Rebels and Slaves II

Rebels and Slaves II*

“Who cares?”

That is what I find myself asking often nowadays. And it’s not a rhetorical question as much as a very real one. When I am about to do something and I feel uncomfortable I seriously ask myself “who cares Jo?” because if the answer to that questions is any other person than me and/or God, then really nobody cares. It is not an excuse to be disrespectful or do whatever I want, it’s instead an assessment of why I may not do, or do something. The motivation can never be someone else’s expectation of me, I have to be true to myself, always.

That’s what a rebel does really, a rebel doesn’t make decisions based on anybody’s expectations of them, instead they are true to their own convictions, to that which they know to be true deep in their core. When you are living for somebody elses expectations you are definitely not a slave, but the way to describe isn’t all that positive. Those who do what other’s want them to do, who live according to the expectations of others, they are slaves! That’s the reality we live in, you are either a rebel or a slave. And honestly slavery is the norm; we are slaves to work, slaves to others, slaves to what people think of us, slaves of family expectations, slaves to society’s expectations, slaves to our own sin… but there is another way to live, as free men and women.

God calls us all to freedom, through His Son we are able to be free to be all He created us to be. No more slavery, no more pretending, no more aching to belong, no more performing to be accepted. As we choose to let Christ be our Savior then we realize that all of our debt with the world has been paid, and we have nobody to impress, nobody to prove anything to, we are sons and daughters of the most high King and we belong, we are accepted, we have a destiny and a purpose. We get to live like rebels, obedient only to the one who set us free and that which He speaks to our spirit, we get to do what we know is true even when the entire world can’t see it.

And yes, there are negative things about a rebel, as there are negative things about a slave. It all depends on who the rebel is rebelling against and who owns the slave.

When you are rebelling against God you are a slave of the world, of what the world dictates you should be or do, but as soon as you are set free you willingly become a slave to Jesus, and I know the word slave is strong but the thing is being a slave to Jesus simply means that He purchased you, because you were a slave of the World but by purchasing you He actually set you free. You are His, and He willingly makes you free! And then we are rebels to the world and we are free, free men and women who get to voice their opinion, free men and women exercise their God-given authority, free men and women are the only ones who can lead others to freedom, free men and women don’t feel the pressure to live up to anybody’s expectations but that of Him who set them free. Free men and women can ask questions and do what they’ve been called to do, without condemnation, without shame. Free mean and women don’t betray themsleves by thinking one thing but doing a different one, they are able to live lives of integrity. Free men and women look like rebels and act like rebels, they are being who they were created to be and defy the expectations of the world.

The thing with rebels, however, is that they make us uncomfortable, because they speak their minds and all of that, sometimes rhey cahllenge they status quo with their inopportune questions and they confront us. We have two options when rebels confront us and make us uncomfortbale: to shame them so we can attempt to shut them up, or to wisely listen and ask questions for the purpose of growth. The value of rebels in our life is immesurable, they provide honest feedback, and honest feedback is like gross medicine, hard to swallow but good for your soul.

A rebel in your life is someone who thinks differently than you, someone who is true to who they are, someone who will challenge you and ask you good questions. If you are only surrounded by people that think like you and agree with you then you’ll never be able to see beyond what is and into what could be. Secure people are able to swallow medicine they dislike. Invite rebels and listen intently. You don’t have to do what they say but their insight will open up new doors in your brain that you didn’t even know existed.

I’m for rebels, for people that ask questions and say no, for people that ask once and again “what do you mean by that?” And say without stuttering “I don’t understand.” I live with them, they are young children, and vrave family members and friends who are free to speak in my life. I will never ask them to subject to my rule, or to agree with me, they get to speak up. I want to honor rebels in my life because I know I’ll grow if I listen. I won’t adapt their point of view but I’ll expand mine, my world will grow! Why did we decide that disagreement is dishonor? If we handle disagreement properly it actually is honor! Telling people respectfully that we disagree is honoring them with our true opinion, and honoring ourselves by not betraying our conscience.

Rebels you are welcome here, you are welcome in my life, you are free to ask questions and disagree with me and I’ll listen, and I’ll ask questions, and we will leave with broader worlds. We may leave in disagreement, but never in discord. And knowing you better as you open your heart to share your opinion with me is well worth the disagreement.

*To understand my stands on submission please read my previous blog post.