will in later days recall the sense of its importance, and eventually learn how to blend one part of the gospel to the whole.
As the years of both men and women advance the sensibility decreases, even in the most devout, just as the sensibility to all natural impressions is weakened by time. Emotions are slower to be roused, even though the conviction may not change, and even though the settled opinion and decisions remain steadfast. Older Christians may believe that they have less than they have, because life experiences have softened them up, and their spiritual experiences have been tempered. Their beliefs are firm, though they may be less affected, not only because the truth has lost its novelty, but also because they have lost through time, youthful impressions.
They may even lose strength in these evil worrisome days. How hard it is for some to overcome the fear of death when coming face to face with this last enemy. Yet having lived longer, they have learned to free themselves of their early romantic ideas of the Christian life, having reached a point of understanding that this world is a place of struggle and discipline. They now understand not to expect heaven before the time.
For the older Christian, if family, job, friends, and opportunities have a balance, they may feel that both Christ as the conqueror, and Christ as the suffering servant, are represented as being equally true and equally important. Older Christian's know the Lord of peace and joy, but understands that here on earth, they will have no continuation of life, and must look past the trials of the day asking the age old question, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."
Age brings with it a greater fulness and harmony in ones life. Age teaches one to understand the bondage of corruption, and bring us to a fuller understanding of the gospel as a system of sanctification. A fuller prominence to sanctification receives a greater lesson from the wonder, the glory, and the beauty of Christ's life.
The older Christian has learned more easily the lessons that we know in part, to take Bible statements as they find them. They are most grateful to take all possible edification from different sides of the truth, this until the Spirit of God reveals to them His perfect harmony of the parts. Therefore reigns a greater balance and fulness.
After a persons conversion through time, the teaching of God's word, and by the Holy Spirit, they enable us to take a larger, fuller, clearer view of His whole revealed will, growing into the full measure of the statues of His glorious Son.
Thank you,
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com