“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals.” Judges 2:10-11 (NIV)
All it takes is one generation.
It is difficult to fathom how one generation can witness the mighty works of God such as water from a rock, manna from heaven, and crossing the Red Sea on dry ground and fail to pass down the faith. From generation to generation, the faith of our fathers can erode or explode, evaporate or emanate. All it takes is one generation.
In our modern context, the younger generation known as the Bridger generation, are those born between 1984 and 2002. They comprise 27 percent of the United States population. They are also known as Mosaics, Millennials, and Generation 9-11. The Bridger generation has a desire for authentic faith and acceptance of others. Will the faith be handed down to them?
- “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” Prov 7:2 (NIV)
- “Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” Matt 16:9 (NIV)
- “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Heb 2:1 (NIV)
God has called us to reach and disciple every generation for His glory. Will you live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you? As Dr. Johnny Hunt says, “The people in your community may not read the Bible, but they will read the gospel according to your life.”
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor