OK Boomer ∙∙

OK Boomer ∙∙

Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD. – Leviticus 19:32

1 Timothy 5:1-2

 1 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.

 2 Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

In the 1970s and 80s, a vast archive of TV commercials was created. Among them were standout 30-second spots featuring actress Dena Dietrich for Chiffon Margarine (1971-79). Portraying “Mother Nature” in a flowing white gown adorned with a crown of daisies, these advertisements depicted her mistakenly believing she was tasting butter directly from nature. She praises its quality, commenting on how wonderful it is, only to be corrected by an off-screen narrator (voiced by Mason Adams), “That’s Chiffon Margarine, not butter.”

Confounded, she asserts, “It’s impossible for this to be margarine because it tastes too much like real butter.” The narrator counters, “The margarine is indeed so close to real butter that it could fool even ‘Mother Nature.’”

Reacting with indignation, Dietrich’s character exclaims, “It’s not nice to fool ‘Mother Nature!’” and then summons the forces of nature as retribution and bad things happen.

Disrespect for authority can have major negative consequences.

The New York Times has written that ‘‘OK Boomer” marks the end of friendly relations between the generations. Their assessment is about 2800 years too late. But we’ll get to that later.

“OK Boomer” has become a potent symbol of Generation Z’s frustration with the Baby Boomers. Generation Z folks see a society in crisis for which they are not responsible and are fighting back. They fear a seemingly irreversible global catastrophe that looms on the horizon. Somebody is to blame! It’s the Boomers! It’s a declaration of grievance, pointing an accusatory finger at the Boomers for the challenges Generation Z faces.

Generation Z is often described as “woke,” in contrast to Baby Boomers and similarly minded individuals who are labeled as “un-woke.”

Let’s briefly overview the generational cohorts since World War II: Generation Z spans from the late 1990s to the 2010s, Millennials cover 1980 to the late 1990s, Generation X includes 1965 to 1979, and Boomers range from 1946 to 1965.

The trend of younger generations challenging their predecessors is nothing new. It is almost a time-honored practice going back thousands of years. Indeed, the Baby Boomers themselves felt the same way about those preceding them. They rebelled against their parents. They pushed back against a generation that had weathered the Great Depression and emerged victorious from World War II. We might all be speaking German or Japanese if the Greatest Generation lost the war.

However, the Boomers rebelled against the “Establishment” and the “Military-Industrial Complex.” They spearheaded the Civil Rights Movement and contributed to the end of the Vietnam War.

Existential fear for the survival of planet Earth is nothing new. Boomers lived in fear of nuclear destruction and the end of the world. They built in-home bomb shelters and had routine bomb drills in schools.

Yet, not all Boomer-led cultural shifts were universally applauded at their inception. This era introduced rock ‘n’ roll, disco, Woodstock, the emergence of flower children and hippies, the rise of the drug culture, and iconic yet controversial and now almost forgotten bands like the Beatles and the Doors.

Young people often see things with a keener eye. There’s lots of unfinished business that cannot be papered over or ignored. But utter disrespect and disdain for elders bring matters to a whole new level.

REFLECT & PRAY

Respect is an expression of high regard, esteem, deference, or acknowledgment of the value of others, especially those deserving of it. For children of the King, respect is given generously and unconditionally. It does not have to be earned.

Father thank You for the guidance You have given us regarding honoring those who came before us. Help us to be guided by Your Scriptures rather than the shifting norms of culture or society.

INSIGHT

The Scriptures clearly direct the children of the King to show honor and respect to their elders. Yet, as previously discussed, showing disrespect toward authority can lead to severe repercussions.

Around 850 BC, an extraordinary event occurred involving the prophet Elijah, who was miraculously taken to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving his protégé Elisha to assume the mantle as the Lord’s prophet. Elisha was now the prophet in charge.

Elisha was en route to Bethel when he encountered a group of young troublemakers, reminiscent of modern-day street gangs, likely armed and looking to cause mischief. Their idea of entertainment often involved harassing or even assaulting passersby.

Unfortunately for them, they chose the wrong target that day. Underestimating Elisha, they mockingly taunted him about his baldness, not realizing the gravity of disrespecting a prophet of the Lord.

2 Kings 2:23-24

 23 Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of youths from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!”

 24 Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then, two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.

To modern ears, the punishment does not fit the crime. Mocking elders is never a good idea. It’s acknowledged that showing disrespect towards one’s elders is inappropriate. But mocking elders who are the Father’s servants and have the power to bless and curse is a far worse idea. Disrespect towards the prophets of the Father is, in essence, disrespect towards the Father Himself.

The gang had crossed a critical line. They had disrespected someone they shouldn’t have. They had dissed the wrong guy. In response, Elisha invoked a curse in the name of the Lord. Subsequently, two bears emerged, mauling 42 members of the group. Remarkably, they were not killed; instead, their injuries would serve as a lasting testament to their disrespect and contempt for the living God and His servant.

It is doubtful Elisha was taunted or ridiculed again.

2 Chronicles 36:16 But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the LORD’s anger could no longer be restrained, and nothing could be done.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 1-28-2

© Dr. H 2024