No Mom, It's not a real Tattoo!

I have had a few conversations lately, with people that I respect I might add, that have disturbed me. There is this notion among many Christians, that because they are Christians and are saved by grace, that they can pretty much do as they please. There is this idea that as long as they "love" Jesus everything else is pretty much irrelavent. During these conversations, I heard numerous times that the "older" Christians just need to stop being legalistic and that they need to be delivered from their "Religious Spirit." Why were such comments made? Because many "younger generation" Christians listen to a different style of praise and worship than their parents do, they do not sport a coat and tie in church, and they are into body piercing and tattoos. And I might add here, that this isn't just a trend with the "younger generation of Christians," but I know of many ministers that fit in this category as well. Now please do not get me wrong. There's not necessarily anything wrong with listening to a different style of praise and worship, ditching the coat and tie, and getting a few "I LOVE MOM" tattoos. However, the thing that I find disturbing is the attitude that the younger generation of Christians has toward the older generations. They themselves are developing the exact same spirit that they are so much against: A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT. This younger generation of Christians do not want to worship in the same manner as their parents and grandparents, they certainly do not want to wear the clothes their parents wore to church (remember your Sunday best?), and they certainly do not want to hear anything against body piercing and tattoos. The problem is though, and this is what I find disturbing, is that if you do not do the things the way they think it should be done, or if you think in a manner a little different than them (old school) you are legalistic or have a religious spirit.

Hmmm, if they aren't accepting the older generation of Christians because their style of worship is different, and they tend to dress a little more conservative, and claim that Leviticus 19:28 still holds true today, then who is being legalistic and who has a religious spirit? The one who is a little hesitant to change because they are set-in-their-ways, or the one that thinks their "new" way is the right way and won't accept the older way of doing things? Now of course I could be totally missing it here, but it seems to me like both groups are struggling with the same issue. Our way is the right way = religious spirit!

Look, I am part of the younger generation of Christians, even though my wife keeps telling me we aren't as young as I think we are, but I am afraid that many of us "youngins" are missing out on an inheritance of wisdom and knowledge that the older generation of Christians has to offer us because we are too stubborn and "in love with Jesus" to accept it and receive it. We'd rather keep doing our own thing, in our own way, thus putting even a greater chasm between our generations. Instead, we should embrace the best of both worlds and find a way to grow together and encourage one another. Remember, we are all in this together. It's not about us (young guns) verses them (old farts), it's about sons finding spiritual fathers, and fathers investing in the lives of spiritual sons. However, these relationships will never exist if both generations continue to allow those religious spirits to cause division and strife in the Body of Christ.