Dispensationalism

Most churches avoid letting generations mingle together. Seniors go to one service, the youth are divided and placed in their groups and etc. The Bible actually speaks against this compartmentalizing of Christ’s body, “ You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us,” (Titus 2:1-8), “Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” (Matthew 19:13-14), “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams,” (Acts 2:17), and “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” (Romans 12:4-5). If the Kingdom belongs to children then how can we remove their example by sending them from normal service to children’s church? If young men and women will prophecy and old men dream dreams how are we to hear both if the youth go to youth group and the seniors to normal service? How can older women teach younger women how to love their husbands if women’s groups are divided by age criteria such as 20’s, 40’s, and etc? 

The gap between generations in the church is great travesty. Their are wise eldars who could impart knowledge to the youth just as the youth can remind the eldars what zeal and inspiration are like. Each generation has a treasure trove to glean from just as the many denominations of the Church have pieces to offer the body of Christ as a whole. I am  concerned by the generational severance that is going on where only certain age groups meet with certain age group. Yes, there is value to having all youth with youth to move I the same zest and zeal, but there is equal advantages to elders and youth working together in their different strengths. 

The problem is that many do not have patience to integrate generations into one pan-generational group.  Churches find it easier to maintain the status quo and keep everyone segregated by age. Until we realize how much we need each member of the body of Christ from the youngest babe to the oldest maid, we shall have a deficit in the church.