Having burst into popularity on the millennial and younger social media platform TikTok, the phrase “OK Boomer,” whose true origins are lost in the murk of the back pages of the internet, is used by many millennials (those born between about 1981 and 1996) to dismiss their parents’ generation of baby boomers (those born between about 1946 and 1964) as out of touch and self-centered. And, in a sign that its use has expanded beyond mere internet meme-dom and into the public sphere, one New Zealand member of Parliament responded to another member’s heckling with a dismissive “OK, Boomer.” In 2020 in our particular historical moment, when we find ourselves confronted by a global pandemic from a virus that has proven especially dangerous for the sick and elderly, questions about intergenerational conflict have special weight. Discussion about what sort of containment measures are sufficient and whether it is ethical to risk the lives of the elderly for the sake of the economy have become issues of public debate. However, the Bible calls us to reject this conflict and calls Christians to a beautiful vision of an intergenerational, interdependent, remembering community. 

This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal author Kyle Keating about his article in the 43:1 Journal, entitled, “OK, Boomer: Time to Declare a Truce in the Generational Wars.”

We’d also like to invite you to subscribe to the Journal. To subscribe to the Journalplease click here. 

When you to subscribe to the Journal, you join the team of print subscribers whose paid subscriptions help provide the resources at equip.org that minister to people worldwide. These resources include our free online-exclusive articles, such as this review, as well as our free Postmodern Realities podcast.

Another way you can support keeping our resources free is by leaving us a tip. A tip is just a small amount, like $3 or $5, which is the cost for some of a latte, lunch out, or coffee drink. To leave a tip, click here.