The fact that so many people are living longer today is a reality we cannot ignore. Our churches and communities have growing numbers of older adults compared to young people.
Two hundred years ago, few people lived to old age. And often those who did, didn’t retire — at least not in the modern sense of the word. They worked until they wore out.
People retiring 100 years ago had, at best, two years of retirement. During those two years, older adults were consumed by their health problems and impending death.
Today, the post-retirement period can last 20 – 30 years, or more. We have moved from a time when aging was seen as synonymous with senility and death, to one in which a glimpse of human potential has opened up incredible possibilities.
Aging Today
The U.S. Census Bureau forecasts that by 2035, adults 65 years of age and older will outnumber children and youth under 18. This is a first in the history of the United States. Surely, God has some purpose for adding years to our lives and more older adults to our population.
What is the purpose of old age? Two questions older adults may ask are, “What is the meaning and purpose of my life?” and “Who am I now that I am no longer working or nurturing a family?”
In many ways, these are spiritual questions. No longer drawing their sense of purpose and meaning from their work or raising a family, older adults may move into a kind of role wilderness.
With this in mind, an important role for the Church in its ministry by, with, and for older adults is helping older adults age in faith. In other words, effective congregational ministries intentionally invite, nurture, and equip older adults to age faithfully!
By overcoming the myths and stereotypes of aging often found in society, church leaders provide a helpful introduction for older adults to age in faith. While aging in faith is important for persons at any age, it’s particularly important for people in the third and fourth quarters of life.
What Aging in Faith Means
Aging in faith bears the fruits of the Spirit. We read in Psalm 92: 12, 14: “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon…. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap.” What is the fruit that is produced by our aging in faith? In Galatians 5: 21, 22, we find our answer: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Aging in faith means older adults are growing with the fruit of the Spirit present and operating daily in their lives.
Aging in faith trusts the promises of God. While the specific nature of the promise may vary, God’s grace is the source of God’s promises. To aging persons, the promise is God’s loving presence and strength. To the suffering, the promise is God’s saving presence and help. To the sick, the promise is healing and comfort. To the dying, the promise is eternal life. Therefore, to age faithfully is to see and know that all of life – at every age and stage – is a gift of a loving, creator God. God’s gift of long life is an opportunity to deepen one’s relationship with God. With the Psalmist, people aging faithfully are able to sing: “This God – his way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 18:30)
Aging in faith stands against cultural prejudice about growing old. The multi-billion-dollar anti-aging medical and cosmetic industries keep alive the notion that young is beautiful and old is ugly. Aging faithfully means refusing to accept this supposition. Proverbs 20:29 reminds us “The glory of youth is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.” Relaxing our defenses concerning wrinkles, graying hair, sagging tummies, etc., is the path toward spiritual maturity. This doesn’t mean we ignore caring for our minds and bodies. Rather, aging in faith means to creatively accept the many changes in our lives and maintain a spirit that grows healthier and wiser.
Aging in faith means we develop a new understanding of self-worth. Throughout our lives society teaches us that our worth is determined by our productivity. But as mature adults, we are able to affirm the value God places upon human life, not a worth dependent on the quantity or quality of work we do. Affirming our worth is found in being, not through having or doing. It’s not important who we are, rather whose we are. We sing with the Psalmist, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken…” (Psalm 37:25). As children of God, we are created in God’s own image. If our worth is in what we own or work we have done, in time we will have neither wealth nor possessions. As we age faithfully, we realize that we are — and always will be — valued, accepted, and loved by God.
Aging in faith is a congregation that knows spiritual growth is possible and relevant for older adults and invites and equips older adults for experiencing a new or renewed relationship with God. Isaiah 42:16 says “I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.” Older adults need to grow in faith. Without a growing faith, older adults lack the resource of One who can give life meaning, purpose, and hope in times of fear, loss, and uncertainty.
Aging in faith means practicing spiritual disciplines. Praying, reading scripture, attending and participating in worship, sharing faith experiences with others, and meeting others’ needs are some of the ways older adults can know and experience faithful aging. We are invited to hear and respond to the words of Micah: “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6a and 8).
What ways are you aging in faith? How can your church help older adults know and experience faithful aging? What ministries can your congregation provide that nurture older adults in spiritual growth and equip them for faithful aging? If we believe God desires all God’s children to age in faith, what do we need to begin or do differently that empowers persons of all ages and stages of life to age in faith?
Dr. Richard Gentzler, director, oversees ENCORE Ministry’s mission of providing older adult ministry resources, leader training, and consultations. For more information, email Gentzler at rgentzler@encoreministry.org or call 615-400-0539.