Each new generation is conditioned and shaped by society’s ideals and values, and the pressure is for the youth of today (as always) to conform to what those around expect of you without questioning. Step outside these parameters and start thinking things through for yourself and you will quickly be labelled a rebel by parents, teachers, youth leaders, clergy and even your peers. American singer, songwriter Steve Earle in a documentary about his music and work said “The most important thing to remember is, no matter what anybody tells you, it is never, ever unpatriotic or un-American to question anything in a democracy.” The problem with most youths (and grown-ups) is they rarely question anything, instead they conform to the norm because they think it is the right thing to do. So the youth are never encouraged to think or live “outside the box”. For example, we are told to get educated, study hard, get qualified, go to University, get a good job, push yourself up the success ladder in order to accumulate as much wealth as you can, this is the general ideal of the western masses. I believe one of the most bland and possibly dangerous thing a young person can do is to be like the rest. Take a look around you, listen and analyse what’s happening, think about what people are saying, take a look at history even. Hitler’s youth conformed and look what happened. Today’s youth are conforming to Blair and Bush’s society and look what’s happening. My advice is question anything and everything - religion, politics, leaders, society, the war in Iraq, values, morals, clergy, motives and even yourself!

The best thing any Christian can do if he/she claims to be a disciple of Jesus is to start using our brain. “Come now and let us reason together says the Lord” would seem to be a challenge to our minds. Paul says “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Let’s face it, most Muslims are so because mother and father have told them that’s the way it ought to be. It’s the same with Judaism, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism or with any other ‘ism’ you can think of.

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be different. For example Jesus said “You can’t worship two gods at once, loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and money both”. I have found a lot of Christians today, leaders included, are happy to serve Jesus until it hits their pocket! They are the modern day Judas Iscariots. Paul said “Don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

One big problem is that our generation has handed down to kids the worship status of plastic heroes like actors, footballers and pop stars. Young people, get yourselves proper heroes like St. Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa, Rich Mullins, Charles Spurgeon, David Livingstone, C. T. Studd, Bono, people who got off their asses and did something. If you want to make a difference then “be different.” My advice is to start reading the Bible seriously, keep your mind open, be sceptical about anything you’ve heard before, think about what others say and let the Holy Spirit teach you what is God’s agenda for your life.

When I became a Christian I was 31 years old. I had to unravel a lot of the ‘junk’ I had been taught about God and the Christian life as a child and a teenager. I realised a lot of modern Christianity is man-made and I found an awful lot of things that are in the scriptures I’d never even heard about. To be a disciple is a difficult and dangerous road, even going against your own nature at times which wants to go with the flow - even the religious flow, never mind the world at large. It takes courage and guts and conviction to rebel against a lot of the nonsense we are conditioned to.

Jesus was the biggest rebel of the lot and got up the noses of the religious leadership because he was controversial and spoke the truth. He was a non-conformist and he along with twelve disciples helped change the world. Who wants to be like Jesus? Trying to be Christlike will revolutionise your life and those around you will feel uncomfortable. You may not change the world but the effect you will have on it will be significant and your own world will never be the same again. Remember God’s plan for your life and mine is to make us like Jesus Christ and to be a disciple the cost is high. Jesus said “Take up your cross and follow me”. Being different will bring excitement, challenge and hardship to your life, but the narrow way is the only road worth travelling. Start the revolution!

Ned Kelly