Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov./86

Contributor - Nellie From

Title - The Church's Neglected Responsibility

Topic - Senior Citizens

An ancient philosopher once said, "People who have the most birthdays live longest."' Living to grow old - is this something one dreads or looks forward to? Are the "golden years" really golden? Can the aging years really be an enriching and rewarding time?

Today, as medical research continues and new methods are found to preserve life, one is faced with a fast growing population of senior adults. In the early 1900's the average life expectancy was 45 years. Now, in 1986, the average life expectancy is 73 years. It is estimated that by the year 2000, 15. 1 % of our total population will be over 65 years of age, an increase of 2.2% over 1980. In other words, we can expect 3 to 3.5 million more senior adults in Canada by the year 2000. This is yet again expected to increase dramatically when the post-war " baby boomers" (those born between 1945 - 1960) begin to reach 65, around 2010.

It is with seniors, that the church could and should have a significant ministry. In many cases, however, the question must be asked, "What is the church doing to aid senior adults, both within the church itself, and the surrounding community'?" In my day to day experience with seniors, I have found that the church, as a whole, seems virtually uninterested, uninvolved or simply not aware of the needs of the senior adult Given the present aging trends, the church must change its mandate and begin to involve itself with both the young and old if she is to lay claim that she sincerely serves Christ.

A Theology of Aging

Society's present value system " esteems people who are young, beautiful, sensuous, strong and efficient ". On the other hand, little or no value is placed on someone who is old, slow and fragile .2 It is the many stereotypes and myths propagated by society that labels the elderly as "useless, helpless or incompetents. If attitudes are to change, then the stereotypes and myths must first be destroyed. With the growing percentage of senior adults, these attitudinal obstacles must be challenged and changed if an effective ministry for and involving the aged can be developed and implemented.

The church finds its authority in the Word of God - the Scriptures. It is to the Scriptures then that one must turn to develop an understanding of how the elderly are to be viewed. It is only then, that an effective ministry can be developed and carried out within the church.

The views of the elderly today in North America are very different from those advocated by Scripture. According to the value system of the Old Testament, "old age was not a defeat but a victory, not a punishment but a privileged. Growing old was considered a blessing which God bestowed It was viewed positively, without any of the negativism which Western ideas have attached to advancing years. The "divine injunction for the Jewish community was that all elderly people were to be honoured'.

One also reads in Scripture that "gray hear is a crown of splendor (Prov. 16:31a), and that the elderly "will still bear fruit in old age" (Ps. 92:14), meaning that they may still be involved in productive, fulfilling activity. One is admonished not to " dispise your mother when she is old" (Prov. 23:22b), providing for and meeting her needs. The reminder to show the aged honour and respect is also noted in the verse which states: "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God" (Lev. 19:23). There is no place for discrimination and prejudice; for honour and respect cannot walk hand in hand with discrimination and prejudice. It is either one or the other, and it is clear that the church is called to honour and respect the elderly.

Society may argue that these are historical ideas, peculiar to the Jewish culture, written in a book whose very authority is under question. Be that as it may, one cannot deny the fact that these values and attitudes are ones idealized today by gerontologists (people who work with the elderly) and the elderly themselves. If the church were to go back to basic biblical principles and begin to apply them in a significant ministry, the results could well reach out past the church walls and into the community itself.

The Church Must Respond

The present programs in most churches are insufficient to meet the needs of the senior adult both within the church and the surrounding community at large. It is time the church gave serious consideration to this area of ministry.

Fruitful church ministry begins with prayer, and its motivation should be biblical. Ministry is implemented with enthusiasm, faith, eagerness, and patience.7 Good leaders are needed, leaders that are willing to sacrifice time and energy, and leaders that understand the process of aging and its resultant needs for varying individuals. The leader should work with the aged, rather than for the aged, training various group members to be effective leaders, and delegating responsibilities. In time, the initial group leader will step back from the group, acting primarily as a resource person, allowing the group to function on its own.

Any ministry within the church is a relational ministry seeking to understand the needs, abilities and interests of the group involved, in this case senior adults. It is then that realistic goals can be corporately determined, and strategies to meet the goals can be mapped out. The resources available to the senior adult group should also be determined when making goals, for the resources determine whether or not the goals are attainable.

The church can create many opportunities for service for the elderly, both within the church and the community. They can pray, teach, visit, participate in existing programs, contribute to worship, conduct church business, do clerical work, improve and maintain church property, and help with minor tasks such as decorating the church for special events, arrangement of flowers and planning church dinners. They can get involved in the mission committee, set up a day care centre, work with the handicapped, do volunteer work at hospitals and schools, and tutor children (or adults) in a wide range of subjects. As well as tutoring, seniors can also participate in a variety of educational lectures and seminars. What an opportunity for the church to reach out to the community of seniors, by organizing a lecture series covering almost any topic.

For those not actively involved, individuals from the church can read to them, write letters or make phone calls for them, discuss magazine and newspaper articles or radio and television programs. They can help them to remember birthdays and holidays, listen to them and encourage them from God's Word.

Seniors often need help facing death, another task the church can undertake, offering support, companionship, friendship and comfort. Along with this, however, seniors need to be challenged and confronted with Christian truths, through evangelism and allowed the opportunity to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. This will be especially true of the future generation of seniors, a group who is presently being steeped in the humanistic thought so pervasive in society today.

Once involved in a ministry to seniors, the church must periodically evaluate its programs, in response to the changing groups of seniors participating over the years. For instance, seniors of the 21st century will be better educated, more financially secure, better traveled and more physically fit. Women will no longer be satisfied to passively rock their senior years away, having carved an active role for themselves in the corporate community. Such considerations must be taken into account if a responsible ministry is to be implemented and maintained by the church.

With the growing number of senior adults and the command of Christ to "go into the world and disciple", the church cannot negate her social responsibility. The church must respond and become more actively involved in a significant ministry to senior adults, or be held accountable before God for its lack of action. Which will it be?

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