God So Loved the World – The Call to Obedience
Civil disobedience is an idea that is thriving in our nation today. In the last few weeks, we’ve studied and discussed some of the reasons why. People see and experience injustice. This leads to the destruction and spread of fear. Most people realize that our current state of affairs is not ideal, but groups are deeply divided on what to do about it. Within this climate, disobedience, whether prefaced by civility or not, has thrived.
As we continue by looking at these themes today, we stop to address the topic of obedience and how it applies to our world today, as well as to our faith. Somewhere along the spectrum between disobedience and obedience lies civil disobedience. What is it and what should the Christian think about it? Is it always wrong to be disobedient or are there times when God calls us to do that very thing? When and how does He do this?
The term “civil disobedience” was coined by author, Henry David Thoreau in 1848 when he penned an essay which spoke against many of the features of the government at that time. Thoreau’s premise was that there comes a point where, on moral grounds, a citizen must use their actions to speak against the government that they live under. Closely related to civil disobedience is legal protest, the main difference being that civil disobedience involves breaking the law while a protest (when it’s peaceful) does not. Examples of civil disobedience in our nation include: the Boston Tea Party, the Civil Rights movement, and the refusal to comply with military draft orders during the Vietnam War.
Today, we see many similar movements, from the Capitol Hill Organized Protest here in Seattle to the tearing down to monuments across the nation. Civil disobedience today is as divided a topic as it has ever been.
As we consider these thoughts, I direct your attention to the portion of God’s Word before us today, Romans 5:19-20:
For just as through the disobedience of one man the many became sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will become righteous. 20 The law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace overflowed much more. (EHV)
We take up this study today because God emphasizes the quality of obedience, as best exemplified in Christ, and He warns against disobedience, as demonstrated by Adam’s fall into sin. The Holy Spirit led Paul to essentially summarize the entire purpose of God’s Word here, in this specific way. Of all the words used through the Scriptures for evil – sin, iniquity, trespass, transgression, wickedness, unrighteousness, filthiness, and so on – the Holy Spirit chose to use disobedience in this instance. Likewise, of all the words used throughout Scripture to describe what is good – righteousness, holiness, perfection, love, virtue, goodness, and so on – the Holy Spirit chose to use obedience here.
As we discuss the practice of civil disobedience, and the bearing that these topics have in the Christian’s life today, we would do well to heed the message here. God values obedience. God warns against disobedience. That’s about as straightforward as we can put it.
But, obviously, there’s a lot more to the discussion than just that. The knee-jerk reaction to the Christian emphasis on obedience is that it causes people to become mindless followers of wicked leaders. While there are examples throughout history where Christians have failed to act or have conformed to wicked movements, it’s not the fault of obedience as a moral and good position. Rather, those failures are due more to indifference and laziness than anything else. Christians, too, have a sinful flesh wrestling for control in their life and can easily make mistakes and support the wrong things. Anyone who wouldn’t apply such a humbling thought to their life would do well to speak softly and consider their actions and inactions.
The point is, the failure of Christians – past or present – to do the right thing does not negate the value that God places on obedience. Likewise, when the wickedness of institutions and governments causes Christians to civilly disobey the authorities, it must always be done to honor God’s truth. Far too often, civil disobedience is conducted today as a form of self-idolatry. Honoring God is often the furthest thing from peoples’ minds as they seek anarchy, rioting, and looting. These things are never acceptable for Christians to participate in or to support – either directly or indirectly.
God does not say you need to be a mindless person who follows authorities at every turn. There is wisdom and discernment to obedience by faith. But, even in the face of wrongdoing and evil, the one who is obedient by faith will still:
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Speak with kindness and compassion
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Point others to Jesus
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Be honest even in disagreement
·
Do everything possible not to offend
others – especially other Christians.
·
Give no indication of following or
supporting false teaching.
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Put the best construction on what others
say – even one’s opponents
·
Be willing to sacrifice one’s right in
order to exemplify obedience
These are hardly the attitudes we see associated with disobedience today, even civil disobedience, and Christians are called to lead the way in practicing these things.
There are never any good excuses for letting anger dominate and control a person’s ideology. Many of the violent activities conducted by protestors and mobs in the last few weeks have been apologized away as inevitable consequences for authorities failing to lead. From God’s perspective, that is an unacceptable excuse for any Christian – no matter how shamefully or wrongfully they are treated. The value of obedience, even in the face of wickedness, is always upheld by God.
Where is this truth found? Well, the passage before us today is a great example of how this topic can affect our faith. Disobedience, without a good reason as defined by God – is sinful. The basic meaning of the word in the Greek shows us even more. The idea behind the thought of disobedience is an unwillingness to listen. It’s an attitude that is associated with teaching or guidance. When it comes to sin, the refusal to listen is directed at God’s Word. This is how God characterized the sin of Adam in the very beginning and it fits. God warned Adam about the truth. God gave His righteous, unchangeable law, and Adam did not listen.
