Open Rebellion Time

So, I just came back from this Rebels Conference in Pasco with some of my good friends - who also happen to be of the rebellious type.  They reminded me what it means to be a rebel...not just in definition, but in action.  It's like my friend Mac says "Don't talk about it, be about it!"  I'm thinking about sewing my mouth shut so I can only be about it.

Let me lay it down for you like this:


1400's: Some patriots of Spain are tired of the oppressive rule of a certain Moor family. Facing the chance (the good chance) of being tortured and then killed, with their entire family, a brave number of Spanish get together and start an open rebellion against the ruling class, starting a civil war of sorts.  With passion and tact, they achieve their primary goal: they take back the country that was lost to them and drive out the forces that were opposing them.

1500's: The Catholic Church of old (no disrespect to current Catholics) has an oppressing grip on society (yes, even the church can be used by Satan).  So tight, in fact, that observational science becomes a heretic institution.  Astronomer Nicolai Copernicus asserts that the Earth is not the center of the universe, this throws the society into a frenzy and he is labeled a "heretic".   This brave observation, which would be later become known as truth was fought for and died for, just so that mankind could benefit from true knowledge.  His objectives were accomplished: no matter how high the stakes, never water down the truth and inspire others to think against the accepted ideology.

1700's: A number of small groups, consisting of laymen, decide that the abusive rule of their mother government has gone far enough.  They decide to band together and challenge the monarchy.  They draft the Declaration of Independence and thus launch themselves and countrymen into a war with Great Britain.  Although many were against it, and wanted to take the "easy way" by letting it continue the way it was, the few, passionate rebels not only taught the world that they didn't have to take crap from bullies, but also that with the right plan, goal, focus and passion - you could create a new way of life.

1900's: Years of tyranny and forced poverty and inhuman/unequal/unfair treatment finally surmount. A small population within what is considered the "free world" stand up, facing death, torture, rape, and any other god-awful thing you can imagine.  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man who even till today is hated by many, stands up and delivers a speech that rocks a nation and the world behind it. He asserts that unequal treatment and lack of rights is wrong and that a radical new way needs to come about...one that has its basis in love.  This crazy new idea of love sends the majority population into a feeding frenzy.  When the dust settles, the leader gave his life, proudly, as well as many other rebels - and an entire race of people gain true freedom and the rights the so long fought for.

Present Day: the governments of the world now oppress and resist the Christian movement.  From top to bottom, we are becoming the object of ridicule and hate.  Schools deny us our right to practice the first amendment while they teach and endorse our opposing views in the name of science.  The media, aka the thing that makes us America, would have us portrayed as out of date, hateful, traditional, prideful, deceitful, stupid, holier than thou and hypocritical, aka all things that are true!  WHAT?

Oh yeah, didn't you get the memo?  We are, out of date, hateful, prideful, deceitful, stupid, holier than thou and hypocritical.  Why do you think waiters hate serving us, why do you think divorce is so rampant in out community, why do you think we have such record low numbers of outreach and commitment to community, why do you think people don't want to have anything to do with us?  I tell you the truth, you would say that it is because the evil one turn this godless people against us, but I say that you better chigitty check yourself before you riggitty wreck yourself!  People don't like us/support us cause we're jerks!

We don't give, we only take.  We compromise our beliefs when they become inconvenient.  We show a lack of sympathy when tragedy strikes.  Our answer to everything is "I'll keep it in prayer" aka "I'll try and pawn it off to God so that I don't have to worry about it"; which is only a portion of the population who actually mean "Okay, I'm going to lie to your face about caring, and then forget about it."  We got lazy, people!  We lost our passion!  When they took away our right to pray and read the Bible and study creationism...we acted like a bunch of old testament Jews, or as Jesus called them "a brood of vipers".

WAKE UP! In Revelation, God tells us exactly what he thinks about people who ride the fence, who are lazy, complacent and apathetic, but still call themselves Christians, or the "luke warm".  You know what he says?  He says they are "vomit" and will be "vommitted out" (Reference to the letter to the church at Laodicea).  Now to me, that sounds like "you will be spewed out in a vile away and will be separated from me, you filth!"  WAKE UP!

We have no excuse.  Our rebellion must start like any rebellion; at home.  In our own temples.  Your challenge is to rebel against: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, malice, slander, filthy language, lying, laziness, apathy, selfishness and judgement.  Instead, we are not asked, but commanded to adopt: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, unifying love, peace, thankfulness, indwelling of the WORD (That means, actually read it and memorize it), sharing and a singing heart (praising and thankful).

Our rebellion is hard.  Why?  Because it goes against self.  But, ladies and gentlemen, until you rebel against self...don't you dare try and rebel against this culture - or you will crash harder than a meteor.  If you want to be a rebel, be a rebel.  One of my new favorite quotes is "Don't talk about it, be about it!" (Mac Gayler)  And if you want help rebelling, ask for it.  You're not the only rebel. There are many of us.  We aren't perfect, what rebel ever has been?  But we are passionate and won't stop because we see that we can't stop.

WAKE the HECK UP!