I’m
in rebellion.
You’re
just a conformist if you’re drunken, naked, driving around on a loud
motorcycle, smoking cigarettes, breaking commandments, getting pregnant out of
wedlock. Everyone’s doing that, it’s so tiring! If you really want to be a rebel,
read your Bible because no one’s doing that. That’s the only rebellion left!
I think Lecrae hit the nail on the head with his song Rebel. The dictionary defines rebellion as one who refuses allegiance to, resits, or rises against control or tradition. or, one who participates in organised resistance. Reading the definition it is clear to see that society is teeming with rebellion. Turn on the news and what do you see; convicted murderer arrested, drunken teenager crashes and kills passengers, wild teen crime includes stabbing charge, police pursues teenage highway chase. Our televisions, newspapers and social media are constantly flooded with news stories of rebellious teenage angst causing crime all over the world. Statistics show that over the past few years, the juvenile offender rates have been twice as high as adult offender rates. It is clear to see that our youth are in need of a little criminal detox.
When statistics show that 86% of all 14 year olds in Australia have tried alcohol and 40.7% of 12-17 year old's saying that they have had a full serve of alcohol then the high intoxication rate of our teens should not come as a shock to us anymore, and yet, it does. News reporters speak up and say that the next generation have fallen before they have been given the chance to rise, and that they have nearly lost all hope for the future world leaders. They complain that the youth of today have no direction in life, and yet who do they have to blame? If there is one thing that can be said about the New Generation, it's that they are constantly learning. If so, then who have they been learning from? With all the images of sex, drugs and alcohol present in movies, books, magazines and billboards, is it really a surprise that New-Gen have taken a turn for the worst? They didn't just wake up one day and say "I think I'll throw my life away today." No! They learnt it! Society has taught them that it is okay to stray from the norm, and to take risks and be dangerous. The safe, secure shelter of childhood was removed when they gained access to the internet and parents say that it is okay for them to have their own computers and smart phones. Society is slowly accepting the lifestyle of the modern teenager as normal, and classing their actions as okay, stating that "they're just a teenager", or, "it all comes with the age". If it is socially acceptable to pop pills, twist caps, sleep around, party hard, study less, curse your mouth off, hitch your skirt up and rage at your parents, then are teenagers really rebelling? If society has truly accepted their behaviour, which it is clear that they have, then should we really label them as "rebellious"? If rebellion consists of straying from social norms and yet you're not normal if you don't conform, then how are you a rebel at all?
True rebellion involves taking a stand against society and saying no! Look at Spartacus - this fearsome leader arose against the Roman Republic and lead the greatest slave uprising that this world has ever
seen. Or what about Ghandi who lead India to independence and inspired civil
rights and freedom across the world? Or who could forget Rosa Parks, whom was
named “the first lady of civil rights” because she refused to move from the
‘white section’ of the bus to sit at the back. All of these leaders have
demonstrated rebellious actions that have led to great success. They stood up
against the laws of their society and decided that they could make a difference. That
is true rebellion! Not this young, wild
and free rubbish that teenagers are being fed from all directions.
What this world really needs is a group of young people who have enough
courage and boldness to stand up for what they believe in. Jesus stood up for
us on the cross, so what is stopping us from standing up for Him? We need to take that perfect and
beautiful Gospel home with us from church on Sunday. We need to take it into
our homes – to our families; into our work places – to our colleagues; into our
schools – to our friends, and onto the streets – to everyone else! This world
can keep their drugs, their parties and their miscreant behaviour. Take all of
that, and just give me Jesus!
If you really want to rebel against society, and then do what Spartacus,
Ghandi and Rosa Parks all did – say no!
Make a stand! Say no to going to parties. Say no to doing drugs. Say no to
clubbing all night, sleeping all day and getting so high that your grades fall
so low. Say no to society – and say yes to praying. Say yes to reading your
Bible. Say yes to going to church. Raise your standards, lower your pride,
cover your bodies and open your hearts to the One who gave His everything for
you! Say no to society, and say yes to life! That is the only rebellion left.
Stay Blessed!
-Brooke ox
