I see "silent" rebels
a poem about the church many people don't know about
rebels
I want to be one of the “silent” rebels in this poem.
After I chose this poem to share, I started reading How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture by Francis Schaeffer.1
There’s a section that really stood out to me.
In the first chapter, Schaeffer points to the Christians who were thrown to the beasts in Rome’s arena. He suggests that these Christians weren’t killed because of their worship of Jesus, but because they “disrupt[ed] the unity of the state”. And continues saying, “the reason the Christians were killed was because they were rebels”.
He says they were rebels because:
They would not worship Jesus and Caesar.
They had “an absolute by which to judge that state and its actions”.
It’s a very intriguing read so far.
“silent”
It’s in quotes because it seems people who aren’t raising their voice from a smartphone or social media (or just being loud in public, lol) are considered to be not really using their voice or leveraging the platforms available to them. But I just don’t believe it.
I see people off of social media quietly changing the world and loving people more than those making or sharing videos about changing the world and loving people. We would rather say our beliefs than do them. I definitely fall into that and need transformation.
Also, the church feels digitally noisy right now. Churches with podcasts, online services, all the social medias, albums, brands, statements of faith and/or social/political affiliations, and marketing strategies.2 Often with good intentions, I hope.
However, the more I slow down, I also see a different church more like 1 Thessalonians 4 around me all the time.
That’s where the poem came from.
Here you go:
I see “silent” rebels
by Durgan Maxey
I see “silent” rebels unconverted analog voices un-broadcasted living working hard with their hands conversing with people when their paths cross and listening some “belong” to non-profit churches some do not rebels battling evil rulers and cosmic powers praying in the Spirit in the quiet and they didn’t tell everyone that they did it like The Word on a high place walked away to commune Torah as a Person, perceived as a Torah defector now again, rebels against the noise are nonconforming mind-renewing quietly tradition-breaking hard to see them without slowing down or looking up
May we slow down, look up, and learn to live quietly. May we abide in Jesus, like a branch in a vine, and bear much Spirit-fruit.
Shalom.
Durgan
P. S. I’m very excited to share that I’ve carved my first spoon (see pic below) with axe and knife, and it’s definitely moving me toward some new work.
I’ve read a little of Schaeffer’s work, but I’ve been intrigued with this title for a while. Never got to reading it till now. But the question “How Should We Then Live?” is very much the question in my head as of late; so, when it came to mind, I was glad to find it in our piles of books from our recent move. I’m very intrigued by L’Abri and the philosophy Schaeffer taught in reference to art, hospitality, and the gospel. (Shoutout to
for pointing me towards Schaeffer’s writings/teachings)I wrote another poem about this side of today’s church. It’s called “I saw a church or a factory” and you can read it here.