A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON REBELLION by Jim Usery

Session 1 UNIT 1: THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON REBELLION by Jim Usery Focus In a world bent on having its own way, it is terribly difficult to cultivate the right attitude toward authority. The Question authority! mentality is so interwoven into the fabric of our society, it seems impossible to counteract. Perhaps nothing is more painful to endure than persistent, stubborn, willful resistance to proper authority. Indeed, some people must finally discover the need for a submissive spirit behind bars. Others, following a divorce. Still others, through a crippling disease or a horrible automobile accident or a series of blows in life that drive us to our knees and force us to learn how to walk humbly with God. When Cain curled his lip and stood tight-fisted in rebellion before God, he was given a sobering warning that has been preserved in Scripture for all to read and heed: If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it (Genesis 4:7b). Nothing has changed. The mark of Cain has been branded on even this generation. Resisting authority still crouches like a beast at the door. This lesson examines one who, though possessing charisma and kingly leadership abilities, stubbornly resisted God s authority. The portrait of Saul in 1 Samuel 15 is our focus here. Through his example we will discover the cause and effect of rebellion and how it affects young adults today. Though in later lessons we will see that resisting improper authorities may raise questions, resisting God s authority is never legitimate. We will see that, in a spiritual sense, rebellion is a very accurate synonym for sin. B IBLICAL FOUNDATIONS 1 Samuel 15; 1 Peter 5:5-7 C OMMENTARY Use the Commentary as background information and discussion material as you prepare and facilitate this lesson. The Problem of Authority We live in an age in which the unwritten motto is Question Authority! Indeed, not even the president of the United States carries the clout he once did. Our society is marked by defiance, resistance, violence, and retaliation. For example, the Children s Rights Movement has been gaining strength for years. Although the cause sounds noble, it has one major flaw. Declaring its objectives in a Child s Bill of Rights, the movement seeks, at least indirectly, not only to weaken parental authority, but to demolish it. It seeks to shift issues from the house to the courtroom, making the judge, not the parent, the authority. Don t misunderstand. There are times when we must resist oppressive authority. But there is abroad an obvious erosion of respect for needed and fair authority. It is important that we see the difference between the two, responding with an attitude of true humility to God-given authority. Our response should be modeled after the mentality of Jesus Christ. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:5-7). June, July, August 2015 5

Such counsel is easily discounted in an age that considers rebellion as a way of life, or even a virtue. Let s look at the ugly side of rebellion in Saul s life. Dr. James Dobson, addressing this issue, cites a case in point: Only last month I received a letter from an attorney who sought my help in defending a father who was threatened with the loss of his child. The details were difficult to believe. It appears that the Department of Social Service in his community is attempting to remove a six-year-old girl from her home because her father will not permit her to attend movies, listen to rock music, or watch certain television programs. The child is well adjusted emotionally and is popular with her friends in school. Her teacher reports that she ranks in the top five students in her class, academically. Nevertheless, the courts are being asked to remove her from her home because of the intolerable abuse she is experiencing there. Rebellion: A Case Study In the Old Testament we find a man who was a charismatic, popular public figure, and who had what it took to be the king. Though Saul could rule the people, he couldn t rule himself. Deep inside his soul boiled a stubborn streak of rebellion. Tucked away in the Old Testament is 1 Samuel 15 which records the turning point in Saul s reign. The chapter begins with a conversation the prophet Samuel had with this stubborn king. Samuel said to Saul, I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys (1 Samuel 15:1-3). God s directive, spoken through Samuel, was neither complicated nor vague. Though troublesome to our modern ears, only one response was demanded from Saul: obedience. Reading 1 Samuel 15:7, you d think Saul did obey: Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt (1 Samuel 15:7). But read on, He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and the lambs everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed (1 Samuel 15:8-9). This biblical account shows us four characteristics of rebellion. The first is revealed in the verses above. Defiance Against Authority for Selfish Desire The authority in this case is Almighty God. God had said, utterly destroy all. Saul had not misunderstood. He had willfully disobeyed. He chose to defy authority and go with Plan B. Former astronaut General Charles M. Duke once fascinated an audience as he related the story of the Apollo 16 mission to the moon. He told what it was like to actually walk on the moon and to drive Rover, the lunar vehicle. One person in the audience asked the question, General Duke, once you were there, weren t you free to make your own decisions and carry out some of your own experiments... you know, sort of do as you pleased maybe stay a little longer if you liked? He smiled and answered, Sure, if we didn t want to return to earth! He then described the intricate plan, the discipline, and the instant obedience the crew needed to follow right down to the split second. He said they had landed somewhat heavy when they touched down on the moon. He was referring to their fuel supply. They had plenty left. Guess how much? One minute! They landed with 60 seconds of fuel remaining. He conveyed the distinct impression that a rebellious spirit doesn t fit inside a space suit. He had an unconditional respect for the authority of the United States space program. This brings us to the second characteristic of a rebellious spirit. Rationally Excusing Sinful Actions Let s pick up the story in verses 10-13. Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions. Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night. Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal. When Samuel reached him, Saul said, The LORD bless you! I have carried out the Lord s instructions. Saul didn t even feel guilty, though God saw what had happened. With open arms and a big smile, Saul welcomes Samuel. The Living Bible paraphrases verse 13:... Saul greeted him cheerfully. Hello there, he said. Well, I have carried out the Lord s command. To really see the stark contrast, compare God s state- ment in 1 Samuel 15:11 with Saul s remark in verse 13. God He turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions. Excuses are often packed into the skin of reason. 6 YOUNG ADULT BIBLE FELLOWSHIP LEADER

