Romans 11:16-18
“For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
This passage is a beautiful comparison of a vine and the family of God. Even though the Church must continue to find ways to be relevant, we should never look at our foundations or forerunners as no longer important or useful. Although their methods may seem antiquated, they forged pathways of the Gospel through their culture.
If John, Peter, or Paul walked into our church on a Sunday morning with the same clothing and style of the 1st century, I feel sure we would find their methods and language different from ours. However, I also think that we would not dismiss them because we know their contribution to the Kingdom. They are part of the root system that was begun by Jesus.
Many of the senior adult Christians I know have so much to offer us. Their heart for Jesus and His Kingdom is unmatched. I am grateful to them and want to learn as much as I can from them. I invite you to hang out with your senior Christians and learn from them!
Right their with you Pat! Thanks for being so transparent.
I totally agree! I learned to enjoy being with my family seniors, back when my Dad was alive. I’d go with him to visit them and just hang out, and I learned to love and appreciate them. I love hearing their stories. I’ve been blessed by this love and appreciation of the elderly. They have so much to offer, and they enjoy sharing it! I encourage young people to make time and make themselves available to spend time with older people, be it family members, at church or at work. They will be blessed by them, and they will be a blessing to them!