tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985565078842345162.post5064366778895563135..comments2023-05-04T10:46:17.991-05:00Comments on Wezlo's Musings: Being an X'er in a "Boomer's World"wezlohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02651181921670224308noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985565078842345162.post-38409605902082173512007-05-19T16:45:00.000-05:002007-05-19T16:45:00.000-05:00My mistake for posting - I thought you wanted comm...<I>My mistake for posting - I thought you wanted comments & discussion.</I><BR/><BR/>Don't be snarky, I do - it just didn't seem like you were responding to the post I actually wrote.wezlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02651181921670224308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985565078842345162.post-25050603968751610242007-05-19T09:58:00.000-05:002007-05-19T09:58:00.000-05:00My mistake for posting - I thought you wanted comm...My mistake for posting - I thought you wanted comments & discussion. And I don't think I'm ranting. <BR/>The one body I speak of is a spiritual reality created by the Trinity in the midst of a myriad of generations because God incorporates and transcends our generational limitations. <BR/>That gives me hope.Jon Mazarelllahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699411361724460835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985565078842345162.post-88427196837953270822007-05-18T17:13:00.000-05:002007-05-18T17:13:00.000-05:00As I'm an X-er pastor in a largely Boomer (and pre...As I'm an X-er pastor in a largely Boomer (and previously largely Depression-Generation) Church, I understand both the appeal and pitfalls of niche Churches - but I'm not sure what your point posting it here is, as I'm not advocating either of the problems you seem to be venting against (if anything, I'm talking about one body, many members which cover each other's weaknesses).<BR/>I'm also not sure I can agree with this quote without throwing up some flags:<BR/><BR/><I>I find it hard to think of Moses setting up alternative tabernacles to reach a niche population - or the apostles constructing different programming venues for the body that's supposed to be one.</I><BR/><BR/>It's really easy to go from your desire to see "one body" to restricting <I>any</I> form of contextualization because it has the potential for "splintering the body." Heck, we can use the same logic to go back to having everyone use Latin as a worship language because then everyone would be doing the same thing and therefor we'd be "one."<BR/><BR/>My point with X-ers vs. Boomers and Depression-Generation is that, at our best, X-ers can actually be a bridge not just between Boomers and Depression-Generation folks (who, when hanging out together, seem to want settle old scores than proclaim the Gospel) - but also be a bridge with the generation which immediately comes after us.<BR/><BR/>Here's what I do to make this sociological reality become theological wrestling. When end up in a discussion where Boomers and Depression-Generation folk are getting ready to duke it out (again), I hold up my hand and say, "OK, here's the deal, you're all attempting to base this decision on what you <I>like</I> - that's absolutely no help to me whatsoever. Let's talk first about our <I>mission</I>, and make our decision on what will currently help us fulfill it."<BR/><BR/>At this point I have some ground to stand on that keeps folks from being able to keep sniping each other - and I can critique people based on an actually theology rather than, "You don't like what I like, get out."wezlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02651181921670224308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985565078842345162.post-8063191848570773662007-05-18T12:59:00.000-05:002007-05-18T12:59:00.000-05:00I wonder if the adoption of sociological categorie...I wonder if the adoption of sociological categories over a true ecclessiology is part of our failure.That there are generational differences is readily apparent. That they become a self-segregating is (ahem) sin and shows how the church has succumbed to generational conflict. <BR/>I find it hard to think of Moses setting up alternative tabernacles to reach a niche population - or the apostles constructing different programming venues for the body that's supposed to be one. <BR/>Personally, I find Boomers a pain in the arse (though I is one). But then I am an old fart!Jon Mazarelllahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699411361724460835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985565078842345162.post-21087299358898732432007-05-18T05:32:00.000-05:002007-05-18T05:32:00.000-05:00Aiiiiiieeeeee! Boomer email forwards are eeeeeev...Aiiiiiieeeeee! <BR/>Boomer email forwards are eeeeeevil...<BR/><BR/>particularly the 'spritual' ones. having had too much 'Christian EduMaCation' for my own good, I exegete those awful things into the unitarian morality plays they most often are and end up getting more discouraged than uplifted.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Anywho, you postulate whether we can truly worship together at all: I'd love to say "Can't we all just get along???"<BR/><BR/>But at the moment, I really just want to go outside and pray with people my own age.<BR/><BR/>kinda sad, really.MrsQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09877719209266369947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985565078842345162.post-9045971816949329272007-05-17T09:34:00.000-05:002007-05-17T09:34:00.000-05:00Note: Yea, a comment at last!Yes, I remember when...<B>Note:</B> Yea, a comment at last!<BR/><BR/>Yes, I remember when I was having a conversation with a member of the church in Westborough. He said, "So, has being a pastor ruined your view of people yet?"<BR/><BR/>I thought for a moment and then replied, "Oh no, not at all. It's you Boomers who thought that everyone was happy and normal, I'm Gen-X we <I>expect</I> people to be screwed up."<BR/><BR/>I get along fine with many Depression-Generation folk. What I've found in congregations, though, is that lack of trust means that no one is allowed to actually <I>do</I> anything. That's wrong - their stability comes from making sure that anyone who gets to energetic about the Gospel gets smacked down. Partly because they don't like change, but also because they frankly don't trust <I>anyone</I> as far as they can throw them.<BR/><BR/>X-ers are learning to trust in communities, but we also don't think anyone is "untouchable" either. I think that's healthier. I mean, with a lot of the Depression-Generation folks the pastor is too lofty to be confronted directly, but isn't actually trusted to <I>do anything</I>. That's a mess.<BR/><BR/>I agree about the Boomers, though. I blame them for most of the e-mail forwards I get.wezlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02651181921670224308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985565078842345162.post-79558969963627138912007-05-17T09:02:00.000-05:002007-05-17T09:02:00.000-05:00Personally, I've done better with "the Greatest Ge...Personally, I've done better with "the Greatest Generation" than the Boomers. <BR/><BR/>Having lived through the Great Depression, they grew up trusting neither business nor government. While the crave stability, most know it is really a chimera and cynicism seems to be the norm. <BR/><BR/>I can relate much more to the Greatest Generation's outlook than to the happy individualism and naivety concerning resources that I find in most Boomers.JimGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957555705589161155noreply@blogger.com