Podcast: Download (Duration: 31:56 — 21.9MB)
We live in an age of critical thinking. Much that was once considered right and self-evident is now being questioned, partly due to digital and technological advancements. The question is often heard: Where does it say that this or that is forbidden? But should we Christians question everything, or simply trust blindly? Where does the truth lie?
Why obedience?
Let's start at the beginning. God created the world in six days, planted a beautiful garden, and placed the first humans in paradise. Nothing stood in the way of a happy and fulfilling life. God had provided for everything. If only there hadn't been this one commandment: Everything was permitted, except for one tree from which one was forbidden to eat.
This inevitably raises the question of whether this requirement was even necessary. Wouldn't it have worked without such a law?
Had the devil not appeared in the form of a serpent, Adam and Eve might not have disobeyed God's commandment. The devil came with the question: "Did God really say...?" His goal was to sow doubt. Did God really mean it that way? Perhaps you misunderstood something? Do we really have to take it so literally? Questions that are not unfamiliar to us today, especially to young people. When Eve engaged with the question and entered into conversation with the serpent, her downfall was a natural consequence.
Disbelief began to grow in Eve's heart, ultimately leading to disobedience.
In the Letter to the Hebrews we read: “And without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). God desired absolute trust in His Word. His Word is “Yes, yes” and “No, no”; everything else is from evil.
Conversely, obedience is a natural consequence of faith, just as disobedience is a natural consequence of faith. Abraham believed in God unconditionally. But his faith was not limited to an inner attitude; it was demonstrated in his silent obedience: He went to sacrifice his son Isaac. And he was not put to shame, for we read: “By faith Abraham obeyed” (Hebrews 11:8).
The first sin that brought about humanity's downfall was disobedience. Unfortunately, this sin is still often the trigger for a whole series of sins and transgressions today, which can ultimately lead to a godless and dissolute life. It all begins with seemingly "harmless" disobedience.
A brother who had led a life of serious crime in the past came to faith through God's grace. When he was spoken to in prison and confessed his sins, he prayed to God: "Forgive me for disobeying my parents." Disobedience—that was the root, the beginning of his downfall; many other serious offenses followed.
But why is obedience so important now? Don't we live in a democratic country? I have my own opinion – why must I obey?
At first glance, obedience seems to have only disadvantages for us: we have to submit, give in, adapt, and do what others dictate. But are there also advantages to obedience?
First and foremost, we can say that obedience, as understood in the Bible, offers protection that brings us many personal benefits. Many laws in the Old Testament were also established by God on this basis. They were not intended to impose an unnecessary burden on people, but rather to protect and strengthen the people of Israel.
For example, the prohibition against eating pork served, among other things, to protect against diseases that can be caused by unclean, infected meat. Regulations concerning illnesses served to prevent the spread of contagious diseases (e.g., leprosy). The divinely instituted day of rest was also intended to provide the body with recovery and rest after a physically demanding week. Rules of conduct and commandments served then, and still serve today, to protect family and society from decay and immorality, to maintain harmony and order, and to strengthen social cohesion.
Unfortunately, our problem often lies in the fact that we fail to recognize the benevolent motive behind it.
Why do we find it difficult to obey?
Obedience is closely linked to humility and submission. When I am obedient, I indirectly acknowledge that I am subordinate to someone else and have an authority above me. This truth alone goes against our human pride. Am I prepared to accept something that is imposed upon me? This begins in our everyday lives, at home, at school, or at work. When parents tell their children something, the first reaction is often "NO."
It is a sign of our sinful nature, which is fundamentally inclined toward disobedience. At work, we are often tested on our humility. It is easy to obey when the request or order pleases us. But what happens when we are asked to obey things that are not to our liking? Disobedience is primarily a sign of arrogance and pride.
Another reason why we find it difficult to be obedient is a lack of trust. We fear that something good will be withheld from us. If, as a father, I put my two-year-old daughter on the table and open my arms, she will jump into my arms from the edge of the table without hesitation. She knows me; she knows that I will catch her and not let her fall.
Such trust is the prerequisite for free and unforced obedience. Without this trust, we quickly perceive instructions as pressure or coercion.
Obedience in the community
Every community or organization has rules and regulations that ensure orderly operations. If everyone adheres to them, everyone benefits. However, if they are disregarded, harmony is disrupted.
This is particularly evident in the family. God has established an order for the family: Christ comes first, then the husband, followed by the wife, and finally the children. This hierarchy in no way implies that those who submit are less valuable or to be despised in God's eyes. Everyone has their God-given place.
For a wife, therefore, submitting to her husband is not a humiliation—on the contrary, it is a privilege. She can feel secure in his leadership. Imagine if this order did not exist: children would dictate to their parents what to do, even though they lack the necessary maturity to properly understand and evaluate decisions. God is a God of order. He created order where chaos once reigned.
We read: “And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Just as in the family, there is also a divine, biblical hierarchy in the church. This serves not the exercise of power or manipulation, but the building up of the body of Christ.
