Something I'm thinking about:

Is there a connection btwn the popularity of End Times rhetoric in American evangelicalism & generational fracturing in the church? If the destruction of the world is imminent, how does that affect our ability to think generationally?

ISTM, that possible results include:

1) Generational consumption: you can't take it w/ you so eat, drink, & be merry for tomorrow we die

2) Obsession with the past & the good old days b/c no future is guaranteed.

3) Hyper-awareness of "eternity" that collapses everything between the present moment & end of world in a weird time warp

4) Ministries & leadership unable to conceive of existence 30, 50, 100 years into future & thus not planning for anything beyond their lifespan.

I'm sure there's more to say & there's also distinct possibility that another outside force is affecting both the focus on End Times & generational fragmentation. But there's something happening here.

*insert all the Presbyterians talking about covenant & baptizing babies*