Obedience is defined as listening attentively and to hold or conform to a command. It does not mean that the individual necessarily agrees with the instruction, but complies none-the-less. Obedience is seen by some as a negative thing. After all, we all love freedom and when someone commands us to do something, the implication is that they are impeding our sense of freedom or independence. So some will resist authority just for the sake of making a statement.
God places a premium on being obedient to authority and to His word. In the first reading God tells Ahaz, the King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, to ask for a sign from God that Ahaz will be successful in battling against the nations of Aram (Syria) and Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom of Israel). Ahaz had refused to align with the two nations against Assyria and, as a result, Aram and Ephraim plotted to destroy Judah. God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign to demonstrate to God that he is prepared to trust that the Lord will deliver him from his enemies. Instead, Ahaz relies on his own powers and makes an alliance with Assyria as protection from Aram and Ephraim rather than relying on God.
And in the letter to the Hebrews, Paul tells his audience that Jesus came to die once for all. Not desiring the blood of bulls and goats. But instead He says to the Father, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He displays perfect obedience to God.
And in the Gospel we see the most perfect example of obedience. Mary’s Fiat…her “Yes” to Gabriel to take on the mission of bearing and raising the Son of God. The antithesis of Adam and Eve’s decision to reject God’s commands and promises.
So we know we are to be in direct obedience to God, as we see in the examples of Mary and Jesus. We see it also in the stories of Daniel and his friends who refuse to eat unclean food as commanded by Nebuchadnezzar, as well as Abraham who left his home as God had asked, and complied with the command to sacrifice Isaac. Noah built the Ark and Gideon fought the Midianites in obedience to God’s commands.
But when do commands from those, other than God, need to be ignored or actively disobeyed? After all, Jesus tells us to render to Caesar what is Caesar. And in this quote from Romans it becomes clear that we are not to rebel against civil authorities:
Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:2)
Just governments are instituted by God to help restrain the influence of evil. Laws are designed to keep order and protect the innocent. But aren’t there times when we cannot comply with orders given by those in authority? Take the example of the midwives in Egypt when Pharoah told them to kill all male babies of Hebrew Mothers. Or the wise men who defied Herod’s command that they return to him and let him know where the infant Jesus was born.
And in a more modern, sobering and secular example…the murder of millions at the hands of the Nazis. In the Nuremburg trials after World War II many in Hitler’s high command used the excuse that they were just following orders and should not be held responsible for their actions during the war. The judges in the trials ruled collectively that as long as each knew that their actions were illegal and immoral, or they feared for their lives if they did not comply, they would be held liable. So there are times when we are compelled to not follow the law as we see in this passage from Acts 5:27-29:
“Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this Name,’ he said. ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’ Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’“
And from an article from the website gotquestions.org:
• Christians should resist a government that commands or compels evil and should work nonviolently within the laws of the land to change a government that permits evil.
• Civil disobedience is permitted when the government’s laws or commands are in direct violation of God’s laws and commands.
• If a Christian disobeys an evil government, unless he can flee from the government, he should accept that government’s punishment for his actions.
• Christians are certainly permitted to work to install new government leaders within the laws that have been established.
God needs us, then, to follow His statutes and commands as well as those from a legitimate civil government. But we are to resist and disobey any order that goes against our faith or compels us to do evil. May we shape our consciences thru knowledge of God’s word, and participation in His sacraments. So that, like Mary’s “Yes” to Gabriel, God’s messenger, and Daniel’s “No” to Nebuchadnezzar, we can better know when to obey and when to resist.
