rebels and revolutionaries

***this is the original post of the blog and inspiration for the mission. its been re-published to share with our increasingly growing community***

The words revolution and rebellion or rebel and revolutionary are interchangeable to many. However, the seemingly synonymous words are almost at opposition with each other. A rebel confronts and denies an institution.

Rebellion is satire and deconstruction. Rebellion tears down walls, institutions, systems, and beliefs. Rebellion opposes. The word rebel calls to mind violence, anger, destruction, and confrontation.

Revolution is creativity and ever-expanding. Revolution constructs art and belief and relationship. Revolution creates. The only thing in common is their relationships to and recognition of dysfunction.

Jesus was a revolutionary. To simply deny or oppose something, to rebel, is in direct conflict to the concept of being a peacemaker. Revolutionaries of course criticize and embarrass the powerful, the bloated, the corrupt, but revolutions cannot be started by pacifists, in fact pacifism is sort of a rebellion too.

The American church is a place of much rebellion AND dysfunction. Its leaders build castles filled with jobs that quite possibly never needed to become professionalized and its followers have become crippled customers of social gatherings. It is also a place of rebellion. Young people think creativity and revolutionary freedom in God is wearing jeans and playing an electric guitar in church. I think the American Revolutionaries of the late 18th century would laugh at us. The leadership of churches rebel against Islam, culture, and the discomfort of diversity. They oppose, ridicule, mock, and reject these and many other groups...which is not peacemaking.

Its time for a revolution where people talking about power-hungry leaders and comfort seeking followers happens, and we're talking about tea parties in the harbor, not blue jeans in the sanctuary. Where dysfunction is challenged...with creativity and bridging through peace. This place is a discourse on a revolution that has existed in many places, for a long time, but lost itself somewhere in America, in the past 100 years.

Every week check this site for a catalyst. It can be a place to spark individual thought, conversation among friends, and most importantly, inspire revolutions. No one here claims expertise, the site is simply attempting to be one piece of the Peace Revolution that has occurred since time began and God reached out to us. Each has a role and some of us are just looking for some more people to join. Make sure to comment on posts for editorial accountability.

Sow a revolution, in peace.