Rediscovering the Gift of Aging: A Theology of Renewal and Intergenerational Wisdom

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 April 2017

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How adopting a biblical view of aging reshapes our identity, deepens community, and reveals the unexpected vitality of growing older. Mike Erre and Andy unpack the difference between two Greek words for “new” — neos and kainos — to explore how scripture invites us to reimagine aging not as a decline, but as a spiritual renewal. From pop culture’s idolization of youth to the church’s neglect of its elders, they challenge our assumptions and offer a fresh, hopeful perspective on what it means to age in God’s kingdom.

Key Takeaways:
• Understanding Neos vs. Kainos – Mike breaks down the difference between neos (new in time) and kainos (new in kind), revealing how the Bible values a deeper kind of renewal not bound to physical age.
• Reframing Aging as a Gift – Learn why the scriptures celebrate old age as a sign of wisdom, responsibility, and fruitfulness, not decline or irrelevance.
• Confronting Cultural Ageism – The modern obsession with youth leads us to discard the value of elders. Mike and Andy advocate for repentance and renewal in how we view and relate to different generations.
• Intergenerational Exchange – Exploring how scripture calls both young and old to invest in each other through care, wisdom, and mutual honor, leading to shared growth and community transformation.
• Caleb’s Bold Declaration – Even at 85, Caleb believed he was as vigorous as ever in declaring God’s promises. His story offers a powerful model for spiritual maturity and resilience in later life.
• A New Vision for the Church – Mike discusses how recapturing this theology of aging can transform discipleship, mentoring, and church culture, highlighting the importance of older voices for spiritual formation.

Resources Mentioned:
• 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 – A foundational scripture on inward renewal.
• Psalm 92 – The righteous still bearing fruit in old age.
• Joshua 14 – Caleb’s strength and courage at 85.
• Ancient Near Eastern cultural references on honoring the elderly.
• Timothy’s pastoral instructions on treating older members with honor.

Join the conversation by rethinking what it means to grow older in a youth-obsessed culture. Whether you’re 20 or 70, discover how God renews us inwardly, day by day, and how we’re called to bless and be blessed by every generation. Subscribe, leave a review, and share your story with us on social media.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected] and to engage in conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV

Our Merch Store! ET SY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hello, it's Mike and Andy.
0:18.7	Welcome to the Vox World Headquarters, Braya, California.
0:22.5	We're here doing our best NPR impersonation.
0:26.9	Pete Shwetty is here with us.
0:29.2	Hello.
0:30.2	To talk about-
0:30.3	How you doing?
0:31.8	Well, we won't, we won't say.
0:33.7	I don't want to make a your muff episode.
0:38.4	Hi everybody.
0:38.9	Good morning.
0:39.8	Mike and Andy here.
0:45.2	Glad you're with us and happy whatever day you're listening to this to you.
0:48.4	It is, hold on, weather check for Brea, California.
0:49.9	Oh, let me see, sunny and 70.
0:54.1	And dang top weather. For Andy, for for Mikey not so much I want to hide I want to
0:59.8	hide the tank behind the top and so or or hide the top behind the tank either way yeah
1:07.7	there we go that's what I'm talking about. So my brothers and sisters, hello.
1:12.6	We are so excited to be with you again.
1:15.6	We're found at Voxpodcast.com.
1:17.6	If you're interested for old episodes, like us on Facebook, we have a Vox Podcast
1:22.6	Facebook page that we also put live Q&A on Facebook Live that we do and it's archived there.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Voxology, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Voxology and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.