What Is Wrong and Right With Generation Why

Whenever there is a tragedy such as the one in Littleton, Colorado, there is also a search for answers to many questions, and quite often the most asked question is, ""What's wrong with these kids today?"" Almost immediately after the shootings at Columbine High School, people began asking that question, and considering the number of school shootings in the past two years, the question does seem valid.

The generation preceding this one was called Generation X, and the first inclination by the media was to simply follow the alphabet and call this Generation Y, but as the thread of violence and despair has intensified, some have accurately begun referring to them as Generation Why? It serves us well then, to ask, not only what is wrong, but also what is right with Generation Why? What is Wrong?

Cynicism. They are among the most cynical generations in all of history, and there are reasons for their cynicism. First, at every age level of the generation, there are an average of 1.5 million of them who simply are not there. This is the first generation to be raised completely in the shadow of Roe v. Wade, and that is the number of their peers who have been aborted. Imagine the holes left by this act of violence on society. Second, they are witnesses to further and further corruption in their country's government, until they have come to believe the prominent punk rocker who said, ""If voting was really important, they wouldn't let you do it."" Finally, religion has left them cynical because it has strayed from that which is truly important, man's soul, to that which is temporal, man's desires. Churches of every kind are striving, not to please God, where man finds meaning for his existence (Ps. 8; Ps. 139; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8), but to please man. To begin to combat the cynicism which runs rampant, we must first turn to God and His word. Abortion and corruption are serious problems, but neither is as serious as religion which serves ""the creature rather than the Creator"" (Rom. 1:25).

Desensitization. Today's average child has witnessed 8,000 murders in all forms of media by the time they finish elementary school. They see news programs where coverage of homicide has increased 721% since 1993. Movies filled with murder are ""targeted"" to them. And in less than five years, they have seen 173 students die violent deaths in U.S. schools (Source, Time Magazine). All of this, plus violent music videos, violent computer games and other forms of violence-glorifying entertainment, has contributed to a desensitizing of their ability to tell right from wrong. Paul, when discussing false teachers, said a point would come when they would have their conscience seared ""as with a branding iron"" (1 Tim. 4:2), thus rendering them incapable of responding to truth, and this is the kind of desensitization that is taking place. Parents need to make good decisions in shielding their children from some things, and in denying them others, so that they are not desensitized by violence.

Despair. On the cover of the May 13, 1999 issue of Rolling Stone, there is a picture of Kurt Cobain, with the tag line, ""Artist of the Decade."" At first, one reacts with disgust to think that such a drug-addled miscreant, who committed suicide five years ago, could be ""honored"" this way. But further consideration finds a young man scared and alone, who turned to drugs, anger and cynicism in his music. Finally, it finds a young man who, just days before actually taking his life, turned on a tape recorder and sang one of his final songs. It was called, ""I Hate Myself and I Want To Die."" In many ways, Kurt Cobain may be the artist who typifies the despair this generation feels. It is a despair borne of fear at their coming future. But what is wrong with these kids may (with our help and with God's) be offset by what is right.

What is right?

Questioning. One good factor to come from the cynicism is this generation's tendency to question almost everything. Here is where Christian's have opportunity, for it is our duty to be able to provide answers (1 Pet. 3:15). We need to work hard at being able to explain why we believe what we do, for a generation searching for something to believe in may find it if we are willing to be diligent in our study efforts (2 Tim. 2:15) and in our ability to speak up when presented with opportunities (the real message behind the parable of the talents, Matt. 25:14-30). This generation's questioning nature may just make it one of the best generations of Christians in some time (see 1 Jn. 4:1).

Resiliency. One of the most admirable qualities of today's kids is their resiliency. After the flood of media coverage which has surrounded each of the recent school shootings, it must be incredibly tough to put their fears aside and go to school the next day, not knowing if there may be a raging murderer, or even a copycat murderer, waiting for them. But that is what they do. This kind of resiliency will also make them good Christians, for God's people must face setbacks almost everyday. We face an increasingly sinful society. We face a growing hostile attitude toward religion, even from our government. And we face temptations which sometimes overcome us. It would be easy to quit, and it takes a degree of resiliency to keep going, but that is what we are called to do. Paul, who characterized himself as foremost among sinners, said, ""One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus"" (Phil. 3:13-14).

It does little good to simply ask what is wrong with a generation of kids. What is needed are parents and Bible teachers and friends who are willing to take the time to find out what these kids are thinking. Having done that, it is our duty to discover how to reach through the despair which threatens them, offering them the hope that can only be found in Christ. What is wrong with Generation Why? Nothing that cannot be offset by the gospel.