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Obedience
What is it good for?
ben richardson
May 13, 2024
In this week’s NTNRML Podcast we recently discussed two topics that were serendipitously grouped into the same show.
Obedience and Government.
They fit together surprisingly well. We’ll discuss the confluence of these ideas in a future missive.
In today’s letter, I’ll separate the two topics for brevity’s sake.
Let’s start with Obedience.
noun: obedience
Compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority.
When is obedience appropriate and when is it not?
Is Obedience always a virtue?
Is it always good?
I think the answer to this question can be partially answered by this great verse in the bible.
The context of the verse is that Paul is making the case to the people of Corinth for the need to grow in their faith and the need for spiritual maturity.
It works just as well in our context of plain obedience.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
After Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery they had to learn of God step by step.
They were infants in their faith.
The God of the Old Testament gave The Children of Isreal the Ten Commandments.
Ten Explicit Commands
Hundreds of years later, Christ came and fulfilled this law of strict “Obedience” and “Sacrifice” and gave them a more advanced set of laws.
Christ in the New Testament came and gave the people “the beatitudes” in Matthew 5:3-12.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The Beatitudes were ways to be (or you could say, attitudes to have).
Things to do and become.
Not things not to do.
When Jewish leaders attempted to trap Jesus in his words they asked him which is the greatest commandment in the Law (meaning, the ten Commandments in the Law of Moses).
He replied without answering them directly.
Love God & Love Your Neighbor As Thyself
He gave them this beautiful example of a principle to live by rather than a rule to follow.
6 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
So, What is Obedience Good For?
If you are a child and unable to reason, you should obey your parents.
This can help you learn important habits that can grow to understand later—go to bed on time, eat healthy food, avoid sugar, don’t bite others, etc.
If you are an adult and believe in a benevolent God, you should follow the guidance He provides.
If you are an adult and living in a society in general, obedience is usually a tool for enforcing compliance and submission.
There are many things that we agree to do in society because they make sense and make things work better—driving on the correct side of the street, not speeding, and respecting others’ property.
Time To Become A Man
Beyond some of these basic rules of order, I submit to you it is time for you to “become a man, and put away childish things”.
Start taking responsibility for your actions.
Move beyond the simple rules you are spoonfed.
Start to develop a map of the world using principles to guide you and you will become liberated.
Powerful.
Independent.
Free.
To Your Freedom,
Ben Richardson
Founder, notnormal.com
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