Our culture tells us that getting older means losing value, and that the goal is to fight it for as long as we can. Scripture tells a different story.
In this episode, Jen Wilkin joins me to talk about her book Dust to Dust and what the Bible actually says about aging, our bodies, and death. We talk about the false stories we’ve absorbed about aging, including the idea that it means diminishment, the pull of anti-aging culture, and the lie of individualism. Jen shows why Scripture treats gray hair as a gift, not a loss. She also makes the case that the church is uniquely equipped to honor older believers, to walk with them to the end of life, and to bring the generations back together.
Whether you’re watching your own face change in the mirror, caring for aging parents, or wondering where the older women are in your church, this conversation will give you a better story to live in.
In this episode, we discuss:
The biblical perspective on aging and death
The false stories our culture tells about getting older
Why intergenerational relationships matter so much
How the church can serve and honor the elderly
The purpose of the body, and of aging, in God’s plan
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jen Wilkin and Dust to Dust 01:51 Biblical literacy and fluency 04:03 Cultural pressures on women about aging 06:06 A theology of aging and the body 07:23 How our culture’s handling of death and aging has shifted 11:09 Gray hair as a gift 12:59 The false narrative of aging as diminishment 16:02 Living in a false story and the lie of individualism 19:02 The value and wisdom of the elderly in Scripture 20:55 How Christians buy into anti-aging culture 22:54 Intergenerational ministry and mentorship 27:06 The humility of Christ and the example of service 30:01 The purpose of the body: serving others 32:57 False stories about beauty and sexuality 35:56 Medical aesthetics and the culture of youthfulness 38:56 Serving the elderly and end-of-life care in the church 43:04 Creating chances for the generations to connect 49:57 Facing death and grief with gratitude 54:59 Encouragement for younger women to learn from older generations 57:03 Closing thoughts and resources for further study
Resources mentioned
Dust to Dust by Jen Wilkin — https://amzn.to/4jivOiZ
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