Bullets for the Battle

The Bullet of Obedience: Necessity or Option

Obedience. Our homes and our society would break down without it. Obedience is obvious. Obedience is necessary. Obedience is expected.

As a parent, as an employer, as a coach, as a teacher, as a military officer, in virtually every area of life we see obedience as the factor that makes life and behavior both predictable and orderly. In fact, in many relationships, obedience is not only helpful, it is the basis for fellowship in the relationship; i.e., obedience is the only ground of fellowship with a superior.

And yet, in the Christian life we often have a tendency to view obedience to Jesus Christ as optional. It’s as though we say: “O.K., Jesus, we’ll do it your way this time; and next time we’ll do it my way; and maybe the time after that, you can do “your thing” and I’ll do mine.” In the low view of God which seems to pervade so much of our society and our own personal thinking today, Jesus is reduced to the level of some heavenly “wimp” who isn’t terribly affected one way or the other when we treat His demands on our lives merely as polite but unrealistic suggestions. We are professing Christians but practicing atheists.