Why Generation X’ers “Cling to the Old Rugged Cross” While their Parents Belt Out Praise Songs

A recent confluence of events (read social media posts from other ministers) has helped me to verbalize a trend I’ve noticed since college.  Let me quote Steven Gaines’ recent FaceBook post (Steven is actually quoting another post, so you see how social media has such a widespread reach),

"Those who want revision are clergy in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Clergy in their 20s, 30s..., and 70s don't favor revision.  "2) Congregation members in their 20s and 30s strongly prefer traditional music—contrary to the popular belief that young people want music that is more contemporary."

The preceding is a rough summary of extensive research conducted in theEpiscopalian Church.  This research came as a surprise to many.  After all, aren’t younger people supposed to crave newer more innovative music styles partially for the purpose of distinguishing themselves from older generations that “just don’t get it?” 

Rather than clunky numeric labels, I will henceforth refer to these age groups by the more popular generational tags of WWII Generation, Baby Boomers (current 48-64 year olds), Generation X (current 33-47 year olds), and Millennial Generation  (13-32 year olds).  The groups do not perfectly align with the ages in the research, but generational tags are somewhat fluid and arbitrary anyway.  However, they are useful for describing larger dynamics, so I will proceed with full knowledge that this is a bit of a sleight of hand, but one with honest intentions.

Baby Boomers (my parent’s generation), by in large want to reform, revamp, reshape, and reimagine some aspects of traditional Christianity in America.  Is this really a surprise?  Boomers are largely identified with wholesale cultural shifts, protest marches, and an overarching voice demanding change.  After leading a cultural rebellion it only makes sense that they prefer their own brand of music over the songs of the generation that they are rebelling against. 

On the other hand, the research says that Generation X’ers (me and my ilk) actually prefer the songs Grandma and Grandpa used to sing.  So, every shopworn lazy stereotype that portrays each younger generation as increasingly rebellious and increasingly progressive just isn’t so.  I have anecdotal evidence in every congregation I’ve worshipped that says younger doesn’t necessarily mean more progressive and uncomplimentary of the traditions and institutions within our fellowship.  The Episcopalian research quantifies my personal experience. 

The question is why:  Why do many Gen X’er and Millenial Christians identify more with traditional hymns that are centuries old rather than with more popular sounding praise songs?  I think I have an answer.  It stems from both personal experience and larger trends on the American landscape.  Grandma and Grandpa and Grandma and Grandpa’s church became an unchanging core for many in my generation.  Many of my generation were latch key kids, born into a mobile society that featured constant change.  Our Baby Boomer parents were returning to college for additional career enhancing degrees, relocating for better employment or filing for the now “non-judgmental and non-socially stigmatizing” divorce.  All the while their Gen X’er kids may have been listening to grunge music (I loved grunge music), but their saving grace and stability became Grandma and Grandpa.  I’ve never lived through a divorce (thank you Mom and Dad), but I did live through everything else mentioned (relocation, return to college, and latchkey).  My “Pud” and Granddad in many ways were the center of my orbit.  Their overbearing fundamentalism that was viewed as legalistic by a previous generation softened by the time I arrived on the scene.  What remained was not a prison of rigidity, but walls of safety and consistency.  It was as if the WWII Generation grew weary of fighting the Boomers and signed a cease fire with their grandkids.

Pud and Granddad had stricter rules than Mom and Dad.  They had no television, only listened to talk radio and words like gosh, gah, butt, among others were not allowed.  However, by their mere presence my Grandparents became my harbor.  I was more than willing to trade board games played with dice and face cards (all looked down upon in my grandparent’s home) for home cooked meals, fishing trips, horse rides, long walks in the country, even longer domino games, unconditional love and endless stories from the Great Depression and WWII.  It seemed like a fair trade.  I LOVED their one room “non-class” country church.  That simple structure was an extension of the idea of “Pud and Granddad.”  My grandparents and their expression of their deeply held beliefs were a package deal.  I accepted both, regardless of how foreign they sometimes felt. 

It’s not that I had bad parents, because I have amazing parents.  But, my Grandfather was a godlike figure in my early years:  he never changed, his ways were not my ways, he had high expectations for me and loved me unconditionally; all traits used to describe our God.  During the angst of childhood and adolescence their farm and his presence was my refuge and respite.  No matter how much I didn’t understand some of his theology, I could never question his integrity, lifestyle, or love.  I believed he always held by best interests at heart.  Am I guilty of hero worship?  You better believe it!  But that hero worship helped lead me into a life changing relationship with Jesus that still transforms my thinking and character to this day. 

I love old hymns, because I love my Grandfather and what he represented to me and the God he helped teach me to love and serve.  Oh, I have nothing against new praise songs.  They have a great deal to offer our faith communities.  But, I am vehemently against attitudes and practices that seek to denigrate our heritage and older generations.  The gratitude Generation X in particular owes to this most treasured group of believers (the WWII Generation) is unquantifiable.  Singing their songs unites me with their story of faithfulness and steadfastness, a longing particularly resonant for our times.  My Grandfather’s generation endured the Great Depression saved the world from Fascism and birthed the greatest economic boom in world history.  They have plenty to teach us even still.  I am grateful.

Let me rehab the Baby Boomers for just a moment.  The very best elders and ministers that I know are Baby Boomers.  Let me say that again, the BEST elders and minister I know are Baby Boomers.  I have learned so much from these men and women.  Guilty of hero worship?  Yes, again!  But, one pertinent trait these Baby Boomers hold in common is an abiding respect for older generations of Christians.  These Boomers seem to have an active recognition that we all drink from wells that we did not dig.  These are people that show deference and accommodation when possible to the older generation and when necessary explain when decisions and practices are at odds with views commonly held by that generation.

So how shall we conclude this stroll down generational memory lane?  I’m not one for peachiness and ad nauseam moralizing.   I can tell you to be nice and respect your elders, but it wouldn’t sound sincere.  So do this instead:  Find someone with a different life experience and listen to their story.  Go for a walk.  Play dominoes.  Sing their songs and hymns.  It changed my life.