Tag: Rebellion

The New Rebellion

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I found a provocative book called The New Rebellion Handbook: A Holy Uprising Making Real the Extraordinary in Everyday Life. Here are but a few thought provoking items from it. I would encourage all who seek to join this army to purchase the book and support the authors.

Rebellion occurs when oppression reaches a level that we can no longer tolerate in good conscience. It occurs when our vision for extraordinary living is more compelling than our urge for comfort. Materialism numbs us while distraction and apathy work on us from the inside.

The new rebellion is calling today’s generation, people who are disillusioned with the MTV culture and half-hearted Christianity. This rebellion equips us with powerful tools for partnering with God to change His world. This rebellion is for those who are intensely passionate about Jesus and are determined to live a purposeful life. We have a nothing-is-impossible mindset. Jesus is not meek and mild, but mighty and wild!

The book has 24 real-world, cutting-edge themes of life. This book is a wealth of resources; fresh ideas, Web sites, book, music, stories from ancient and contemporary figures (rebels themselves) who offer a compelling invitation into kingdom purpose. I’ll share the information here over the next few weeks.

The Top 10 Reasons to Join the New Rebellion:

  1. You are intensely passionate for Jesus and His kingdom.
  2. You really want to live a life of eternal significance.
  3. You resent the apathy that derails many of Jesus’ followers.
  4. You’re willing to swim against today’s social currents.
  5. You know God is already stirring your heart for action.
  6. You’re looking for tools to empower your purpose.
  7. You want to live out God’s ancient wisdom in a relevant way.
  8. You desire to experience God and invite others into that experience.
  9. You’re absolutely dedicated to Christ’s lordship in your life.
  10. You’re ready to move in the power and authority of God.

The information listed in this category is from the book.

When Rebellion is a Good Thing

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Rebellion occurs when oppression reaches a level that we can no longer tolerate in good conscience. It occurs when our vision for extraordinary living is more compelling than our urge for comfort and status quo. Materialism, toys and pleasure numb us while distraction and apathy work on us from the inside. Complacency will not help us to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12).

It’s tough to live in America. With all the comforts, conveniences and choices, you may think I’ve lost my mind, but stay with me for a little bit. Those of use who have made a commitment to Christ, who have voluntarily chosen to follow Jesus as one of his disciples, who have chosen the narrow path over the lure of the wide and broad way (Matthew 7:13-14), we understand that our walk with Christ and our mission in the world are much more important than anything on this planet. We exist for a different purpose than the world around us. In everything we do, we seek to bring honor and glory to the God of our salvation (1 Corinthians 10:13, Colossians 3:17). The world desires to squeeze us into its mold, but we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:1), and this can happen only through the power of God.

We need to be rebellious enough to go against the current culture in America. Culture expects us to be sex-crazed, power-hungry, domineering, lovers of money, success, women, fortune and fame. Our culture tells us, “If it feels good, do it,” and to climb the ladder of success one rung at a time, no matter what the cost. Men all across the country have sacrificed their marriages, children and souls for temporal success, pleasure, comfort, fame or fortune. The one who has come to Christ has a new desire, mainly to be set free from the slavery of sin, its power and its consequences. Success must be redefined as faithfulness and integrity, rather than by the neighborhood in which we live, the club to which we belong, or the BMW in the driveway.

Are you someone who is disillusioned with pop culture and half-hearted Christianity? Would you consider partnering with God to change His world? The rebellion of which I speak is for those who are intensely passionate about Jesus and are determined to live a life of purpose. We must have a nothing-is-impossible mindset. Jesus is not meek and mild, but mighty and wild!

Consider these top 10 reasons to join me in this rebellion:

  1. You are intensely passionate for Jesus and His kingdom.
  2. You really want to live a life of eternal significance.
  3. You resent the apathy that derails many of Jesus’ followers.
  4. You’re willing to swim against today’s social currents.
  5. You know God is already stirring your heart for action.
  6. You’re looking for tools to empower your purpose.
  7. You want to live out God’s ancient wisdom in a relevant way.
  8. You desire to experience God and invite others into that experience.
  9. You’re absolutely dedicated to Christ’s lordship in your life.
  10. You’re ready to move in the power and authority of God.

