Moving the Ancient Boundaries: Find a Rebel
Part 2 in a series on factors behind cultural decay.
This is a series on the erosion of moral, cultural, and ethical boundaries in modern society:
Do not move the ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.
— Proverbs 22:28 —
If you wish to disrupt boundaries, to challenge the status quo, to make tradition and principles seem outdated and restrictive, you’d best find yourselves a rebel. Not any rebel, mind you — but a very gifted one. The rebel must possess a broad appeal, be it in the area of physical beauty, wealth, musical talent, artistic skill, or comedy. Find a movie star, a talented actor or actress, and you have the perfect platform — social media — from which to promote your hedonistic lifestyle, the glories of unlimited wealth, or your fanciful, exotic religious or cultic interest.
Your idol need not be especially intelligent, as long as they are beautiful, talented, and wealthy. They thus gain vast exposure in film, music, and media, and your attention is drawn solely to the benefits of their life choices, while ignoring the consequences. New wife every year or two? No problem, we are simply seeking happiness and personal satisfaction. Having children outside of a stable marriage — or outside of marriage altogether? See how enchanted we are with our new baby! — and how the child will have every advantage in life (except a stable home, discipline, and time with the parents who are too busy jet-setting around the world). Sexual promiscuity? Well, what the world needs now, is love, sweet love. Don’t be a prude.
Throw in a fashionable political, climate, or trans opinion du jure, grab a camera and a microphone, and voila! A star is born!
One need not be one of the beautiful people to be a successful rebel. The comedic genius of Lenny Bruce was immense — but entirely focused on the goal of normalizing profanity, pushing the boundaries of sexual language, obscenity, and hatred of religion — especially Christianity. By pushing the limits, the rebel goads society to respond, and thus creating a martyr. Repeatedly arrested for profanity and coarse language in public, Bruce was glorified by those who wanted no restriction on such speech and therefore bemoaned his “persecution” by authorities and a Puritanical culture. When he killed himself with alcohol and drugs, the fruition of a vain and pointless life, he was enthroned as an idol by “free speech” proponents everywhere — and remains so even today.
Like the arts and media, modern music is another excellent medium to produce a rebel; rock and popular music draws them like flies to a cow pie. Combine musical talent with a message of sexual license, drugs, violence, or rebellion, and you have an excellent vehicle for pounding your message home through iPhone screens ear buds. The rebel — musical or otherwise — need not suffer any real persecution or hardship to ennoble their righteous rebellion: Michael Stipe of R.E.M. sang of America as under “occupation” and called for revolution, while making millions, living in grand mansions, and flying on private jets.
Some occupation. Some revolution.
Yet his musical talent, and that of others of his kind, drives the message home emphatically through clever musical hooks, complex rhythms, power chords and witty lyrics.
The key attraction of the rebel is their embodiment of the idea that all authority is a restriction of human freedom. By amalgamating a visually appealing lifestyle, wealth, physical beauty, or artistic talent with the “freedom” which comes from rejecting the restraints requisite for a civil and peaceful society, narcissism and individualism are thereby elevated above the self-sacrifice, responsibility, and the restraint which a healthy relational community requires. The walls which guard and protect society lose a few more boulders and gain a few more gaps, as we idolize those whose rebellion feeds our own pride, greed, and self-centeredness, in the pursuit of faux freedom. The rebel proves seductive because we too are rebels, having feasted on that forbidden tree, and fallen for the same lies.
The rebel is hardly alone in the pursuit of broken boundaries; there is no shortage of players on the field.
Next: Moving the Ancient Boundaries - Part 3: Find a Victim - coming soon.
Amen! Thank you for sharing this thoughtful and biblically grounded message. It is such an important reminder that we must never move the boundaries God has established in His Word to fit the changing opinions of the world. Proverbs 22:28 says, Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set. God's truth is eternal and never changes. Isaiah 40:8 reminds us, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever. Jesus also declared in Matthew 24:35, Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. In a generation where many are tempted to compromise, 2 Timothy 4:2-3 encourages us to preach the Word faithfully, whether it is convenient or not, and Jude 3 reminds us to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. May the Holy Spirit give us discernment to stand firmly on the authority of Scripture with both conviction and love. Thank you again for this encouraging message. May the Lord continue to strengthen you, bless your ministry, and use your writing to lead many people to the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ. God bless you.