Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the ways of righteousness (Proverbs 16:31).

Imagine you are a member of a team in a championship game. Your team is made up of both experienced players and newer players. The game is becoming intense, and suddenly the coach takes all of the most experienced players out of the game. This is going to be a disaster!

The older generation in our churches is made up of the most experienced players, and they are still in the game. Yet we may be tempted to take the older generation for granted even as they have been a part of the Church for decades.

Here are 3 specific reasons the Church needs the older generation.

The Older Generation Holds the Most Wisdom and Experience

Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life (Job 12:12).

Those in older generations have faced major life changes and unrest and have come out on the other side. Many have walked with Christ for decades. Even those who started following Christ more recently have lived more life than the younger generation. Those years have granted wisdom formed only by time. They have both life advice and spiritual advice to share. Deuteronomy 32:7 says: Remember the days of old; consider the years of past generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you.

The memory of the older generation is a powerful reminder to us of God’s faithfulness. They have seen God work consistently throughout their lives, and they can tell the younger generation with confidence, “God is with you. You’re going to be alright.” Their experience also grants the younger generation perspective on their struggles. While specific societal difficulties vary from generation to generation, those who are older have lived more life than those who are younger, and with their gray years and added trips around the sun comes perspective. For example, it truly puts the COVID-19 pandemic into perspective when you speak with an older church member who survived the polio epidemic!

The Older Generation of Christians are Vital Members of Christ’s Body

Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity (1 Timothy 5:1–2).

The body of Christ is made up of all ages and stages of life, and it needs all of its members to function properly. The older generation is functionally part of Christ’s body, benefiting all of the other members. Older members of the congregation, especially those who are retired, are often the most dedicated and devoted to serving the Church. Unlike the younger generations, they don’t have the time commitment of a career, and they are not raising small children. Instead, many of these members invest their time into their local churches, and we need their support and involvement for the Church to function properly.

When I was a child and visited my Grandma, we regularly made trips to her small church to care for the flowers on the property. Grandma was among a small group of retired women who took care of the gardens at the church and made it a beautiful space. At my parents’ church, a group of retired men used their talents to help with handiwork around the church. They have affectionately been dubbed the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out, although they always take care of their work at the church before eating out). Both the ROMEOs and my Grandma work hard behind the scenes as what one might call “supporting ligaments” of Christ’s body.

On another very practical note, the older generation is also the most financially stable generation. They tend to tithe regularly, and the younger generation can learn a lot from their approach to finance and their generosity.

The Older Generation Can Teach Us to Approach Our Golden Years with Courage and Joy

“I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4).

As we grow older, Christians are called to encourage one another with the hope of the gospel. Christ overcame death, and His example teaches us that as one season passes into another, we have nothing to fear. The God who carries us does not grow old or change, and He will carry us to the very end of our days. One role of the older generation is to enjoy their stage of life to the glory of God and, in doing so, remind younger believers of the power of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. In my church, the older generation embraces the younger generation, acting as surrogate grandparents to the children in our congregation and vibrant church members. I am often encouraged by their willingness to participate and lead in the church.

The Body of Christ Needs Each Member

If you are a member of the Church’s older generation, my prayer is that this brief post will encourage you. You are not obsolete. Your wisdom, experience, and personal time and talents are needed by those in your local church. To the younger generation, remember that the younger generation and the older generation, the singles and the married, and all members of the body must work together for the Church to thrive. Each one of us needs the body to help us persevere—that we might one day proclaim God’s power to another generation, and His strength to those to come (Psalm 71:18).

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Author Bio

Rebekah Grinestaff is a Staff Writer at The Daily Grace Co. She is devoted to making rich theological material accessible to others. When she is not writing, Rebekah devotes herself to her family, friends, and church. She also enjoys exploring the Houston food scene and delights in the beauty of the natural world.

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