Rebellion, Revolution...

             But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:17-18)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. (Preamble to the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America)

Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite! (Karl Marx)

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!” So all the Israelites went home. (II Chronicles 10:16)

Wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Today, let’s zero in on the term submissive and let’s be honest. As humans we not only are rebels, but we value – nearly worship – rebellion. Our nation was founded on rebellion. Socialism and Communism establish it as a necessity.

As Americans, we believe there are times when rebellion or revolution become necessary. Socialists and Communists would expand that, saying that revolutions are – in general – necessary, as long as the revolt isn’t against socialism and communism. The idea of being submissive is anathema to many of us. It’s for the weak, the stupid, the lazy, or the oppressed.

And yet, Scripture repeatedly advocates in favor of submission. Everyone is to submit to God. Citizens are to submit to the authorities in their nations, states, and cities. Wives are to submit to their husbands.  Children are to submit to their parents. We are supposed to submit to one another. And in today’s passage, submission is tied to wisdom.

It makes perfect sense. Wisdom is about facing reality in a productive manner. There are times when the only way to face reality in a productive manner is to stand against evil, which may be seen as rebellion, but to see rebellion as an automatic or first response to everything we don’t like isn’t wise, because it rejects every other alternative. It’s like saying that the tool you must use to fix every problem is a jackhammer.

Of course, saying that submission is the solution to every problem is just as “all or nothing” but at least with submission, there is the possibility of an agreement or compromise. With revolution, it tends to be “kill or be killed.”