A Theology for Hipsters (Part 30): Keeping the Fundamentals (Part 9)

A few weeks ago I dissected the nature of sinful individualism, the same principles we used in that discussion apply to the subject of “Rebellion.” There is a worldly rebellion and a Biblical rebellion. The one seeks to be god, the other seeks to honor God. Ever since the Garden of Eden, where Eve decided that God’s menu was lacking some flavors, man has had a rebellious streak. We see it in each stage of the hipster’s development (Dandy, Bohemian, Hippie, etc.). We see it in the shift from Fundamentalism among youth today. But not all rebellion is equally right. Rebellion is often rooted in a rejection of external authority. We don’t like being told what to do or how to do it. We want “freedom” to do whatever, whenever, and so we rebel. I know my own heart well enough to see this rooted deep in the motivations of many actions.

My first church out of seminary was not a good situation. It seemingly looked promising, but behind the façade of smiling faces there were a few individuals who were seeking power and control in the church. When they finally made their power play I was taken by complete surprise and left wondering how the church shifted from my biggest advocates to my biggest opponents in so short a time. I had been there for six months when secret business meetings were being held over things I had done and said. Eventually we left the church, but my heart was very bitter toward individuals in the congregation. So what did I do? Pray and seek the Lord’s help in forgiving them? Nah, that’s too difficult and less fun. Let’s do something to metaphorically poke them in the eye, I thought (As a side note, it never ceases to amaze me how wicked our hearts can be). So what did I do? I went a got a tattoo. Why? Precisely because they wouldn’t have wanted me to while I was their pastor. It was a rebellious act, and to make the matter more defiant I got it inked onto my inner arm. So now in warm weather, with short sleeve t-shirts, it’s always visible. Now I have no problem with tattoos.[1] In fact I had wanted one for years, and have since gotten another out of more positive motives. The tattoo was not sinful. What was sinful was the rebellious heart that motivated me to go and get it. I was wrong, and while I wouldn’t have flipped off any of the particularly troubling members this was essentially the same motivation. And this rebellious streak runs in all of us.

Rebellion that rejects authority is not Biblical. The Scriptures reveal to us that no one is without authority. Paul states that he is not “outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21). He also says that he is a “slave of Christ” (Rom.1:1). So as Christians we are subject to a real authority, and rebellion for the sake of rebellion is not God-honoring. Rebellion as an act of outrage against an external authority is in fact a rejection of the authority of God. It is an attempt, yet a gain, to make ourselves little gods, instead of submitting to the true and the living God (Rom.8:7; 10:3).

That is, of course, not to say that all rebellion is sinful…and we’ll continue that discussion next week.