I remember the time when our former minister, Joey Davis mentioned U2, Green Day, and INXS in his church bulletin article. I’m sure most people don’t even know what INXS is. I wasn’t even sure Joey knew who INXS was. Here’s the article.

December 31, 1995
They play their music too loud. Some of theIr hairstyles are “socially unacceptable.” They loiter at the mall. They listen to music groups named things like… U2, Boyz II Men, Green Day, INXS, and, my personal favorite…Hootie and the Blowfish. (I had a buddy in school that we nicknamed Hootie, but that’s another story for another day).
From looking at their outside appearances, it would be pretty easy to make a statement like, “the younger generation is going to ‘H-E-double hockey sticks’ in a hand basket!” However, before we come to that conclusion, take a walk with me down memory lane……If I were a gambler, it would be a safe bet that some of you within the sound of my pecking have…danced the ‘Charleston,’ cruised Shoneys, drag raced, worn a hairstyle your parents didn’t approve of, or paid to see Elvis Presley shake his pelvis, wearing an Evil Kneivel outfit and singing You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog.
I still listen to loud music, sometimes. When people see my senior pictures they all say the same thing, “Look at all that hair. ” I have seen Bootsie and his Rubber Band in concert, loitered in parking lots, laughed too loud in public places, and even tore the tag off of a mattress once, knowing full well that I was risking federal prosecution. And that’s just the things that I’ll admit!
My point is: by the providence of almighty God, and the aid of good role models, you and I made it through adolescence. So will they.
To illustrate my point, I’d like to tell you about a group of teenaged girls in our congregation. They begged their Bible School teacher to let them adopt a child for Christmas. Then begged for another one. They were given two children to adopt as their little “angels.” When all was said . and done, it took two trips to deliver the gifts that these young Christian ladies gave their angels…one car couldn’t hold it all!
My guess is that most of these girls have listened to loud music, cruised the mall once (or wanted to), and listened to Hootie and the Blowfish. However, the Spirit of Christ still dwells within them prohibiting them from holding back their love and compassion from those who aren’t as materially blessed.
So, the next time you hear someone declare that the younger generation is a hopeless waste of skin, remind them of ‘the Charleston’, Elvis, and cruising Shoneys. If that doesn’t work, tell . them about some teenaged girls who have the capacity to love those they don’t even know, while living in an society of selfishness and excess. That should do the trick! If it doesn’t…offer them some hay, because they’re probably just an ‘old goat!’