Saul I have carried out the LORD s instructions. Divination was a form of communication with higher powers in the ancient Near East. Many nations practiced divination and it was eventually picked up by the Israelites. As the verse above indicates, divination is equated to idolatry. It was an attempt to, in a sense, coerce God s will and power. Its use often indicated a desire to manipulate and to stand in the place of God. Divination stood in direct contrast to inspired prophecy and, like all other magical activities, was forbidden to Israel. Saul had tried to cover his actions rationally. According to Webster s dictionary to rationalize is to provide plausible but untrue reasons for conduct... to attribute one s actions to rational motives without analysis of true motives. Saul employed rationalization, but Samuel didn t buy it. The prophet in his untarnished integrity asked a simple question: What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear? (1 Samuel 15:14). Samuel wanted to know how he could hear the sounds of life if Saul had silenced all life. Saul had deliberately ignored God s authoritative instruction, which brings us to a third characteristic of a rebellious person. Defensiveness when Faced with the Truth Saul reacted defensively to Samuel s question. Proud, stubborn, and probably a bit embarrassed, he said: The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest (1 Samuel 15:15). Saul, scratching around for answers, darted his eyes in the direction of those standing near They did it! But Samuel had heard enough. With a stern look and penetrating eyes, the prophet held up his hand and exclaimed: Stop... Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night. Samuel continued, Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out. Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD? But Saul refused to face the truth, illustrating the fourth characteristic of a rebellious heart. I N-SESSION COMMUNITY BUILDING OPTIONS Select one or more of these activities to begin building bridges between students as you introduce today s subject. Resistance to Accountability But I did obey the LORD, Saul said (1 Samuel 15:20a). He dodges Samuel s counsel, still passing the buck. I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I complete- June, July, August 2015 7

