Ok, so Vicki has been stirring up a hornets nest over on her blog but it goes right along with my life right now. I was confronted last night with my sin, and it sucked. Someone in authority over me said that I was "passive rebellious", and it took me by surprise. I'm not sure why...others have joked with me about being rebellious and I used to say I was a "Harding Rebel." (Harding is the ultra-conservative college I went to and I used to rebel against some of their rules b/c I thought they were stupid). But anyway, when I told Lloyd what this person had said, he said "Ya! I've known that for a long time." And no one implied that it was a good thing. I admit that I am questioner by nature. If something is given to me, I question, I weigh it, I look to see if it's good, if it's real, if it's right. I've always thought that was a good thing--that I don't take everything at face value. My intent has never been rebellion.
So all day today I've been struggling with it... Is there a time when rebellion is ok? Even good? I looked up what God says about rebellion and came across the same verse Vicki used in her blog on rebellion and many others, most of which were about God's people in rebellion against Him. It was never good.
I Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
Proverbs 17:11
An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.
But I don't feel like I've been rebellious against God. So I looked up OBEDIENCE.
Hebrews 13:17
17Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
2 John 1:6
6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
So here's my question: Is rebellion always wrong? Some would have accused Jesus of being a rebel.
When I taught school, I worked for someone who did some very unethical things, and I totally rebelled against it. The verse in Hebrews says to submit to their authority so their work will be a joy. But do I submit if they're wrong? Kind of goes back to the same question Vicki's asking in her blog? God says to submit to our husbands. What if they're wrong about something? Do we submit anyway? God doesn't say submit or obey if they're right. It makes me wonder if some of the rebellion I'm seeing in my kids is coming from the example of their mother...
My ultimate desire is to be like Christ. Psalm 119:5 says "Oh that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees." I just pray that God will reveal the truth to me.
So all day today I've been struggling with it... Is there a time when rebellion is ok? Even good? I looked up what God says about rebellion and came across the same verse Vicki used in her blog on rebellion and many others, most of which were about God's people in rebellion against Him. It was never good.
I Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
Proverbs 17:11
An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.
But I don't feel like I've been rebellious against God. So I looked up OBEDIENCE.
Hebrews 13:17
17Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
2 John 1:6
6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
So here's my question: Is rebellion always wrong? Some would have accused Jesus of being a rebel.
When I taught school, I worked for someone who did some very unethical things, and I totally rebelled against it. The verse in Hebrews says to submit to their authority so their work will be a joy. But do I submit if they're wrong? Kind of goes back to the same question Vicki's asking in her blog? God says to submit to our husbands. What if they're wrong about something? Do we submit anyway? God doesn't say submit or obey if they're right. It makes me wonder if some of the rebellion I'm seeing in my kids is coming from the example of their mother...
My ultimate desire is to be like Christ. Psalm 119:5 says "Oh that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees." I just pray that God will reveal the truth to me.
6 comments:
Well I THINK...Having a little rebellion is a good thing-(obviously not against God) but in Life and circumstances. People who don't- tend to get walked on and used and follow the crowd even if they shoudn't! I worry about my kids because really neither one of them are really rebellious(Mollie and Nolan) anyways:) I worry they will be followers and not leaders. Rebellious is a negative word but it could be positive if your rebelloius against the wrong in life and face it there is alot wrong in Life!:)
I wonder if the same person who told you that is the same person who told me... okay, I won't be a trouble maker. Obviously God is trying to tell us something here. As far as your question "is rebellion always wrong", I say NO! Jodie's right. It has good sides such as to having courage to stand against the crowd. Could it be it's a matter of our hearts attitude? Would God ever ask us to do anything unethical? NO! I believe we obey the law as long as it isn't against god's law. Stay within the boundaries of God's word and he will vindicate you. Such as the situation with your work. i heard Joyce Meyer say once when she was a secretary her boss ask her to send a billing statement to someone that wasn't the truth, but was also stealing money. She went home and prayed about it and went back the next day and told her boss she couldn't send the bill because she felt it was stealing. Being confronted with he truth, her boss backed down and eventually admitted she was right. But she said she was willing to loose her job to stand for what was integrity to God's word. I'm sure her boss saw this as rebellion, but in Joyce's case she was obeying her God. So, as you see, sometimes what others see as rebellion isn't. It just might not fit into their box of life. But, back to the heart matter, God does look at our heart and if we are doing anything from a heart of rebellion then it's sin. It's always good to ask those you love and trust to keep you in check. Believe me, Donny keeps me in check. At don't forget to ask the Holy Spirit to help you too. That's what I'm going to do.
There was the eyebrow ring...which was pretty cool by the way :) But mostly at Harding, I saw in you a spirit of adventure. You were SO good for me in helping me jump out of my "box"--especially spiritually thinking. Your "rebellious" way of thinking helped me to get rid of some of the legalism I struggled with. Its good to always stand up for yourself and especially your children, and also teach them to be leaders (which I don't think Braxton will have a hard time with!). I appreciate the scripture you've looked at though--you are encouraging me to get more into the word. Love you!
Randi with an eyebrow ring???? I am speechless!!!!!
Ok...rebellion is not really my area because I am anal. I know, ya'll don't have to tell me. I will tell you though I looked it up and this was the definition...of or near the anus, excessively orderly...so for now on, I am known as the "perfect ass!" I like that better than being "anal"
Anyway...it sounds like someone was trying to sound like a smarty pants, the 2 words together just don't make any since to me. I think that these gals made good points, sometimes we have to stick up for ourselves. Besides, I like how you are. I think everyone has their own issues they need to deal with.
I live with someone who is very forward and I am not, but I have learned a lot from him like saying no and not letting people walk all over while keeping a kind attitude the entire time. If we are staying in God's will then who cares when people try to sound cool with made up words! Passive rebellious..well...my perfect ASS..take that!
haha! I love what Christina said. And I totally agree! We just need to relax and enjoy who God made us to be and not worry so much about what others say or think about us. Like christina said, we ALL have issues and we will never be perfect. Want to get a tattoo? :)
Yes, I want a tatoo and I'll have to see if I can find a picture of the eyebrow ring. It was cool! I love your perfect ass Christina! :) And I appreciate everyone's encouragement. I don't care what other people think if it's not true, but I felt like this person was confronting me with my sin. And because of that, I have to evaluate my heart. So far, my heart agrees with what all of you said--sometimes it's a good thing to be a rebellious!
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