05/09/2019
It seems to me that Millennials are being given the award for apathy in today’s world. They are called the “meh” generation. If I am not mistaken, the Simpsons first coined the word “meh” which seems to provide some clarity to the description of apathy.
Some call the millennials the “meh” generation.
How do you feel about things? Meh.
Did you want to get involved? Meh.
What are you passionate about? Meh.
Indifference, boredom...apathy...I personally am not so certain that one generation has more of a hold on apathy than another. I think it exists in the Boomers, the Xers, the Zers, and all other generations before and inbetween. I think that all of us are vulnerable to becoming filled with apathy at any time in our lives. Scripture has a lot to say about apathy and compares it to being a sloth.
As we confirmed 15 sixth graders this last Sunday into CUMC, I cautioned them that they are now at risk of spiritual apathy. How? For the last year they have had high expectations and commitment for growth in their faith. With the completion of the confirmation process, more commitment will need to come from them to continue to grow in their faith. They will have to decide if it is important. They will have to decide that other choices do not distract them. They will have to decide if they care enough. In other words, spiritual growth continues or spiritual apathy begins.
Hmmm...I said that I cautioned the 6th graders about this...perhaps this too crosses the lines to all generations?
Pastor Patti
Archived Posts
One More Piece of Unsolicited Advice
I had one too many examples yesterday. Here’s the "Ask Pastor Tim" scenario that didn’t make the cut for Sunday’s sermon: (read more)
Not If, But When, the Crisis Comes
One of the best Bible commentators alive today is N.T. Wright or Tom Wright. When reflecting on the parable of the wise and foolish maidens, he wrote this:...
What I wanted to say
but ran out of time this Sunday
Here is the benediction I was going to use before discovering the excellent MLK Jr. video.
The Storm that Comes To Us as Helplessness
I want to share with you a small portion of my conversation with Artificial Intelligence online. Some of you know, I use Chat-GPT as a thoughtful sounding board for the questions and insights I’m working with on whatever scriptures I’m studying each week. What follows is an example of those discussions...
One Final Scene About Scrooge
There was one more scene in Dickens’s novel that reveals something of what has happened to Scrooge over the years. I did not have time to share it on Sunday, but I believe it reveals a great deal about the regrets in Scrooge’s life....
What Jacob Marley Would Do,
If He Could Do It…
I thought about using the following for a benediction—since Jacob Marley was warning Scrooge about the danger of loving money and what it could buy. Ends up with the Cantata and everything else going on, I didn’t have the time. So here is what you might have heard if the sermon itself was 5 minutes shorter!
A Confirming Word on Old King Herod
I just want to echo what Rick said in his fine sermon yesterday (Nov. 23). Herod was a ruthless tyrant and skilled politician. When the Magi don’t report back to him, he decides to kill all the male children of Bethlehem under the age of 2. That’s one paranoid dude.