Likewise, you can look at any lesson of sin or warning in God’s Word, and there’s a connection to an unwillingness to listen. From Adam, to Cain, to Sodom and Gomorrah, to the people of Israel during the Exodus, to the people of Israel at the time of the kings, to the people of Israel under the prophets, to Choraizin, Bethsaida and Jerusalem during Jesus’ life, to the Jews and the Romans in the NT Church – every trespass has been directly connected to a refusal to listen to God’s Word.
As it pertains to our civil lives, God’s Word is also clear. Romans 13 states, “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.” Rest assured, just because a leader is put in that position by God does not mean he or she is perfect at their job. There are numerous examples of horrible and Godless authority figures. God is not telling us that He supports or condones every action these individuals commit – nor do we have to. Rather, God is telling us that respect for that position of authority, which extends to the individual in that capacity to some extent, is His will in our lives.
However, God also tells us that there are times when we “must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).” These are situations where obedience to a law, a command, or even a leader must be withheld. This is the only exception for disobedience in God’s Word, when an earthly authority figure, be they a parent, a teacher, a pastor, or a civil leader, commands us to go against God. In these cases, it’s really the authority figure that is being disobedient, because they are abusing their power.
As Christians, we must be very careful at this
point. There are usually very few situations where
God calls us to civil disobedience in this way, but what we see in our culture
is an infatuation with disobedience. Remember, the call to disobey authorities
must always be done based on truth from God’s Word. Just because you don’t like
the policy of a leader, or you didn’t vote for them, is not a God-given right
to disobey them. Likewise, if you think you know better than your mom or dad,
or you don’t like a pastor’s preaching style, God still expects you to respect
their office as given from Him. And God says that your treatment of those in
authority is parallel to how you treat Him.
I know these are not easy things to hear. Some of you may disagree. I simply ask that you study the topic in God’s Word. It helps to think of obedience in terms of a relationship. When it comes to making decisions in our lives, from the words we speak, to the movements we promote, to the actions we commit, God wants it to be based on truth and to be done in faithfulness to His Word. From a relationship standpoint, that’s very similar to a marriage of sorts – a relationship based on commitment. What we see today is that fewer and fewer people value faithfulness, good reasoning based on truth, and commitment to God, especially as it concerns obedience. Rather than seeking to stand for what is faithful and true, people increasingly exhibit a love affair with acting out, with promoting the individual above the community, and with resisting all forms of authority. Like all relationships based on temporary infatuation, the clamor and substance of such a movement will quickly evaporate. But the enduring consequences can be deadly in more ways than one.
We ask at this point, why does God do it this way? Why does He place so much value on obedience? Why must Christians act in love and respect even if they are mistreated? Well, first and foremost – it’s the way of Jesus. God calls to mind the obedience of our Savior in undoing the wretchedness and wickedness that Adam’s disobedience brought into the world. It is through obedience to God’s law that Jesus fulfilled your requirement before the almighty God. It was by the humblest act of submission – death on the cross – that Jesus paid for your sins. Day by day, even now, Jesus continues to serve you in countless ways. If God incarnate was not about political revolution or civil disobedience to effect the change, are those really the avenues we should run to first when we see injustice? Scripture is clear that there is always a time and a place for Godly disobedience, but it is rare and often not needed when we are standing with Jesus.
The way of Jesus in the gospel works because God’s grace is always more abundant than the law’s demands or curse. Both elements are just. God calls out sin and evil through His law. God condemns false moral virtues and teachings with His law. But God goes beyond the law to recuse fallen and lost people with the good news of salvation. This is the best form of justice, even for those who are perpetually mistreated while on earth.
And the way of Jesus in the gospel has an unparalleled track record. Consider Jonah’s story. Who would have thought that wicked Nineveh, the capitol city of the vile Assyrian empire, would ever change its ways? Yet God’s single prophet, preaching repentance and divine justice, turned the hearts of the people and caused the king to sit in sack cloth and ashes.
Our world does not need more violence, more protests, more anarchy, more mobs, or more civil disobedience. There are more than enough peaceful platforms for people to lovingly speak their mind, but far too often disobedience is romanticized, and further destruction ensues – simply because people are have the right.
Our world needs more Jesus through His Word. Our world needs more obedience by faith. Let us be on guard, not to fall for the world’s infatuation with disobedience, but to be wise in discerning times and seasons in light of God’s truth. May the Holy Spirit help us to reflect Jesus, even in the face of injustice and especially at times when we’re wronged. Let us cling firmly by faith to God’s simple promise – where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. Amen.
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