Articles
A Rebellious Nation
This country is one formed out of a rebellion and political movement in the Thirteen Colonies that led to physical confrontation, battles, and a war for independence against the Kingdom of Great Britain. Colony leaders who desired separation from the British Kingdom eventually came to support the Revolutionary War, which led the way to the independence of the Colonies and the creation of the United States of America. In short, this country’s existence is because of rebellion against the ruling authorities.
It didn’t end there, either. Just a few years later, in 1791, a violent tax protest began that lasted until 1794; this was a protest against the “whiskey tax,” the first tax of the new government imposed on a domestically-produced item. Some involved believed they were resisting in the same way and for the same reason as the earlier rebellion: taxation without representation. [Reminiscent of an earlier tax protest, the ‘Boston Tea Party.’]
And, of course, our nation experienced the rebellion of the Southern states against the North in the Civil War, with several states seceding from the United States due to the question of slavery. [Some today still insist it was a “states’ rights” issue, but the “right” they argued for was…slavery.] All together, this country has suffered the loss of nearly three quarters of a million lives in the combined rebellions. To say the least rebellion is costly.
But rebellion can be much more costly than physical lives lost; it can cost you your soul and it can cost you the loss of the opportunity for eternal life in heaven. You see, rebellion against the highest authority [God] is one that should not be taken lightly. To understand this, let us consider an example of one who rebelled.
We may remember the story of King Saul, the first King of the nation of Israel, after years of having judges rule over them. When he was king, he was given the assignment of utterly destroying the Amalekites. The command was simple and clear: “Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them” (1 Sam. 15:3). As simple and clear as that command was, it was not done.
But King “Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them” (1 Sam. 15:9). Later, when Samuel called him out for his disobedience, Saul first tried to say he had kept the command (1 Sam. 15:13), but when that failed, he then tried to blame the people (1 Sam. 15:15), and then combined the two falsehoods in one as a last-ditch effort to justify himself (1 Sam. 15:20, 21). It didn’t work.
Samuel then told Saul that, because of his disobedience, he would lose his kingdom. To King Saul, Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Sam. 15:22, 23). In case you were wondering, witchcraft was considered “an abomination to the Lord” and the reason the Lord drove out the people of Canaan (Deut. 18:10-12), and anyone guilty of practicing such would face a punishment of being stoned to death (Lev. 20:27). To say the least, then, rebellion was not looked upon lightly by the Lord.
Let us be clear here: In spiritual matters, God is the highest authority, and He raised Jesus Christ “from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:20-22). As Jesus put it just before He ascended into heaven, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). He is over all, but He is also head over the church and the sole authority in religious and spiritual matters. He has not delegated that authority to any man, either.
In a nation that has come to glorify rebellion, this is at least a partial explanation for why so many have turned against God and Christ: Like King Saul, many are simply stubborn and rebellious. Could that be you? Could that even be the church of which you are a part, and its leadership? One does not have to foment a violent physical conflict to be guilty of rebellion, so it is possible that rebellion is the reason for such widespread disobedience and disbelief. It is most certainly the root cause of the very existence of denominationalism — churches that are unwilling to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ, even as they profess to be His followers.
Yes, these churches profess their allegiance to Jesus Christ, but mere profession does not equate with reality! Since all agree the New Testament is the will of Jesus Christ, why is it that so many denominations hold to their creeds as their ultimate and final authority? Those creed books were not written by nor approved by Jesus Christ; any church that holds to any words but the words of Jesus Christ and the inspired writers of the New Testament are in rebellion to Him, regardless of what words of peace and assurance they may give. Japan had delegations in Washington, D.C., just days before they attacked Pearl Harbor; actions speak louder than words!
Let us be clear: By definition, rebellion is “resistance to or defiance of any authority” [Random House Unabridged Dictionary]. When churches change the doctrines given by God or Christ, and when churches change the practices and organization of the church itself, they are in open rebellion against the very one to whom they claim allegiance. I am confident He is not fooled by their words, when their actions are so blatantly opposed to what He has given us in the Scriptures.
But let us not point the finger elsewhere; what about us? What about the church of which we are a part? Have we also rebelled? Are we now in rebellion to God and Christ, following our own ways and desires, rather than the instructions and commands of the one we call ‘Lord’? Remember, Jesus said plainly that there will be some who stand before Him in the final judgment, saying, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” and He will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:21-23). Calling Jesus ‘Lord’ must be followed by our submission to Him, if it is to mean anything at all.
The Scriptures plainly teach “the church is subject to Christ…in everything” (Eph. 5:24), so we cannot pick and choose which of His commands we will obey and still say we are ‘obedient’ or that He is truly our ‘Lord.’ In everything, then, we should be asking Him, “What shall I do, Lord?” (cf. Acts 22:10), and then do just that! When we know His commands and then choose to disobey, that is rebellion!
For many years, rebellion has been glorified in politics and in the entertainment industry. In spiritual matters, though, rebellion is not anything to celebrate or glorify. Jesus said it is not the one who simply says “Lord, Lord” who will enter the kingdom, but rather “he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Obedience!
God does not take rebellion lightly, and neither should we, for one day we will have to answer to Him. — Steven Harper
