In 2017, shortly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, I wrote a post called “The Great American Stalemate will Show Who we Really Are.” Parts of it were sort of “off” but much of it turned out to be (sadly) prophetic. Most notably, coming out of that stalemate, we DID show who we really are, and it’s what we knew all along; we’re Rebels.
The Rebel Assault on the Capital
Days before Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States of America, I watched in disbelief while protesters stormed the capital during the counting of electoral college votes.
They pushed their way through closed doors. Individuals seated themselves in offices of elected representatives. Laptops and other items were stolen. The images went rampantly viral and are forever etched in our minds and historical records. And now, this small faction of rebels have come to represent the totality of Donald Trump supporters.
Imagine if those images contained your closest friends. Or perhaps you realize you’re watching your neighbors invading what is the equivalent of the U.S. kingdom. The wonderment and shock you feel in knowing this is a person you’ve shared meals with, and they are taking up the rightful seat of another. You can’t help but see them casting their violence.
All in the name of rebellion.
Now, imagine what your friends and neighbors may be thinking if it were YOU doing this!
Rebel Yell
“And with a Rebel Yell… she cried.” Today, rebellion’s en vogue and a supposed answer to rage. Yet, rage and rebellion have a dire outcome.
I have to admit, I have always enjoyed listening to Billy Idol’s song, Rebel Yell.
There is something in the way the song captures the enthrallment and emotion of an anthem sound. It is high energy and passionate. And, I must be honest; I sort of dig the idea of a high octane, emotional rebel outburst to status quo and the “establishment”.
It is said that a “rebel yell” was a battle cry of the Confederates during the U.S. Civil War, which makes sense. Interestingly, though, it is also a brand of bourbon that inspired Idol’s song, of what is generally thought to be about a one night stand, he wrote after spending an evening with members of The Rolling Stones. He noted their passing of the bottle, and taking swigs of the Rebel Yell. I guess that was his eureka moment.
As you’d expect, the song was controversial upon its release. Sort of appropriate, eh? Even more poetic, the music video nearly didn’t happen on time due to Idol’s refusal to remove inappropriate content.
What a rebel!
Rebellion is Cool
Idol’s song narrative portrays some form of passionate encounter between two individuals needing to act on their rebellious desires. And during the act, the lustful desire resulted in the cries for “more, more, more.”
Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
– Psalm 2:1-6 NLT
Our nation is notoriously formed of rebellion. Born of that passionate episode is the lustful concepts of patriotism, founding fathers, national solidarity, new world, American dream and many idealized depictions of historical persons or events.
We forget that these ideals came after enormous amounts of bloodshed, heartbreak, loss, grief, and despair. It brought forth division, brokenness, and idolatry of more, more, more.
And today, rebellion is cool. Rebel Yell, as a song, in our modern era, has no semblance of controversy. Quite the opposite, really. It’s been covered by many artists. And heck, Rebel Yell was even parodied – not by Weird Al – but by Sesame Street!
Even so, It is no less sinister.
We Forget How God Views Rebellion
The first act of sedition (or rebellion) occurred in Heaven when Lucifer led angels to revolt. The second rebellion was in Eden. There’s no way to quantify the magnitude of rebellious sins that have occurred since then.
But there is no arguing that we have grown comfortable with rebellion. Comfortable with our blatant sins! So we sadly also forget the seriousness of our lust for rebellion. That is pretty clear in first Samuel, though:
Rebellion is as evil as witchcraft. Stubbornness as bad as worshipping idols.
– 1 Samuel 15:23
Let every word sink into your heart. In our sinful ways, it is us storming God’s kingdom. And it is us who are looting, rioting, and carrying out regrettable acts of rebellion. Worst of all, we are daily misguiding ourselves into believing we belong in his throne!
Rebellion is Not the Answer
As humans, when we get angry, rage bubbles within. We are human and prone to giving into desires of shameful consequence.
You see, “Rebellion prefers you heavy so you cannot lift your hands in victory. Jesus took all the weight so you can be free to worship and give thanks.” From YouVision Bible App Study Plan “Rebellion” written by Odell Palacio.
God brings out the rage of the sinful and the rebellious so they may burn themselves out (see Ezek. 28-18).
We as a nation and people have a lot of work to do. What lies ahead? I don’t know. Filling ourselves with rage over differences and lustful desires for more, more, more cannot bring harmonious change. It breeds divisiveness and disaster.
Would our founding fathers advocate for more, more, more rebellion?
I don’t know, but I doubt it. That’s because our forefathers were fighting for a new UNION and a desire for the freedom to exist peacefully and freely. Those things came at a high cost. Whatever attacks are now at hand, they pale in comparison to the tyranny that was dealt with back then. In fact, I gotta think that, with each and every rebel yell within our blessed America… she cries.
And she’s not the only one. Think of missteps in your walk with God. Consider when your desires for “more, more, more” were important than His? When your rebel yells brought tears to the eye of Christ.
Consider Your Uprisings
Consider your uprisings and times of revolt. Truly consider it, as well as your role in their broader impacts, whether in your home, your church, your city, state, or country. Then, frame it in the context of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Roman church:
And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.
– Romans 16:17-18 NLT
Lord, I pray the years ahead will see you move in the hearts and souls of many. There is hurt and heartache. There is brokenness and emotional fatigue. We’ve fought against the plague of a pandemic and rebelled against YOU and our very selves. Free us from our desires for more, more, more and transform our chorus of rebel yells into that of joyful noise.
Amen.