By Andrew Kirk, Director of Generation 2 generation, Website – www.G2gMandate.org, Social Media – @G2gMandate

I want to start by saying that there is a place for peer small groups, where the emerging generations are reaching their schools and colleges, for those from unchurched families and for developing peer leadership but…

A myth I hear around the world is that the emerging generation needs to be separate from adults for their mutual benefit.

However, the Biblical generational truth is that all generations were created to grow and flow together in community. (e.g. 2 Chron 20 & Exodus 16:8-10)

When the norm is that we separate them in the basic community, it’s counter to the Biblical generational culture.

The separation of generations is decided based on unbiblical motives e.g. that some people don’t like children, are uncomfortable with them or their relationships between generations or families is not great, etc. These attitudes reap generational disunity and disunity comes from sin. Sin needs repentance not accommodating by creating separate small groups. If this was to be taken further, we could end up with small groups accommodating other wrong attitudes, for instance those who don’t honor their parents, who enjoy stealing, or taking drugs! If there are issues between generations or families, should we not work to resolve them and not create small groups / spaces to avoid them? We need deep repentance between the generations and families and this takes work.

When we separate generations, we deprive people of “fathers for the fatherless.” Having grown up in a fatherless household myself, I am all too aware of the impact this could have, however I was fortunate to have a great multi-generational community.

There is probably a month’s worth of “Myths and Truths” surrounding the issue of separating generations in small groups. When approaching the topic of “Myths and Truths,” the best place to start is going back to the foundations of the Biblical generational doctrine and returning to “the ancient paths” (Jeremiah 6: 16).

Some Myths that I often hear are:

  • That the generations don’t need each other.
  • Cannot relate to each other.
  • Children cannot be used by God.
  • One generation cannot rely on the next.
  • a Greek Education System is the way forward.

The Truth is that when generations and families flow the way they were created to flow according to Scripture, they result in:

  • Generational Discipleship: Paul and Timothy, Elijah and Elisha, Mordecai and Esther, Moses and Joshua.
  • Older men and women pouring into younger men and women: Titus 2: 2-5.
  • Children being role models: Matthew 18.
  • Experiencing struggles and victories together: 2 Chronicles 20, Exodus 17:1
  • Parental discipleship as a lifestyle: Deuteronomy 6:4-8
  • Generational Interdependence: 1 Samuel 2:18-26, 3, Matthew 18:1-14
  • Restoration of generational relationship and flow is God’s mandate: Malachi 4: 4-6

And so much more!

If you are interested in discovering more about how these Biblical principles can be immersed and utilized in your church / ministry / life, we are happy to help and talk more about this subject, you can also find more resources here on our website. https://www.g2gmandate.org

– (First published in the Joel Comiskey Group).