OceanSide church of Christ
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TWITTER: BRIDGING THE GREAT DIVIDE
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A. Twitter is an online social networking service that enables users to send and read short 140-character messages called “tweets.”
B. Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and other computer related apps and programs manifest once again the “great divide” between the young and old.
1. For young people, these mediums are as common as the hair on their head.
2. For older individuals, they refuse to be part of it. They learned how to text years ago and that is enough.
C. NOTE: The elderly are frustrated with all of the new, modern technology the youth rely upon. The youth are frustrated with the unwillingness of the elderly to be involved in these “common” things of life.
D. In the church, we see this divide from time to time.
1. Youth songs versus the old hymns.
2. Casual dress versus the formal dress of older members.
3. New service times versus the traditional morning and evening services.
4. The new translations of the Bible versus the King James Version.
E. Let’s address this “great divide” under the topic: “Twitter: Bridging the Great Divide.”
I. THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT THIS DIVIDE
A. It seems that since the 1950s, the divide between the older generation and the young generation has gotten worse.
1. Dress, music, and technology
2. The rebellion seems to be louder, more disrespectful, and sometimes violent today.
B. The Bible presents us with some pictures of the divide that can exist between young and old.
1. The Bible exhorts youth to have a respect for the elderly.
a. Leviticus 19:32
Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
b. Ephesians 6:2
Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promise).
2. Three examples
a. Rehobaom forsook the counsel of the older men (I Kings 12:8).
But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the younger men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him.
b. Young children mocked the prophet Elisha (II Kings 2:230.
And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and a he was going by the way, there came forth children from out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
c. The prodigal son wanted his inheritance so he could leave his father’s house (Luke 15:11-12).
And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
II. FOUNDATIONS OF THE BRIDGE
A. Respect
1. Definition
a. Esteem for the sense of worth of a person
b. Deference to a right, privilege, or position of another
2. What keeps us from respecting one another is the pride we have in ourselves (Prov. 30:13).
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
a. Youth take pride in their knowledge, abilities, and energy.
b. The elderly take pride in their wisdom and experience.
B. Knowledge
1. The young and old must seek to have knowledge and understanding of one another.
2. Peter knew a divide exists between men and women. Thus, he exhorts husbands to deal with their wives with knowledge (I Pet. 3:7).
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
3. We need knowledge of many things:
a. Motives: Why?
b. Methods: How?
c. Concerns: Problems?
d. Purposes: Outcome?
4. The way to obtain this knowledge comes through civil communication with one another.
C. Submission
1. There are times when the young must submit to their elders (i.e., wearing a tie).
2. There are times when the elderly must submit to the younger (i.e., learning a new song).
3. Verses:
a. Ephesians 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
b. Philippians 2:3-4
Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
D. Standard
1. In everything we do, there must be a rule, a measure, or a standard.
2. Our standard must be the Word of God.
a. Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
b. I Peter 4:11
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…
3. Restoration phrase: “In matters of doctrine, unity; in matters of option, liberty; and in all things love.”
E. Principles to keep in mind.
1. Give your best to God. He gave His best for us.
2. Start things off more firm and rigid. You can always loosen the belt. The opposite, however, is not usually true.
3. Not all traditions are bad.
4. Some traditions need to change.
5. New traditions will eventually become old traditions.
6. Youth will soon become the elderly.
7. Paul taught that we need to become all things to all men (I Cor. 9:22). Remember: This works both ways.
8. It’s okay to try something new. If it does not work, we can go back to the old.
9. God has always put the older and wiser in charge.
10. I am not on earth to have my needs catered to.
III. A NEED FOR A BRIDGE IN EVERY GENERATION
A. Examples:
1. September 9, 1956, Elvis appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
2. February 9, 1964, the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show
3. 1970s – the band KISS
4. 1980s – Madonna
B. My grandparents did not have a TV or AC until I was in my teens.
C. There are some older people who do not have a computer or a cell phone, certainly not an Iphone.
CONCLUSION
A. The Lord does not want division in His body (Phil. 1:27b).
…that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
B. One of the keys to doing this is to love one another (John 13:34-35).
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.