There is a minor tempest brewing in the marketplace and church about how the Millenials (twenty-something’s and younger) get along with Boomers (47 to 63). It wasn’t such a hard task for Busters/Gen X and Boomers to get along. My experience in working with churches showed that busters and boomers were close enough that they thrived or at least co-existed easily.

Now it isn’t so easy between Millenials and Boomers. Millenials have very different value systems. I am one that believes isolating generations too exactly is the wrong way to go. You give up a lot when one generation is faced with being challenged by another. It is really only ugly when the older group is gripped by fear and the younger gets caught up in pride of age.

Millenials can be best understood by a short hand description of how the generations view something as simple as work:

• Builders – viewed work as a necessary responsibility
• Boomers – viewed work as the source of life’s meaning and purpose.
• Busters/Gen X- viewed work as the way to doing what you really want.
• Millenials – work is in the way.

Millenials are very self-absorbed. Even more than Boomers, the group is very interested in the personal advantages to whatever they do. The church or business is not even considered let alone rebelled against. Just like all other generations at this age chronology they tend to like to hang out with the same ilk. The whole generation can feel like a bunch of narcissists. Boomers still can feel like they are the cure for all earth’s ills. Both views need to come into transformational contact with the Gospel.

What can Boomers learn and live with Millenials?

1. Understand they have no organizational loyalty at all.
2. Work is confining to them. You have to add fun to the equation.
3. Their personal pursuits and interests are of prime importance. There is little interest in the goals and aspiration of the larger group.
4. They want what their parents have but don’t want to sacrifice to get it. You will have to teach the benefits of sacrifice. And the law of sowing and reaping.
5. They have been raised where everyone wins a trophy even if you just showed up. They want a lot of praise for what seems as lackluster performance.
6. They are far more spontaneous and tend to like things organic and serendipitous as opposed to organized.
7. They distrust older folks in a different way. You will have to dispense of any expectations you will be respected. If your fortunate you might make a good temporary friend.

There will be much more to learn as the generations continue to interact.