Is this the anthem for the Men of Steel? Can we be radical and rebellious for the cause of Christ, changing the world, one man at a time?

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Unrelenting Battles and Unfinished Business

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Absalom is dead, David is being taken across the River Jordan, the land has just been through civil war, but feelings of jealousy are strong between Israel and Judah.

Unrelenting Battles:

In chapter 19 we smelled the smoke of trouble and now we see the fire. As the people begin to bicker (2 Samuel 19:41, 42, 43), they provide an opportunity for a worthless fellow, a slick troublemaker, to rise up (2 Samuel 20:1).

When Amasa, David’s new commander of the army, returned, Joab was waiting for him (2 Samuel 20:5, 8, 10). Joab just won’t clean out his desk and fade into the background. Power was so important to him that he would kill his own relatives (Amasa was Joab’s cousin – 1 Chronicles 2:16-17, and also David’s cousin – 2 Samuel 17:25).

  • What in the previous chapter fuels the fire of Sheba’s revolt? (2 Samuel 20:1, 19:41-43)
  • Why does David treat these concubines the way he does? (2 Samuel 20:3, 16:21-22)
  • Why does David bypass Joab (twice)? First with Amasa and then with Abishai? (2 Samuel 20:4-6)
  • What is it that galls Joab about Amasa’s appointment? (2 Samuel 17:25, 19:13)
  • From where comes the phrase, “I’ve got you by the hair of your chinny-chin-chin?” (2 Samuel 20:9, 10)
  • Here we find the first reference to rubber-necking in the Bible. (2 Samuel 20:12)
  • How does this unnamed wise woman bring peace and spare the city? (2 Samuel 20:16-22)

Personal Questions:

  1. Who do you know who risked everything by getting involved and it made a difference?
  2. At what point in your life have you ever felt the desire to revolt against your King?
  3. What kept you from going AWOL?
  4. When your status or authority is diminished or given to someone else, how does that make you feel?
  5. When resentment builds up, how do you keep that in check? Where might resentment be building in you right now?

Unfinished Business:

These events in chapters 21-24 are non-chronological, but they tie up the book as an appendix, taken from events earlier in David’s reign. There is a three-year famine in the land because of a broken vows made to God (2 Samuel 21:1). The Gibeonites were a sneaky bunch (Joshua 9) and eventually received protection from God’s people. An oath was made and God was holding them to it. Saul sought to destroy the Gibeonites and he and his sons paid the price for the father’s sins.

  • What caused this severe famine in the land? (2 Samuel 21:1, 2, Joshua 9:3-4, 9, 14, 15, 19, 20-23)
  • Saul whips the Gibeonites in his zeal but David seeks to uphold the vow, how does this show the difference between the two men? (2 Samuel 21:1, 2, 3)
  • How serious are we to take the vows we take? (2 Samuel 21:4, 7) How serious does God take a vow? Why would it please God to see Saul’s descendents executed? (2 Samuel 21:14) The sheer horror of what the Gibeonites do should help us see how serious God takes a vow (2 Samuel 21:9, 14).
  • Why does David spare Jonathan’s son yet allow the Gibeonites to kill the rest of the house of Saul? (2 Samuel 21:5, 7, 9)
  • Rizpah pulls several “all-nighters” (April to October), but what does she hope to achieve?

Personal Questions:

  1. How do we see natural disasters in the land today? Do we ever see them as God’s judgment?
  2. How are we to react when treaty rights are violated?
  3. How casually does our society take making a vow or an oath? (True Love Waits, marriage, promises, an oath of office)
  4. When times get bad, how long does it take for you to seek the Lord? (2 Samuel 21:1)

Rather than continue in disobedience, God would have us repent and recommit. After David sought the Lord and dealt with the Gibeonites, so times of refreshing may come (2 Samuel 21:14). Regarding the bodies of Jonathan and Saul, the king had some unfinished business. They needed a proper burial (2 Samuel 21:11, 12, 13, 14).

What unfinished business do you have in your life? What old scores need to be settled in a Christ like manner? God’s weapons of love, mercy and forgiveness are more effective that guns and tanks. Who needs your forgiveness, acceptance, release? We will suffer as we allow unsettled issues to fester. It’s time for some battles to end. Rebellion leads to famine in our relationship with God.