Most of us have special children in our lives, whether it is our personal family or a child in our church or neighborhood. Children have a way of making us smile as well as frown. We come across children everywhere we go. I have laughed at something a child in the grocery store has said. It was just too cute. I have also cringed because of words I heard a child say to an adult.
What makes the difference in the lives of these children? Some children are more compliant than others, whereas other children are difficult, so parents have a battle every day. In many cases, the children are just rebellious due to a lack of discipline. They are not used to the word “no,” and they do not receive it. The children are accustomed to talking their parents out of their decisions, or they ignore them, knowing mom or dad won’t do as they say.
When we see a rebellious child, we wonder what is being done about it. I know when I see a child pitching a fit at the store, I think, “Why doesn’t his parent handle the situation?” I can’t do anything about the child in the store, but I can handle other types of rebellion.
It is easier to see rebellion in others than it is in ourselves. When I see rebellion on the highway, I complain about the crazy drivers. The horrible things I see on the news are obviously a rebellion against God’s laws. At the academy, it is my responsibility not only to love my students but also to correct acts of disobedience.
What is the difference between disobedience and rebellion? The Bible links the two together. Disobedience is an act, but when we link several acts of disobedience together, we have a spirit of rebellion. When we know something is a rule, and we deliberately disobey it, we are rebellious.
Any time we disobey God’s laws or the laws of our authorities, we should immediately ask for forgiveness. The attitude of “I am going to do what I want, and I don’t care if it is a rule,” is rebellion. The idea that the rules are for others, but not me, is rebellion.
Romans 13:1-3 states, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:”
Rebellion manifests itself in different ways. Disobedience, insubordination, insolence, betrayal, and disrespect to those who have authority in our lives are signs of rebellion. We expect our children to obey us and treat us with respect, but how often do we disregard the rules as adults?
Rebellion is in the heart. As adults, we think, I don’t have to listen to you. If not outwardly, we say it with our actions. It is the simple things that show our attitudes toward our authorities. The seeds of rebellion start small. How many times have we stolen from our employers by being on our phones, taking a longer break, or doing other things while on the clock? What about the rules everyone one else disobeys? Does that make it okay? What about the times we think in our hearts, no one is looking? We fool ourselves. Our Heavenly Father is always watching.
Parents often expect their children to obey them, but the children observe their parents disobeying the rules. When our children hear us lie to others, yet we expect them to tell the truth, we are guilty of encouraging rebellion in our children. If we try to get the child’s plate for our 13-year-old, the child sees it. We are teaching our children that it is okay to lie when it benefits us. How many of us disobey the traffic laws with our children in the car? If we don’t obey the rules of our authority, why should they? When we call out sick when we are not, we have taught them that it is okay to lie if you want to go somewhere I have told you not to go. How can we criticize others for rebellion or expect obedience from those under our own authority when we pick and choose the rules we obey? We so often obey the rules we want to obey or the ones that are convenient
The hardest rebellion for us to see is the disobedience in our own hearts. My Lord deserves for me to put Him first. I let so many things get in the way. The I “wants” of my world crowd in. I truly desire to put God first, but I fail so often.
Let us stop fooling ourselves. We should look deep in our own hearts so the little foxes don’t get in and grow. We cannot excuse any act of disobedience lest it grow into rebellion. We cannot grow as Christians unless we learn to examine our own hearts.
Lord, teach me to love as you love. You must increase so that I will decrease. (John 3:30) How do I do that, Lord? I must yield all of me to you. (Romans 6:16)
May each of us yield ourselves to God so we will be more like Christ. Make me like you, Lord, make me like you. Is that your prayer?
Dr. Worthington has five children and twelve grandchildren. She serves as Principal of Pathway Christian Academy in Goldsboro.