Let’s Toss the Labels!

Our friend and co-blogger Maddie Hosteter recently posted an interesting blog one of her friends wrote about how Millennials feel about the church. It brought a few debating comments, but I was left with this question — what is a Millennial? I’ve heard the term, but honestly what does this Millennial label even mean?

So, even though I didn’t think I was a Millennial (and it turns out I am not), I Googled it.

Generally, Millennial’s are people born between 1980-2000, although these dates can vary between sources. They grew up in the electronic age. They grew up online. They have probably helped you figure out your latest iPhone.

One place I looked up online defined Millennials as confident (because they were told to “follow your dreams,” “you’re special”), but that confidence has led them to also be defined as entitled and narcissistic. They have unrealistic expectations. They may become disillusioned. “Their expectations may have resulted from that very encouraging, involved, almost ever present group of parents that became known as helicopter parents.” (WhatIs.com)

Ever heard of them?

Now, I would take great offense if someone labeled me as a helicopter Mom! I tried to give my boys space to grow into who they are. (But I guess as long as we are making up labels, I may be like a satellite Mom…farther away than a helicopter Mom, but still out there circling!) In the end, apparently I’ve raised at least two Millennial’s, possibly three (depends on those varying dates).  And here all along, I thought I was just raising my boys. The best I could. The best I knew how.

Who raised me? Apparently, as the labels go, I’m Generation X and I was raised by the Baby Boomers and they were raised by the Greatest Generation. Each generation doing the best they could do with their own set of problems. Each wanting to raise the next generation to be better, more successful, and have “more” than them.

Maddie’s friend is absolutely correct when she writes, “The church is a place where broken people come for support. We all sin differently. What tempts me might not tempt you. So why are we acting like the church is a place where you have to (be) perfect before you come to God?!”

But, my dear Millennial-friends, those people in your church who have it all wrong…those people who judge you for the “splinter in your eye”…they got problems too! Someone raised them into who they are with their own flavor of parenting…good or bad.  

Ben and Tom were talking just last night about a group of friends they hung out with at the recent Blade Show in Atlanta. Ben commented on how this one man was really nice and Tom mentioned that this man did NOT like to be touched! Sooo…Tom said he hugged him every time they saw each other! That made me laugh imagining Tom giving a big bear hug to this poor, cringing man! My Millennial-friends, DO THAT! Be the change you want to see by showing up and loving them. Whether they like it or not, it’s good for them, and in the end… good for you!

Jeremiah 9:23-24 talks about boasting. But for fun, let’s change that word to labeling.

This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise man label himself for his wisdom

Or the strong man label himself for his strength 

Or the rich man label himself with his riches,

But let him who labels himself label himself this:

That he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

I’ve never really cared for labels.  No matter what we have been labeled by the world, let’s get rid of it! Let’s not hide behind them. Let’s not let some label define us. 

But, let’s not throw the T-shirt out with the label. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Let’s not throw the good out with the bad. Let’s not throw the right out with the wrong. 

This kind, just, and righteous Lord is the First and Last, spanning every generation to exist!  His hands are the bookcases at the Beginning and the End. I’m so thankful there is a space on that shelf for each one of us as HE, and only He, cleans up our messes!