1 Samuel 15:23 says, For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.
Throughout human history, we have been rebels or one sort or another! Most of our revolutions have in some way been pulling away from anything perceived as 'godly'. Rarely have we rebelled in support of what God requires and demands of us.
The US was borne out of the spirit of 'rights-seeking' rebellion. Since then, nearly every faction of our burgeoning society has dutifully carried the flag of rights-seeking rebellion against the status quo. Yet we hail this as honorable and progressive, while The Word suggests 'as bad as witchcraft', especially if the rebellion is against God breathed guidance for a peaceful life.
What is and is not godly rebellion? If God says, 'Honor the king (1 Peter 2:17) and all authorities established by God' (Romans 13:1), was it godly or 'like witchcraft' for the American colonies to rebel against the then king of England, and pursue independence, especially having dispossessed native Americans and Africans of their lands, cultures and lives in such UN-godly ways? Was the 'taxation without representation' argument merely a thin veneer over possibly truer motives to pull away and go our own rebellious way?
Where does The Word of God suggest a constitutional monarchy (as England then had) is better than a monarchy, or a democracy is better than a constitutional monarchy, when God's END RESULT for the final millennium of human history will be an IRON ROD MONARCHY?! (Revelation 19:15)
In light of what The Bible says, does the 'American experience' glorify rebellion, which the prophet Samuel said is as the sin of witchcraft??
What say ye?
Consider this:
ReplyDeleteOur country was founded on rebellious pride, resisting the perceived oppressions of the English governance and economic systems, only to launch much more horrible economic, governance and cultural oppressions upon native Americans and Africans. The sins early Americans committed against native Americans and Africans were much more GROSS than sins the king of England may have committed against these early Americans (e.g., taxation w/o representation, restrictions on worship, etc.).
These spiritual roots have spawned generations of prideful Americans who, out of fear of increasing minority numbers and potential political influence, devise increasingly cunning means to oppress those who are perceived as 'different'.
Truly, only The Spirit of God, resident in a regenerated heart, can root out the spirit of pride and its resulting fears of potential loss, and replace it with The Spirit of Love, Understanding and Peace.