Why the 286 generation needs to learn how to make their bed

There has been a lot of talk about how the current young generation is going to go out there and win souls for the glory of God. Preachers exhort it from rallies. Personal prophecies are given (those of you who know me will know that I am rolling my eyes when I write this one..), and kids are fired up because they are more passionate about God and want their lives to be transformed and others, as well

Well, before they pack their Psalty Zonderkids and their best of Hillsong CD's (or illegally ripped MP3's) into their J.C Rox my Sox backpack, maybe they do well to heed the words of someone a lot wiser than them, or me, for that matter- the apostle Paul

"Do nothing from rivalry and conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" - Philipians 2:3 -

You see, I am rather old fashioned. I think today's youth are insolent, rebellious, lacking in all manner of social graces, indolent, prone to backchat and lazy in the intellectual sense. They are also spoilt beyond belief, indulged to the point where the fat of arrogance drips of them. Like battery hens bred for a life of solitary confinement, they open they mouth for what they feel is their divine right to the good life, and their own inalienable rights

Of course, there are exceptions. However, finding one or two is about as easy as finding a fund manager who didn't hit in the financial crisis in 2008. If you find one, let me know. It's akin to stiking the lottery

Thus, it is even more repugnant when they are in church singing away to Jesus and patting themselves on the back for being 'spiritual'. The odiousness of layering a false sense of humility while backstabbing and displaying all the mores of total depravity are made even more sickening by the fake protestations of faith and sanctification. I should know - I used to work with these youth

Rather than being difference makers ( another catchphrase) and being 'in but not of this world', they are in this world, and they LOVE it. They love it with such a passion that they don't want to leave and would happily go on with their merry ways even if Jesus came again. Of course, that won't happen when the King comes, which is why the 'gnashing of teeth and the wailing' never rang so true

So, who is to blame? Their parents? A church seduced by the secular? Chris Tomlin? All of the above, except Chris - he's da man! But levity aside, all play a part, and thus all are guilty of gross mismanagement of these young souls. But they are not blameless either. Their fallen sin nature is partial to this and thus, rather than rebel in a good way to follow the light, the path of darkness looks more attractive

One common lament that the youth make is that they get no respect from the older people. But respect is earned. It is not a right. If I am applying for a job, I need to earn the respect of the interviewer, and I have to respect him or her. Any less than that will have dire consequences for employability at this company. When I see the youth totally absorbed in their own lives, and it's all about them and their needs, why should the older folk care about them? That kind of selfishness eventually comes back to them

The gospel has the power to change lives. Young or old. The famous mathematician and thinker, Blaise Pascal was notoriously selfish and cantenkerous - essentially not a nice person to be around. Intellectuallly brilliant but with a low emotional quotient. However, when he met God, he became a different person. Those who knew him said that the best indicator of change in him was this - he made his own bed. In the past, he left it to his servants but in his later life, a wave of humility swept over him and he humbled himself to make his own bed.

It is my wish that the young generation be different in this sense. When they meet the real risen Christ and their lives are changed, their difference is seen by everyone around them. Their parents, friends, teachers and pastors will notice that there is real transformation - not just glib superficiality

But I'm not holding my breath