As a matter of course, older generations grumble about the next. Baby Boomers carried on about Generation X who, in turn, despaired over Millennials, the ones who now bristle at Generation Z. Each era’s issues bear out differently, but the repeating theme of disapproval seems to fit into the same box—selfish behavior in an overprivileged situation.
A modern example of this is what is popularly, though unscientifically, called “Failure to Launch Syndrome.” (This is not to be confused with those that work from home. Times have changed and the opportunity to work from one’s home is indeed a privilege, but it’s still work.) I’m referring to those that inappropriately lack independence. They have an overreliance on their parents, struggle with adult responsibilities, lack a work ethic, are intolerant of stress and incapable of making meaningful relationships.
The phenomenon existed long before the “failure to launch” tag was created, and these young (and sometimes not-so-young) adults are ripe for criticism. They are the “low-hanging fruit” of generational condescension. While those criticisms may be justified, try applying that question to your Christian life. Is it possible that you have been unwilling to participate wholeheartedly in the maturation process? Does the development of your faith look like a failure to launch?
How dependent are you on those that currently serve as your “spiritual parents?” Are you participating in your own growth or relying entirely on them? Are you like those “more noble” Bereans that examine the Scriptures daily for yourself or expect others to do all of the spiritual heavy lifting? Are you taking on the adult responsibilities of Christian life by seeing to the needs of others or do you focus only on your own? Are you committed to speaking the truth in love or are you overly sensitive to (judgmental of) other Christians? Are you investing in meaningful relationships in the church or do you expect everyone else to come to you?
1 Corinthians 13:11 reads, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” In short, are you steadily growing up or have you largely remained a childish Christian? Consider the example of the prophet Ezra.
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. (Ezra 7:10)
Ezra was commended for the combination of being a diligent student with being a doer and a teacher of God’s Word. The natural progression is to consistently study Scripture, obey what it says and teach others to do the same. If you subtract any one of them you stunt your spiritual growth, like those Paul criticized in Hebrews.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (Heb. 5:12–13)
Conversely, Paul encourages young Timothy to “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). This is the antidote to a failure to launch! Even at his young age, Timothy was instructed to serve as an example. He was commanded to model every aspect of Christian maturity for his own benefit and for others watching him.
According to Matthew 7:24, “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Immaturity is revealed by those that don’t listen or won’t do what they’re told. A rock-solid, spiritually mature Christian “hears and does.”
Is there a failure to launch in your spiritual life? Have you been lounging comfortably on a spiritual couch, eating the spiritual food exclusively provided by others and isolated from meaningful Christian relationships? Grow up! Give up childish ways. Set your heart to study, do and teach God’s Word. You live in an exceedingly privileged generation, so be the model of hearing and doing.
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (Jn. 13:17)