ly destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal (1 Samuel 15:20b-21). Listen closely to God s counsel to Saul (and to us) through Samuel: But Samuel replied: Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Rebellion is not a slight offense to God. Stunned, Saul finally admitted, I have sinned (1 Samuel P Select one or more of the following activities to present today s topic. the heap than for producing a useful product; university professors seek sophistication more than truth; and religious leaders care more for their image than for the gospel. And in the midst of this power-crazed society many Christians wonder how to live with integrity. We live in a world full of destructive power. This power is authority that demands total control. It destroys relationship, trust, dialogue, and integrity. Paul Tournier, the famous Christian psychologist writes, Power is the greatest obstacle in the way of dialogue... We pay dearly for our power; we live the drama of the lost dialogue. The ability of power to destroy human relationships is written across the face of humanity. Lord Acton s famous dictum holds true, Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts 15:24). RESENTATION OPTIONS Authority and Power Just as in Saul s day, the idolatry of today is the idolatry of power. Power and authority are so interrelated that it is hard to imagine one without the other. As Richard Foster writes in his book, Money, Sex and Power: Books by the score appeal to our Machiavellian passions. Today, by and large, political leaders give more energy to jockeying for position than to serving the public good; business executives care more for keeping on top of absolutely. But power is not wholly, or only, destructive. Rebellion is at its heart an action of selfishness and a desire to control and exercise power at all costs. For Christians this definition just happens to be a very accurate description of sin. 1. Worldwide Rebellion Ask your class to think about the rebellion in our world. Help them name a few examples from recent events that illustrate rebellion. Need a few hints? How about the American home, the school, the Palestinians and the Israelis, and the increase in drugs and crime? 2. Brainstorming Rebellion As you start your class session, allow several minutes S UMMARY OPTIONS Select one or more of these activities to summarize and give opportunity for students to apply the truth learned through this lesson. for your class to think of examples of rebellion in the Bible. Have a brainstorming session by starting to list the biblical examples on a chalkboard, overhead, or paper. Move from there into today s look at 1 Samuel 15 as discussed in the Commentary above. 3. Examples of Rebellion In groups of three, have your students share, informally and in a nonthreatening way, examples of rebellious actions they can remember from their own lives. This activity will help bring focus to the following discussion. Use INTERSECT: Young Adult Discussion Starters to continue discussion on this lesson in a weekday Bible study session, as a take-home resource for further thought after today s lesson, or to supplement your insession teaching of this lesson. 4. Read and Respond Distribute a copy of Duplication Master No. 1 to each student. On this handout your students will find a short quote from the Focus section of this lesson. Ask your students to read this quote silently. Then solicit their initial reactions. Use these honest answers to help shape your discussion below. 8 YOUNG ADULT BIBLE FELLOWSHIP LEADER

1. Minilecture/Discussion After presenting a brief overview of the material in the Commentary, invite the class to consider the following discussion question. Rebellion, according to one of the scriptures we looked at, is as the sin of divination (1 Samuel 15:23). Ask the class what this means, and what it says to them. Discuss the implications of comparing rebellion with such a sin. Ask your students why they think God takes such a strong stand against it. 2. Student Teaching After beginning the session with a brief introduction about The Problem of Authority in the opening section of the Commentary, assign the four characteristics of rebellion from 1 Samuel 15 as listed and discussed to four groups of students in your class. Allow adequate time for each group to give a creative presentation, and follow the whole presentation with a summary of the lesson. You might want to include a look at what prompts rebellion. Are there hints that it is brewing before it actually comes to the surface? 3. Group Study/Scripture Search After presenting an overview of the material in the Commentary, divide your class into several groups. Provide copies of Duplication Master No. 2 on The Marks of Creative Spiritual Power. Assign the seven marks to the groups and have them research Scripture for examples of these marks and how the creative spiritual power in a Christian s life relates to the Christian s spiritual authority in Christ. 1. A Portrait of Rebellion To close your class session, use Romans 1:28-32 as a guide to discuss about the direct link between refusing to acknowledge God any longer and the following scene. Verse 32 mentions those who give hearty approval to those who practice rebellious deeds. Can we be passive rebels? 2. Honest Rebellion? After presenting the lesson to the class, discuss the difference between honest (and even humble) disagreement and overt rebellion. Can there be a genuine, necessary resistance without the presence of sinful insubordination and rebellion? Look at Acts 5:40-42 for a scriptural case in point. Compare that with Genesis 4:6-7. Selected Bibliography Bolich, Gregory G. Authority and the Church. Washington, D.C.: University Press of America, 1982. Harries, Richard. The Authority of Divine Love. Oxford, England: B. Blackwell, 1983. Taylor, Richard S. Biblical Authority and Christian Faith. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1980. THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY Duplication Master No. 1

In a world bent on having its own way, it is difficult to cultivate the right attitude toward authority. The Question authority! mentality is so interwoven into the fabric of our society, it seems impossible to counteract. Perhaps nothing is more painful to endure than persistent, stubborn, willful resistance to proper authority. Indeed, some people only discover the need for a submissive spirit behind bars. Others, following a divorce. Still others, through a crippling disease or a horrible automobile accident or a series of blows in life that drive us to our knees and force us to learn how to walk humbly with our God. When Cain curled his lip and stood tight-fisted in rebellion before God, he was given a sobering warning that has been preserved in Scripture for all to read and heed: If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it (Genesis 4:7b). Nothing has changed. The mark of Cain has been branded on even this generation. Resisting authority still crouches like a beast at the door. Duplication Master No. 2