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Growing Old in Christ

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There seems to be two parallel tracks evident in the various essays presented by the contributors of this volume, one is descriptive and the other is prescriptive, but both come together into a single idea: perspective.

In each essay, different aspects of aging are described. From a historical viewpoint, the aged were rare and honored, and they were seen as representing wisdom and virtue. In the modern era, aging is seen as a curse, something to be avoided and despised, and this view impacts our political, economic and social culture. The individual effect of aging is seen in physical, mental and emotional changes, reduction in social interaction, moral decisions, and rituals surrounding death.

The various prescriptive aspects offered in these essays include proper treatment and attitudes toward the elderly within the Christian community, and the challenge to apply our theology consistently by seeing aging and death as a natural and unique experience. They declare that we can benefit greatly by learning from older people and the process of aging.

The unifying idea is perspective. In the past, the aged were honored because they were valued as a source of strength, tradition, wisdom and blessing. In the present, older people are seen as representing weakness, obsolescence, corruption and death; youth is valued and aged despised. The theological perspective sees aging as a virtue and the aged as being worthy of honor. As the Church of Jesus Christ, our perspective must inform how we treat our elderly, and how we approach growing older - with dignity and grace.