The definition of a rebel is someone who rises in opposition to someone or something.
Rebel is not normally a word we use to describe Jesus but to be blunt, He was the ultimate rebel. Jesus was very counter cultural. He was considered a troublemaker am I right? He ate with prostitues and the tax collectors. He loved the unlovable. He would associate with the people that no one else wanted to associate with. He also lived his life different than what the pharisees deemed right. He lived in opposition to the normal status quo. Someone correct me if I am wrong but, arent we supposed to live like Jesus?
Here’s how not to be a rebel in todays world. Cussing, Sex before marriage, Partying, Bullying, watching porn, divorce, and or anything related to any of these. These things are not rebellion. You want to know why? They are EASY and NORMAL! It so easy to sin. EVERYONE is doing it. What is rebellious about something everyone is doing? When we sin we are comforming to the ways of the world and not rising in opposition to it! There is nothing rebellious or cool about falling into that trap.
In today’s world what is cool about saving yourself for your spouse? What is cool about not partying? What is cool about giving your money to the church or people in need? What is cool about telling people about Jesus?
Nothing.
Isn’t that sad? The not so new status quo is to rebel against Jesus not the world, but when you rebel against Jesus you are conforming. You are giving into the normal and doing what everyone else is. Most likely because it’s cool. You are looked at as weak or pathetic if you want to save yourself for marriage or care for people that have hurt you.
“If weakness is a wound that no one wants to speak of, then cool is just how far you have to fall.”
Honestly, as men how many times have we heard women say “Chivalry is dead. There are no gentlemen left.” Doesn’t that sting a little? As men aren’t we supposed to protect womens purity? But in today’s world you are looked down upon when you don’t want to get in a girls pants. You are weak or a pansy. Most likely people will think you like the same sex. Once again, “Cool is just how far you have to fall.”
I used to think I was so cool when I was into the party scene. I would want to do things where people looked at me as a rebel and that made me cool. It made me cool to get drunk every weekend. I did it to purposefully live in opositoion to my savior. I found out the hard way that conforming is easy and easy tends to hurt. Just like when you are buying a car, you get what you pay for.
I saw who the real rebels were. I saw the real people I wanted to model my life after. I would rather have Jesus think I was cool then any person on this planet. I now feel cool living in oppositon to the world. Why? Jesus has called me to be different. It is so rare to find people who are willing to love the unlovable. So rare to find anyone that has saved themselves for their spouse. It is rare to have a marriage last these days. These things happen because no one is willing to rebel against the world.
So many people are willing to over throw our government because they threaten to take their guns away. Don’t get me wrong I love my guns but what if people had that same mindset about sin and rebelling against the world? Many people say to the government “You can have my guns, bullets first.” They are willing to die for their guns. How about saying to satin YOU WILL NEVER take me. I’ll cut my hands off first and then I will gouge out my eyes if they cause me to sin. I know this is extreme but no one takes sin seriously anymore. Are you willing to spend eternity in hell over something fun that wont last?
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
When I think of rebels I think of the movie Red Dawn. “WOLVERINES!” These are people that never gave up and rebelled against the oncoming russian and cuban troops. Most ended up dying because they never gave up and wouldn’t give in. In reality, giving up is the only way to live and truly rebel against todays world.
True rebellion to the world? Throwing up the white flag in full and complete surrender to Jesus Christ. Time to throw up the white flag and live in rebellion.
