Rebellion: The Lost Art

Nathaniel Turner was not a saint. The question for the church and onlookers today is: did his actions contradict the God of the Bible? It would be comparable to taking a long walk in neck deep murky water to get behind a historical figure’s proclaimed visions, so I will not pretend to have the authority to do that. What I will do is layout what I believe to be a good way to test the rebellion in you to know if it is for or against the kingdom of God; after all, I think we may all have a little Nat Turner in us.

A DEEP CONVICTION

History-altering rebellion is always birthed in discomfort. It happens when there is something wrong in the world, usually opposing God’s natural intended order, and someone refuses to ignore it. Today, the act of being a rebel is a lost art. Unfortunately, rebellion itself has gained a synonymous negative connotation.

It is easy to look back and romanticize about a group of black men and women holding a sit-in at some “whites only” local gathering place; the truth is, at that time there was noting romantic about it. The way will always be questioned and opposed if it is disturbing whatever balance is in play. Those attending peaceful protests during the Civil Rights era were often imprisoned and treated unfairly. They urged them – don’t march, don’t sit in, don’t do these things, even from people who were on the same side. Rebellion cannot be regulated by current systems in play, this would be allowing the oppressor to dictate the “proper” way for the oppressed to fight their oppression.

We speak about injustice and point back to the founding of our nation, but we so often fail to see the hypocrisy of it. What I mean is that today we frown at those participating in violent rebellion, but the founding fathers were extreme rebels; the United States was build on tea parties, hostility towards unfair taxes and ultimately mass bloodshed. While I am not promoting killing in the streets, I do understand that “riot is the language of the unheard.”

Hear me, YES rebellion can be a bad thing. Rebellion against God is a grave sin, but accepting a culture that is in direct opposition to God’s design is equally as dangerous. I argue that a righteous rebellion is the very essence of Christianity. Psalm 94:16 “Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against those who practice iniquity?” Please, do not jump at an opportunity to rebel, rather pray and fast until, like Nehemiah, you have God’s heart for those affected by the injustice.

CAN’T SHAKE IT

I mentioned Nehemiah and if you know his story, you know that after he felt a deep conviction, he wrestled for 3 months in prayer. I don’t know exactly what he prayed for, but I wouldn’t be surprised if at moments, he asked for the burden not to be on him. We know from his story that he did come to the place of risking his very life for the cause that probably robbed him of sleep many night, it probably caused him to think about certain people differently, and no mater what he did, he could not shake it. This is how we analyze our motives for rebellion, this is how we know we aren’t doing it because we want to, but in a sense, we are rebelling because we have assessed that there is no other option.

CONSUMED WITH OBEDIENCE

Wrestling in prayer with God about a conviction is necessary for the next step and once you are here, the stakes get even steeper. Now you come to a place where you MUST be consumed with honoring God throughout the process, and mainly honoring Him with your obedience. In Mark Batterson’s book Chasing the Lion, he says “in God’s book, success is spelled stewardship.” The way we win our rebellions is by stewarding what God has given us and obeying Him with every step. In the end, justice is only found in Jesus, and anything else is missing the mark by a long shot.

Something that almost infallibly helps us stay obedient is the right team of people on the mission. In the words of Drake, “You and yours, verse me and mine.” The team you build with is just as important as anything else we have discussed. It does not have to be a stadium full of radicals, but you need at least one or two people who will encourage you to keep fighting when the bullets start flying. This team must be like-minded and in dangerous pursuit of the holiness of Jesus. These people will undoubtedly challenge you and your thoughts; the last thing any revolutionary needs is a “yes man.” Ultimately, these people will force you to constantly consider your motivation and thus will keep you holding onto your conviction in the right perspective. Personally, I have experienced the greatest triumphs against darkness from having the right people around me. Beginning the church I pastor, Engage, was an act of rebellion. It has turned into a bright light in our city and it has lead to so many lives being touched. This would not have been accomplished without a team to consistently challenge me and force me to grow even when it was excruciating.