DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
My Apologies for Offense
© NaimaLett.com/blog
© Time Magazine’s May 20th Cover Story
My apologies for the offenses I caused yesterday.
My intent was to create much-needed dialogue.
When I read the latest Time Magazine’s cover story, “Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation“, I thought it would make for great discussion, especially with millennials, who were born between 1980 and 2000.
As I jumped into the article which says things like millennials are “lazy, entitled, selfish and narcissistic” who are fame-obsessed and would rather be the personal assistant of a celebrity than become the CEO of a major corporation or a Senator, I kept thinking, “Is that true?”
So, that’s what I asked in my blog, “Are Millennials Lazy, Entitled, and Selfish?“. Is it true?
Presenting Both Sides
I wasn’t being judgmental and calling millennials lazy, entitled and narcissistic. I simply presented both sides discussed by the writer, Joel Stein, who considers himself a poster child for the millennial generation, though he technically falls in Generation X. On one hand, Stein laments that his peers are “reality-TV-ready”. On the other hand, he boasts that he made it to the final round of the first reality show, MTV’s The Real World, during Season 4 in London.
While Stein calls his “own” lazy, entitled and narcissistic (with statistical data to back it up), he also affirms that millennials are nice, positive and full of hope. He says that they will “save us all” because of their high adaptability to change.
Salvation
Now, I personally don’t look to millennials (or any other generation) for salvation. That’s a bit much. Scripture says “for there is no other name under heaven (besides Jesus) that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Millennials are therefore off the hook in terms of trying to provide eternal salvation. We all are. God reserves the sole ability to save through His Son Jesus who died for us.
Better than Us
That being said, each generation expects the next to be better than us, greater than us.
What we hear in Stein’s summation of millennials, I believe, is a slight disappointment that our current 13 – 33 year olds might not carry on the torch for making our society better. If young folks are lazy, entitled, selfish and narcissistic now, what will they pass down to the next generation and the next? More laziness, more entitlement and more narcissism?
If an entire generation grows up in front of cameras and obsessively focusing on self-image and self-promotion and what they can get from others, how do we convince them that it is to more blessed to give than to receive? (Acts 20:35) Do we even believe that? Do we practice that? Are we more focused on giving than receiving? What have we taught through our behavior?
Are We All Selfish?
Perhaps we are all, to some varying degree, selfish, entitled and narcissistic, but millennials are the first generation where we see these as dominant traits of the masses, rather than a few. Or maybe, this is the first generation that refuses to pretend like they’re anything other than what they are. But, if they are blatantly selfish and entitled, how did they get that way?
Can We Be Real?
It was extremely difficult (though not impossible) for me and my brothers to harbor selfishness growing up with 4 kids in a home where our parents refused to give us everything. We had to work for an allowance and were docked pay when chores weren’t completed. We also had to share everything. I have baby pictures rocking hand-me-downs. I learned how to work those guy corduroys and flannel tops. Just saying.
One of my dear friends, Keese Adams, posted something profound on my Facebook page yesterday in response to my post, as he was recovering from hospital procedures. (That’s brotherly love!) Keese says, “For a child with nothing, working harder is an obvious solution to having more… A child with everything has less incentive to work as hard or hardly work at all.”
If an entire generation has emerged that doesn’t feel the need to “work” in order to “have”, we might need to look at the blueprint by which we thought it was prudent to “give” them so much. You know?
Equal Opportunity Offender
So now, I have not only managed to offend the millennials, I am sure that I have offended their parents as well. Let me stop digging this hole while I can still see the light above my head. LOL!
Still, I welcome healthy dialogue. And I do apologize to those offended yesterday… and those offended today… and tomorrow.
Did I cover everybody? :=)
Naima
Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian
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Your apologies for what? You spoke the truth in love. Period. People took so much offense to what Jesus spoke that they crucified Him. Aren’t we done with the political correctness, yet?
Thanks, Barbara.
I don’t mind apologizing for offending folks. I’m not being politically correct. I’m reaching out to let folks know I’m not standing in judgment of their generation. I am bringing forward the truth in love and saying, “Let’s talk about this!”
I appreciate you taking the time to share.
Thank you,
Naima
Sorry, but I aint buying it. We are called to speak truth in love. Jesus never apologized when people were offended, and they were offended at everything He said. If you said something you shouldn’t have, then fine, apologize for that. If you’re apologizing because people are offended by the truth you speak, then that’s just PC-itis — plain and simple. Why not just begin your blog with “Sorry if this offends some of you because it will.”
It is what it is. Thanks for listening.
Thanks Barbara. I hear you.
I’m not apologizing for speaking the truth. I am called to do that.
I am apologizing for causing an offense. There’s a difference.
I am, by nature, a very blunt, straight shooter. Which means I offend folks a lot. LOL! My husband, my friends, our congregrants, strangers.
I have learned to walk in a measure of grace. I am usually not trying to cause offense, but instead trying to enter into dialouge. If dialouge is made possible by my apologizing for an offense, I will do what is necessary to move forward with the dialogue. I’m just not that prideful to let an apology stand in the way of creating more discussion that leads people into deeper truth.
I appreciate your passion and understand your perspective. I hope that you will understand mine as well.
Thanks for taking the time,
Naima
There is never any need for an apology for speaking a truth, so long as there is no arrogance factor involved.
You speak the truth, and do it eloquently.
For many people reaction comes before acceptance – anger before grace if you like.
As a baby boomer who has had two kids, one of each, I certainly believe what you say. They have different attitudes, social methods of communication and dress styles, but their core beliefs came from the same place as their parents – our faith.
I thought your article – the last and this, were very acceptable, truthful and informative journalism, which in itself is refreshing.
Thanks so much, Rex.
Appreciate hearing your perspective and insight.
So true, many times reaction does come before acceptance. :=)
And you nailed it. Our core beliefs come from that which we’ve received from our parents.
Hope you and the family have a wonderful holiday weekend coming up,
Naima
Naima,
You didn’t cause offense. People took offense. Jesus never, ever apologized to people who took offense. The truth offends. Paul said the Cross is a stumbling block – it offends. The Word offends. Love offends. These things offend because they’re doing what they should be doing — striking a cord in the hearts of men. Our part is to speak the truth in love, and let Jesus handle the rest. That’s all.
Thanks for listening. Be blessed.