Partners in Parenting

“Rebellion is GOOD!”

As of last week Friday, I announced that I am “in full rebellion” of winter.  On Friday, I didn’t wear a coat to school.  I chose a wind breaker instead.  I vowed that I am done with coats for the year, but I’d still wear jackets, hats, and gloves.  I’m tired of the cold, the snow, the wind chill, the time indoors, etc.  I’m done going along with winter, so I’m basically rebelling against it.

OK, I lasted through Saturday.  Sunday, the coat and the whole rebellion thing went by the wayside.  Looking at the below zero temperatures coming our way the next few days even further convinced me to give up on this rebellion I had started.

This short-lived rebellion reminded me of parenting.  Kids rebel against parents all the time, but the rebellion isn’t always against parents.  It is many times against the things parents stand for:  conforming behavior to the norm, being responsible, acting a certain way, or believing as parents believe.  Part of the “wiring” in children is to test limits, discover, challenge, wonder, and in essence, rebel against certain conventions forced upon them.  Many parents think a rebellious child is a bad thing.  BUT, hold on a minute…

I spoke to a large group of students and parents a few years back with a simple message:  Rebellion is GOOD.  You should have seen the looks on the faces of the kids (smirks galore) and parents (fear and trepidation).  I begged the kids to live out their teenage years in full rebellion…of the right things!!  The problem is NOT the rebellion.  The problem is what is being rebelled against.  Here are some examples:

Rebel against your parents:                            BAD

Rebel against racism:                                     GOOD

Rebel against going to worship:                      BAD

Rebel against loving your enemy:                  BAD

Rebel against hatred:                                      GOOD

Rebel against hurting others with words:        GOOD

Rebel against sin and temptation:                   GOOD

Rebel against God and His ways:                  BAD

The Bible is full of people who rebelled against evil and sinfulness to follow God’s ways.  The Bible also teaches us of how people continued to rebel against Him and find destruction waiting for them.  They rebelled against the wrong things.

God told Ezekiel to tell the Israelites to turn back to God, but they didn’t.  “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.”  Ezekiel 2:7

Rebelliousness isn’t bad, but rebelliousness against God is bad.  I believe rebellion is good!

Family Discussion Points!

Was it smart for me to decide to rebel against winter?  What are the consequences?

As a family, come up with a few things it is a good idea to rebel against?  What are some bad things to rebel against and their consequences?

Why do all people, even Christians, sometimes rebel against God’s ways?