Christian Obedience
Christian Obedience
Pastor Barry Kerner
The Bible has much to say about obedience. In fact, obedience is an essential part of the Christian faith. Scripture tells us in Philippians 2:8 that Jesus Himself was “obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” Matthew 16:24 indicates that Christians are to be about taking up our cross and following Christ. It would be impossible to emulate and follow Christ without obedience. The Bible says that we show our love for Jesus by obeying Him in all things: In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” A Christian who is not obeying Christ’s commands can rightly be asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Obedience is defined as “dutiful or submissive compliance to the commands of one in authority.” Using this definition, we see the elements of biblical obedience. “Dutiful” means it is our obligation to obey God, just as Jesus fulfilled His duty to the Father by dying on the cross for our sin. “Submissive” indicates that we yield our wills to God’s. “Commands” speaks of the Scriptures in which God has clearly delineated His instructions. The “one in authority” is God Himself, whose authority is total and unequivocal.
Failure to submit to God’s authority are acts of disobedience. Scripture calls these acts transgressions of sins. The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines sin as. “any want or conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.” While Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” it is clear that we are responsible for the sins we commit. 1 John 3:4,“Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.”For the Christian, obedience means complying with everything God has commanded. It is our duty to do so.
It is important to remember that our obedience to God is not solely a matter of duty. John 14:23 indicates that the reason we should obey God is because we love Him. The spirit of obedience is as important as the act of obedience. We serve the Lord in humility, singleness of heart, and love. We must beware of allowing a facade of obedience to mask a sinful heart. Living the Christian life is not all about rules. The Pharisees in Jesus’ time relentlessly pursued acts of obedience to the Law, but they became self-righteous, believing they deserved heaven because of what they had done. They considered themselves worthy before God, who owed them a reward; however, the Bible tells us that, without Christ, even our best, most righteous works are as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). The Pharisees’ external obedience still lacked something, and Jesus exposed their heart attitude. Their hypocrisy in obeying the “letter of the law” while violating its spirit characterized their lives, and Jesus rebuked them sharply: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also appear righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matthew 23:27–28) The Pharisees were obedient in some respects, but they “neglected the weightier matters of the law.” (Matthew 23:23)
Today, we are not called to obey the Law of Moses. That has been fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 5:17). Galatians 6:2 and John 13:34 remind us that we are to obey the “law of Christ,” which is a law of love. In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus stated the greatest commands of all, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Though it has massively influenced the course of history, Christianity is not a religion of political revolution, Many New Testament passages teach that Christians must obey their government. Jesus famously said: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17) From the birth of Christ, when Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to register at the demand of Caesar Augustus, to Jesus’ trial before Pilate and his death on a Roman cross, our faith demonstrates the need for submission to the governing authorities – whether they are virtuous or corrupt. Romans 13:1 plainly says: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” 1 Peter 2:13 explains: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men.” R C Sproul comments that “there is a fundamental obligation of the Christian to be a model of civil obedience. We as the people of God are called upon to be as obedient as we possibly can in good conscience to the powers that be.”
For several months Christians across the nation have had to adjust to a new normal. Rather than jumping out of bed and driving to church, people now tune into the live-streams of church services while eating pancakes and sipping coffee in their pajamas. Since the sudden growth of the COVID-19 pandemic, new social distancing regulations have limited large gatherings—meaning limited church services.
Government regulations vary from state to state and even among neighboring counties and towns. While most churches have opted to obey the government’s wise laws, some churches have chosen to completely disregarded them. Christians are called to be model citizens, obeying the laws of the land as long as they don’t contrast with God’s laws. Churches should set a peaceful example by obeying government regulations and maintaining unity. Not only does this display respect for authorities, but it is also a way to love our neighbors by keeping them safe.
Social distancing laws have been created to protect the public health. There have been over seven million cases reported across the globe, according to the World Health Organization. Each day, that number grows. So far, social distancing has proved to be very effective. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, has explained that there is now a “glimmer” of success as a result of social distancing.
Our love for others should be our biggest motivation to remain socially distant. Loving your neighbor is protecting them, not jeopardizing their health by exposing them to a deadly deadly virus,” Relevant Magazine wrote. It’s vital to help our friends and family avoid the virus by evading it ourselves. Churches should seek to protect their congregation, thus it is imperative that they obey social distancing laws.
Some might argue governments are restricting religious freedom, by limiting all gatherings and limiting our opportunities to worship together. I shake my head when I hear complaints such as these. These times of isolation can be a boon to the ones who find more time to pray, study the scriptures, and reach out by phone to comfort those suffering from loneliness. With the surge of online Bible studies, Christian chat rooms and online services there is no need for anyone to forsake fellowship and assembling. It may be inconvenient for a season but these regulations won’t last long. Right now, their goal is to save your life.
Churches set an example for their congregation, and for the communities around them. In Romans, Paul exhorts the believers to honor the government. God has selected each and every authority figure we have—both in the state and federal government. Churches must respect and honor governmental authority because it sets a God-honoring precedent for the world to witness.
It’s important to remember what the church actually is—the church is a body of believers. Even if we cannot gather physically, we can unite their hearts in pursuit of the Lord. God is limitless. Christians do not have to be in church to worship God, they can do it just as well in their homes! Remember—this is merely for a season. Once these regulations are lifted, it is important to rejoin your congregation. Don’t get too comfortable in your pajamas. There will still be safety guidelines to follow, but for the obedient Christian these minor inconveniences will be something to bear willingly for the glory of god.
God is working in miraculous ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it may be one of the most difficult seasons in your life, don’t forget the importance of following the safety guidelines and continuing to worship God. New COVID-19 regulations have shut down churches—but not God.
If we love God, we will obey Him. We won’t be perfect in our obedience, but our desire is to submit to the Lord and display good works. When we love God and obey Him, we naturally have love for one another. Obedience to God’s commands will make us light and salt in a dark and tasteless world. (Matthew 5:13–16).