If the heart were to claim the most important position in the body, it would immediately come into conflict with other parts of the body. What is more important, the heart or the brain? Or perhaps the kidneys or even the liver? What about the hands and feet, the eyes and ears? If we're honest, none of us would want to do without even one of the human organs. Harmony arises from the proper connection and relationship between the limbs.
This is how it should be in the church. There are shepherds (pastors), there are teachers, there are prophets and deacons. There are different gifts, but only one body. When everyone worthily takes their place, there is a blessed atmosphere in the church.
We live in a time when the authority of church leaders is increasingly eroded due to the world's anti-authoritarian upbringing. People feel entitled to rebel and oppose church decisions, causing divisions and splits. Biblical truths are distorted by the modern zeitgeist and adapted to a broader, more palatable version. What matters is no longer what the brothers preach and teach in the church, but rather what a particularly "learned" theologian interprets online in a modern style.
It is not uncommon for biblical truths to be dismissed as "outdated teachings from Russia." Paul already warned Timothy about this: "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
This type of rebellion is comparable to the rebellion of Korah's band against Moses. Although Moses was not without fault, he was nevertheless called and appointed by God for this service. God does not stand indifferent to such rebellion and does not let it go unpunished.
Sometimes it seems as if we could receive a "blessing" at the cost of disobedience.
The situation was similar with Moses when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. A great deal of water flowed out, the blessing was there, but not for Moses. He had failed to give glory to God in His holiness before the people. This had serious consequences for him, for he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.
Sometimes, people appear in the community who want to bring about a revolution at the expense of disobedience, seemingly to more easily "reach" unbelievers. Even if it looks like a great "blessing" at first glance, this approach will have fatal consequences that are incomparable to true divine blessing.
Why do the servants in the church sometimes demand this or that? Children often don't understand why they have to be obedient. Only when they grow up do they recognize their parents' good intentions. And when they themselves become parents, they often demand the same thing of their own children.
Often our problem lies precisely in this: we don't understand it. But even in such a case, obedience is paramount. Many of the "rules" of our church or brotherhood originated from profound revelations and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and were intended to protect the people from worldliness and decay.
Especially with young people, there are often discussions about why certain things are not allowed in the community. Many are unwilling to submit to the community's rules because they don't understand the reasoning behind them. They only see commandments and rules and label the community as "legalistic."
And yet we must admit that rules and regulations represent only a tiny part of community life. The benefits of a free, fulfilling life in Christ outweigh them by a far greater amount.
Rules exist for those who tend to break them. If I only drive 50 km/h in the village anyway, the 50 km/h speed limit sign is meaningless to me. It's merely a reminder. But the law comes into effect the moment I exceed the speed limit.
It's the same with the rules of the church. If I lead a sincere, godly life in Christ, the rules are irrelevant to me. I fulfill them anyway, without being explicitly reminded. But if I despise my sincere relationship with Christ and allow things that are not pleasing to God, suddenly rules apply to me that make me understand I must correct my behavior. In such a case, it would be fatal to adapt the rules to my condition. It would be right to obey them nonetheless and ask myself why I am inclined to break these rules.
Adam and Eve were allowed to eat and enjoy most of the fruit in the Garden of Eden. The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge probably differed little in appearance from the others. But even if they didn't fully understand the deeper meaning of the commandment, there was only one decisive reason for them not to eat it: God had forbidden it. And that alone was enough for them.
Is blind obedience right?
Where are the limits? Must we be obedient in everything and at all times?
There are two extremes: Some are prepared to do everything their superior demands – regardless of whether it's good or bad. Others, however, question everything, constantly criticize, and are convinced they know better because they don't want to submit to authority. Both attitudes are problematic.
When I did something wrong as a child and my parents asked me why I did it, my answer was sometimes: "My friend told me to do it." Their counter-question was always: "If your friend asked you to jump into a well, would you do it?"
Of course, there are limits to obedience—humans are not infallible. As long as the demands within the church are in accordance with God's Word, we are called to be obedient. But when we recognize a clear deviation from the truth, we must remain vigilant. One thing is certain: We must never act against Scripture, for our highest obedience is to God, not to humankind.
The question that arises for us, however, is: "How do I deal with it when I realize that something isn't right in the church?" Imagine a pastor saying tomorrow: "The baptism of the Holy Spirit was only for the first Christians; we don't need it anymore." Such a statement is, of course, a clear deviation from the truth.
But how do I deal with this? Do I instigate a revolution in the church? A division? Do I try to prove the truth "with my fists"? Or am I willing to communicate peacefully and clarify unclear matters without stirring up conflict? Do I begin to pray and fast intensely for God to grant me clarity? What is my approach? The latter is a humble and biblically sound stance and will not go unheard by God.
Neither blind obedience, which turns a blind eye to everything, nor an arrogant attitude that questions and doubts everything is right. What is right is an insightful, thoughtful trust in obedience. Trust is based on a relationship, a sincere bond.
Why do we have no difficulty obeying some people? Because we know them well and have a good relationship with them. We don't just see the demand, but first and foremost the person behind it, and we recognize their good intentions.
