Uproar

1st of November

I might have written about this before, but since I have been writing for years, I might repeat myself. Well known preachers, writers and the Bible itself do the same so I am in good company. I am also getting new readers and I believe that we all get a new insight when we read the same scriptures over and over again.

In order to make uproar, something has to be established first.

When one uses the word uproar, one will often think negatively, but that doesnft need to be the case at all. That depends on the reason for the uproar and the form of it.

Uproar will often be connected with disobedience. We might start with the beginning, with Adam and Eve. They were told that they could eat of all the trees in the garden except of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The devil came and put a question: gDid God really say this and that?h Eve was tempted and she also tempted Adam and they both ate of the forbidden tree. This is called the fall of man. They had been told by God the things that were good for them and the things that were legal, but they chose their own way and they were disobedient. This uproar was caused by menfs greediness and lust. They followed the lies of the devil and their own flesh. This was the first fatal sin of the human mankind. Who did they sin against? They sinned against God. We humans have a tendency to think that we know the best, but I have news for you: God knows the best.

We normally have a tendency to evaluate sin. We measure the amount and the degree, but sin is sin no matter what. All sin is uproar against God. Everybody might not know this, but the root of the sin is uproar. God has given us The ten commandments and His Word that is inspired by the Holy Spirit, our Helper. When we do not follow the Word of God, we are rebellious. I can almost hear some of you protesting. You might say that you know some very kind people and they are helping others. They have not received Jesus into their heart, but they are so kind. If these people have heard the gospel about Jesus, but refuse to accept Him as the only way to God, they are making uproar against The truth. They have chosen another god. The name of the god can differ from person to person, but the truth is that they are rebellious to the living God. They have not received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They might be passive and do not commit great sins, but Jesus is not their Master.

When one is rebellious, one can be both passive and active. We have often read about people who have chained themselves to places or been in fetter. They are protesting against certain decisions made by different authorities. Quite a few policemen might be needed in order to get rid of them.

Others have been asked to do a certain work, but they refrain from doing it and protest by not doing the work. We have a slogan saying: The one who sleeps, is not sinning, but that can be a lie. If you sleep instead of doing a necessary task, you are sinning. We talk about the sin of omission. There are lots of things that the Bible encourages us to do, but we choose not to do them. We choose to follow our own desires and our own lust and become disobedient to the Word of God. I am mentioning these forms of uproar since many have a picture of a masked person with a clenched fist crying out angry words in their mind. These people are called activists and many of them participate in demonstration after demonstration. They will many times use violence and in the worst case weapon. If these people have experienced oppression and unjust treatment over time, their personal engagement might be very strong. They really need and desire a change. A long lasting uproar can lead to changes in a country as well as in individual cases. Every form of uproar is not necessarily sinful. Jesus Himself was a rebel. Jesus did things that were not expected of Him. He broke both religious and social norms several times. He healed on the Sabbath and that was not allowed according Jewish law. He spoke with a woman from Samaria and that was not accepted either. Jesus was constantly in opposition to the Pharisees and the Scribes. What are they known for? They were self-righteous and did not understand that they were in need of forgiveness and salvation. They accused Jesus for eating with sinners and tax-collectors. Jesus was a real rebel when He got angry in the temple and drove out all those who sold and bought in the temple. He overturned the tables of the money changers. He said: gMy house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.h (Matt.21:13) We can really say that Jesus had a holy wrath. We are sometimes saying that we have a holy wrath when we are acting in the flesh. Ask the Holy Spirit before you react and ask Him what to do.

There are definitely times when we should react and times when we should not be quiet. Many have become martyrs since they couldnft deny the name of Jesus. Many have been and are persecuted for the name of Jesus. They couldnft deny Him and they are fighting for their rights to believe in Him and follow Him. I really pray that God would give them strength and wisdom to stand in this battle for their faith. For some people it can be a battle for life or death. I believe that we all need to understand that we cannot play Christians any more. We need grace to oppose a greater opposition and persecution.

In James 4:7 we read that we should resist the devil and he would flee from us. In another place we read that we should not give room to the devil. It is therefore essential to know when to say yes and when to say no. We must also know how and when to make an uproar. Jesus protected everything that was holy and so should we. If you work at a place with lots of immorality, you have to protest. You can say no to different sexual approaches and dirty jokes. This is a holy uproar and we must endure the laughs and the unpopular remarks coming towards us. I want to recite Matt.5:11+12: gBlessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.h I really pray for wisdom to protest in the right spirit. We are so often known for the things we are against more than the things we are for. The ways and the time of rebellion are important. If we seek the Lord, He will answer us.

I will briefly touch some psychological and physical phenomenon. When our children grow up, we talk about the obstinate three years old and the teenager who has the need to rebel against the established order. It might first and foremost hit the parents, but later it could affect their schools and maybe they need to protest against the entire society. A lot of things have to be tested and borders are constantly moved and removed. I understand that they need to try out new things, but as Christians I do not believe that they have to sin in order to have a healthy growth. They need to be given more and more responsibilities and they should be respected for their own opinions. We must give both our children and the youth a realistic trust. Since we pray for them, we must remember that God is always with them.

People who have suffered and become hurt from oppression, rejection and control, will often develop uproar and a fear of healthy subordination.

Rebellion and uproar can be a spirit. The devil was jealous when he was in heaven and he made a riot and was luckily thrown out of heaven. If you experience yourself as rebellious, ask the Holy Spirit if it is a spirit or if it comes from wounds or your flesh. You can be set free and healed. Maybe you need the help of a spiritual sister or brother. You must always remember:

IF THE SON MAKES YOU FREE, YOU SHALL BE FREE INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mother Else