the musings of this nigerian gal

One morning, I came across a message shared in a WhatsApp group, and it made me pause.

The writer was talking about resisting the constraints that society and culture place on us as human beings. About how no one should decide the “appropriate” dress code, or tell us what to do with our lives; that we have the right to do whatever we want, and no one can say otherwise.

I understood the point. But I didn’t completely agree.

You see, Gen Z’s culture is literally written in bold, rebellious letters. We’ve been told we are the change so often that now everyone wants to change everything at once, for no other reason than simply because they can.

I can talk to my parents however I want.
I can eat whatever I want.
I can date or marry whoever (or whatever) I want.

So many “because-I-cans” have sent the world spiraling out of control. And who can stop it, when the cry is always, “Who are you to tell us what’s right or wrong?”

This is not to say there’s no place for rebellion. But if we rebel against everything, what’s the point? To what end? What are we really trying to achieve?

In my opinion, the only rebellion worth having is against every policy, idea, and culture that contradicts what God has designed for us.

If the culture is telling you to think in a way that’s a complete pivot from how God sees you—by all means, buck against it.

If it tries to squeeze you into boxes God never designed for you—because God doesn’t box us in—then rip those boxes to pieces.

Because here’s what we know: the life in God is the real deal. Everything else is counterfeit. At the root, it’s never “just culture” or “just freedom.” It’s two kingdoms fighting for influence over every space and every person who will allow it.

And if we don’t understand why we should be different, or what difference we’re called to show, we’ll be like waves, tossed back and forth by whatever idea happens to appeal to us.

So yes, rebel. But rebel with purpose. Rebel against darkness, against falsehood, against every design that keeps you from living out who God made you to be. That’s the only rebellion that leads to life.