I am a goodie-two-shoes, ok? There, I admitted it. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always strived to please my parents, do what’s right, not lie, be home on time, dot my i’s and cross my t’s. Seriously. It’s kind of sickening. Now, as I write this, I’m thirty years old and I can honestly say that I’ve never really strayed from my perfectionism. That’s not to say that I’ve been perfect. It’s not to say that I’ve never made any mistakes. It’s only to say that I’ve truly always wanted to be pleasing to both my parents and to Christ.
My sisters have always poked a little fun at me for this (as sisters always do). I’ve always felt like the “odd girl out” when I’m with my family. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not implying that my sisters are a bunch of Jezebels (girls, if you’re reading this, seriously, that’s not what I’m saying). 🙂 All I mean to say is that they were the fun sisters. The free-spirited ones. The “sure, let’s try that” sisters. They weren’t afraid to get their hands a little dirty. And I always felt like they looked down on me for not joining them. But for some reason I stuck to my guns and remained a goodie-two-shoes throughout my formative years and into my adulthood.
My husband, on the other hand, was the opposite. He did everything the opposite of what he was told. His ambition was to try everything once, and that included drugs, alcohol, religions, and on and on. If someone told him something wasn’t a good idea, he wanted to try it all the more. He was the ultimate “rebel.” The “black sheep.” The free-spirited, no-consequences, only live once kind of guy. We could not be more opposite in that respect.
So when he told me that I’m the rebellious one, I was a bit shocked.
You see, my husband came to know Christ in a real way after living his crazy lifestyle and finding out that it was a lie. Ask him today and he’ll tell you that all those things the world tells you will make you happier are Satan’s way of messing you up, throwing you off-course and attempting to ruin you, permanently. Now, as a devoted Christian, husband, and father, he will say with all sincerity that to rebel in the eyes of the world – to drink, to smoke, to do drugs, to have illicit sex with multiple partners, to be “religion-free” – is not actually rebellious at all. Actually, it’s exactly what society expects of you. It’s what everyone does. It’s the status quo. Tattoos were once considered the ultimate sign of a rebel. Now even Christians have them. Sex used to be an expression of freedom. Now, I challenge you to find ten people you know over the age of 16 that are still honest-to-goodness virgins. Drinking used to be something you did to show your parents you’re an “adult”. Today, most parents offer drinks to their kids and join them in the revelry. And on and on and on.
Ask my husband and he will tell you that I am the rebel because I DIDN’T do what everyone else was doing. I DIDN’T care what society thought. I DIDN’T stray from what I was taught.
No, that doesn’t make me better than those that did. It just makes the me the one that went against the status quo – the ultimate form of rebellion.
So I ask you – if you’re really looking to be a rebel, really looking to be on the “fringe” of society – would drinking, smoking, sex, lying, stealing, drugs or anything else we call “bad” really make you such a rebel? Or wouldn’t you just be doing what everyone else is?
On the other hand, if you were a sold-out Christian, living for Christ everyday with honesty and integrity, helping others, giving of your time and money, being kind even when people suck, extending grace to the neighbor who keeps throwing cigarette butts in your yard, letting people cut you off on the road and not cussing them out in the privacy of your car – wouldn’t YOU be the one on the fringe of societal norm???
Matthew 5:3-12
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The foundation of Christian theology is expressed in the early ecumenical creeds which contain claims predominantly accepted by followers of the Christian faith. These professions state that Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and was subsequently resurrected from the dead in order to grant eternal life to those who believe in him and trust him for the remission of their sins..
Till next time
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