Strange Rebellion
I recently read an online piece that claimed the common social perception of a young adult who is trying to live a life in pursuit of God is that they are conformists, have a herd mentality and
lack the ability to reasonably think for themselves. In other words, the concept of individualism has been lost on those people; for if they truly had a unique personality then their life path
would be one of their own choosing – not adherence to an ancient book……..adherence which includes the attempt, not the guarantee, of being submitted to and respectful of New Testament Christian
teaching.
Let’s consider that. What is the alternative to the somewhat predictable and old fashioned values a Christian is expected to live by? If there are 10 million ( probably a generous estimate)
American young adults honestly striving for that life of supposed conformity, then that means there are tens of millions more who aren’t: who aren’t concerned with God, church community, church
culture or Biblical guidance.
Is it possible that viewing Christ as the foundation of your life is true rebellion?…against society, excuses, pride, rationalization, selfishness? If so, the idea of virtuous rebellion isn’t
that strange after all.
Virtuous Rebellion
Our culture celebrates rebellion, the guy who goes out on his own and fights the system, wears abnormal, and yet strikingly awesome clothes and, of course, he’s not clean-shaven.
Closer examination of rebellion reveals that rebels all look and act the same. Kids think being a rebel is refusing social norms, yet rebellion is the social norm (against the ways of the world).
All rebelling kids have the same dumb look.
Rebellion is not inherently from sin. In other words, rebellion "aint always bad", it can, in fact, be rather righteous.
Virtuous rebellion is the rebellion against sin, against state tyranny. Being righteous is the greatest form of rebellion in this world. Tough guys think smoking, drinking, drugs and fighting are
rebellion. It's actually weak to insinuate strength through those things. True toughness is denying all these.
When you rebel to righteousness the people will hate you, that’s how you know if your rebellion is truly rebellious. We are to be fighting a fight of faith and it’s a fight of rebellion.
We fight to throw off the shackles of slavery to sin and the world's vices and enter into righteousness. We fight to throw off the world and cling to Heaven. We fight to mortify the deeds of our
body and present our bodies as living sacrifices.
Rebel against stupid. Rebel against sin. Rebel against evil and the powers of this world. Come out from among them and be separate. This is true rebellion. Anything else is just following the
crowd on the broad road.
"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. [...] It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of
government."
"Does the end justify the means? That is possible. But what will justify the end? To that question, which historical thought leaves pending, rebellion replies: the means."
Rebellion Def:
"is a refusal of obedience.It may therefore be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors from civil disobedience and mass nonviolent resistance, to violent and organized attempts to destroy an
established corrupt authority such as the government or corporation, to refuse or fail to participate with the accepted norm or adherence of forced social changes through new laws that reflect an
immoral or subversive unity for the masses for the good of all. Those who participate in rebellions are known as "rebels".
"If you are not running into people on this matter, or running into and having issues with the devil, then it's probably because you're tunning in the same direction."