Part 1: The
Problem
It
was common in my college setting to boldly decry any college student (but
especially males) who ended up living with their parents post-college.
Particularly vocal and opinionated professors would cry, “Fowl!” and mourn the
loss of manhood in our society. Reasonably, the students would follow suit. A
real man, a biblical man, is one who leaves home never to return! Perhaps that’s
embellished, but then again I wouldn’t be surprised to hear it come out of some
mouths. But is it true? Is the Christian male’s rite of passage to leave the
home and be married? Or can you still live at home and be a faithful,
sanctifying man—after university? I acknowledge that these professors are
battling a culture of “adult-o-lescence” and perpetual boyhood (and even
culture has recognized this); I understand that laziness and comfort has become
default; but at the same time, if we continually react with over-correction
when will the pendulum settle with proper peace (that is to say with Shalom—rightly viewing and inhabiting
the world in fullness)?
I
recently talked with a friend who is an hospice nurse. She routinely visits
homes in Southern California. She explained that
many of the homes she visits are multi-generational: usually housing three
generations—grandma, mom & dad, and son & wife. It only takes 9 months
for that house to become a 4-generation dwelling! My friend said that years ago
the multi-generational home was an anomaly. But no longer. Part of it iseconomic: another friend said that when he was a young man, gas was 25¢/gallon
with a $1/hour minimum wage paycheck. That’s ¼ of a paycheck. But nowadays with
gas forever tempting $4/gallon and minimum wage at $8/hour, HALF of the proletariat’s paycheck goes
to making our vehicle run (even with the increase in mpg). Employers posting entry-level positions requiring
3-5 years’ experience doesn’t exactly help the just-graduated, school-indebted,
optimistic young man or woman make it on their own. It makes sense, then, for a
22-year old to move back in with their parents. They don’t have rent (or
leastwise expensive rent) to pay. They can focus their energy on finding a job—anyjob!—that will allow them to begin repaying loans, buying an engagement ring,
and locating a feasible home. How soul-crushing for that one that wants to go
overseas or be involved in vocational ministry. Especially when the Christian
community is saying that you’ve failed to make it as a man. Is that beneficial,
really?
But
this isn’t an exercise in sympathy and pity. It’s a call to consider: what is the biblical picture of a faithful
Christian? I propose that a Christian perspective actually praises and
encourages multi-generational homes if
possible.
See Part 2 tomorrow.
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Part 3: A Perspective
Part 4: Contemporary Application and Fallout
See Part 2 tomorrow.
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Part 3: A Perspective
Part 4: Contemporary Application and Fallout
