Read: 1
Samuel 15:10-24
For
rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry.
1 Samuel 15:23
Many people
are duped by false religions. However, even most of them would agree that one
of the ways to get the farthest away from God is to be involved in something
that the devil has both of his hands in – witchcraft. The diabolical dealings
of Satanic worship is a hideous way to live, yet God equates rebellion directly
to the sin of witchcraft. Although anyone could fall prey to the sin of
rebellion, teenagers seem to be the most susceptible to it.
The
whole idea behind the cultural revolution of the hippie movement in the ‘60s
and ‘70s was the idea of rebellion against any type of authority. Rebellion has
its roots in the belief that we are better than, and that we know more than,
those that God has placed in authority over us. The outside of a person often
reflects his heart, but regardless of what the outside portrays, rebellion
flourishes in a soul steeped in self-importance and pride.
How can you tell if you have an attitude
of rebellion against authority? Well, do you have as little contact as possible
with those in authority? Rebels tend to avoid their parents, youth pastor,
pastor, etc., because those in leadership roles are those who the rebel feels
are the biggest threat to his “individuality” and his unending desire to please
himself. Do you have very little interest in spiritual things? Rebels often
want nothing to do with church, holiness, or making decisions for Christ. Do
you lack a smile, and often wear a look of disgust on your face? To the rebel,
nothing humors them unless they came up with it, and their rebellious attitude
often leaves them feeling depressed and low. Do the friends you hang out with
push you away from godliness and toward the things of the world? You are
inclined to be just like the people with whom you associate, and if theirs is
an attitude of rebellion, then very likely yours is, or soon will be, just like
theirs. Do you hate the rules and long for the day when you can finally be on
your own and be free to live your life in any sensual way you please? That is
the ultimate characteristic of a young man with a rebellious attitude.
To
get out from under the power of rebellion, you must first admit that you have a
problem. Realize that those in authority know more than you do and that they
have your best interest at heart when they correct you. Confess your rebellion
to God and ask him to cultivate a new spirit within you that will be pleasing
to Him.
Quote of
the day: “By gnawing through a dyke, even a rat may drown a nation.”
-Edmund Burke
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