Let’s Mix Up the Sacred Spaces

I was impressed to see the large number of college students sitting in the church I was speaking at in Texas this weekend. In a church of about 400 people, it appeared that about twenty percent of the congregation was comprised of these young adults. Besides college students another significant group stood out—those over fifty. I would guess that roughly fifty percent of those sitting in the congregation were in this category. It wasn’t hard to determine the composition of these age groups because most of them sat as a group in different parts of the worship center. Each had their own sacred spaces staked out, and each on opposite sides of the worship center.

It is so typical of the church in America to have, not only our own programs for various age groups, but segregated spaces for various age groups in the worship service. Why do we do that? Actually, that’s a question I’d like to ask you to respond to. I have some ideas, but tell me what you think. Why do we gravitate to sitting by age groups, even in a multi-generational event like our worship services?

It’s easy for us to talk about inter-generational relationships, but it’s a lot harder to cultivate them. We have such an individualistic and homogenous mentality in America today that it’s hard to function any other way. When I talk with young adults I frequently hear them say they want to have meaningful relationships with other people. They understand they need the wisdom found among the aged. But they also want to be heard—to be listened to. Older adults seem much more reticent to engage with younger generations. Why is that? Is it because it’s too uncomfortable?

If you are an older adult, who are your friends among the youth and young adults in your church? What is it that keeps you from engaging with them meaningfully? If you are a young adult (18-29), who are your friends among the older generations? What are your concerns about building meaningful relationships with older adults? What can we do in the today’s church culture to break down the barriers and begin to cultivate an inter-generational mindset?

I know it’s not just a matter of sitting together, but perhaps that’s the starting point. Maybe it’s time to get rid of these ‘sacred spaces’ and mix it up a bit. What do you think? I am eager to hear your comments—old and young.