If we have a trusting relationship with the congregation and the leading brothers within it, the church's rules and regulations will be clear and understandable to us. Then it will not be difficult for us to follow them and, if necessary, adapt to them.
Disobedience will be punished
Moses and Aaron were denied entry into the Promised Land because of their disobedience.
Achan, in his disobedience, assaulted the exile and paid with his life, along with his family. We remember Saul, who plundered the spoils of the Amalekites, who were under ban. On top of all this, he offered them to God as a sacrifice. God could not accept such a sacrifice. God rejected him as king. “For disobedience is like the sin of divination, and rebellion is like idolatry and persecution” (1 Samuel 15:23).
I remember an incident from my childhood. When I was about nine years old, I had to slice bread with the slicer – I enjoyed it. My mother told me to slice about half the loaf. When I had already sliced a little more than half, I heard my mother call out from the next room: "That's enough!" I was in the zone; I was enjoying the slicing. I pretended not to hear her. My mother called out a second time: "That's enough!" Then I thought to myself: There's not much left, I'll finish this little piece now. And so I kept slicing until I was abruptly stopped when I suddenly cut my thumb. Blood flowed from my wound. The punishment followed immediately. Even today, the visible scar reminds me of my disobedience back then.
Obedience is rewarded
In Jeremiah 35, the House of the Rechabites is presented as a model for the entire people of Israel.
What was the reason? The father had issued a commandment that his descendants were to keep: They were not to drink wine, build houses, sow seeds, or plant vineyards. Furthermore, they were to live in tents. It should be noted that none of these things were considered sins at that time. Drinking wine was not forbidden in the Old Testament either.
No explanation is given as to why the father demanded this of his children. While the wine-drinking aspect might be understandable to us, the other aspects seem less clear. But surely the father had legitimate reasons. Yet, without questioning the father's demand, the Rechabites showed him due respect and fulfilled his commandment. This included not only his biological children, but also his stepchildren and subsequent generations.
God praises this uncompromising obedience to another person and makes it a model for the people of Israel. In the New Testament, Paul also emphasizes the importance of obedience, especially to parents: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).
Obedience is how parents show their honor and appreciation. God gives us a clear promise: “That it may go well with you and that you may live long on the earth!” (Ephesians 6:3). What could bring greater joy to their parents than their unconditional obedience?
How does one learn to be obedient?
Obedience is not an innate trait. Quite the contrary. What is innate is the sinful tendency to be disobedient. We spend our entire lives in a struggle between obedience and disobedience.
It is written of Jesus: “And although he was a son, he learned obedience by what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Although Jesus was the Son of God and had no sinful nature, He also learned to be obedient. Of course, He never sinned, and we must not think that He was disobedient before. But as God-man, it was nevertheless a new experience for Him to fully submit His human will to the will of His Father. Not to use His divine omnipotence, but to carry out the work of redemption to the end in silent obedience, even to the cross. “[He] became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
That makes it all the more important for us to learn obedience. I can tell a child 20 times not to touch the hot fireplace glass. Their first thought is: Dad wants to deprive me of something nice. But once they touch the glass and burn themselves, they suddenly realize that Dad's intentions were good. Hopefully, next time they'll learn to get a little closer to obedience.
Had Adam and Eve been given a "second chance" in the Garden of Eden and been aware of the consequences of their disobedience, they would certainly never have transgressed God's commandment again.
Unfortunately, we often have many bitter experiences in life that arise from disobedience – disobedience to God, our parents, the servants in the church, the government, traffic rules, etc. Afterwards, we often suffer the consequences and thus punish ourselves.
While it's better if these situations don't arise in our lives in the first place, it's still important that we recognize our mistakes, repent of them, and learn to be obedient next time. This way, we can avoid many problems.
On the other hand, we must not forget that obedience is closely linked to humility and gentleness. This is one of the fruits of the Spirit.
It is written: “He shows mercy to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). God is on the side of the humble, the obedient. God rewards a humble and meek attitude. Jesus said, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). The key to learning humility and obedience lies in a deep fellowship with Christ and complete dependence on Him. By our own strength, we will never be able to submit and be obedient and humble, but from Him we can learn it.
Obedience to people is closely linked to obedience to God. If I am obedient to God, I will have no difficulty submitting to other people—servants or church leaders. If I cannot submit to people, I inevitably have a problem in my relationship with God.
It is important to tackle the problem at its root. You can train a lion to respond to certain signals or words and to carry out commands. But that alone will not turn a lion into a tame and obedient kitten. Once the lion is released into the wild, it will revert to doing what its hunting instinct dictates, for that is its nature, its essence. The sinful and corrupt nature of humankind tends to be proud and disobedient. But thank God, there is a way out: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When Christ is in us and we are in Him, everything is made new, and the more the image of Christ takes shape in us, the more the fruit of the Spirit and also the quality of obedience will become visible in us. Thus, Paul could also say to the church in Rome: “For your obedience has become widely known” (Romans 16:19).
May God help us and grant us His abundant grace.
Eduard Vogel
Municipality of Miesau