Accountability & Obedience

This last weekend I was having a great conversation with some friends over coffee and the topic of obedience, which has been on my heart for a couple years or so, came into discussion. This is a topic which is not addressed enough (in my opinion) in our current culture and church.

While reflecting on the topic, I tried to come up with how someone outside the church and steeped in American culture would define obedience and its role in modern society. Here is my [skewed] reasoning from that perspective: Obedience is something that you have to give to your parents (as long as you live under their roof!) as well as something that has to be given to "the authorities" including your boss (or bosses). It is often given reluctantly because it treads on personal freedom. Often personal desires or goals come into conflict with the rules and laws set down by "the authorities," so we occasionally (or often in some cases) disregard the rules and laws in order to pursue our personal happiness. Sometimes we get caught breaking the rules/laws which can result in paying a fine, or in the case of work, getting a reprimand or perhaps a pink slip or worst case, being fired. All-in-all obedience is "flexible" and not required at all times, pretty much only when the authorities are physically present ("no cop, no stop"). Obedience is generally seen as "oppressive."

In this model, personal happiness trumps obedience to rules/laws. Sometimes they happen to coincide, most of the time they don't. It is based on the assumption they we know what is best for ourselves (we know better than some outside authority anyway). It is also based on the assumption that we have to look out for our own best interests/good because no one else will. This is the classic "fend for yourself", "last one standing wins" philosophy. This is the life philosophy of many people, secular and religious alike.

From what I understand of the Catholic Church, their take on obedience is quite different. First of all, it is based on the assumption that we are fallen sinful creatures who often do not know what is best for ourselves. It is also based on the assumption that true happiness is being in heaven in adoration and praise of God for eternity. The Church views this earthly life as a pilgrimage on our way to our heavenly homeland, and we are but sojourners in a strange land, who are often blind of the way we must walk. So the role of the Church is to help guide us pilgrims on the narrow path to eternal communion with our Creator.
Given the fact that our current fallen sinful state of being is due to The Original Disobedience of Adam and Eve, and the fact the our Restoration is due the The New Obedience of Christ and Mary, obedience is of paramount importance. The pride of man, thinking he can be god, leads to disobedience, whereas the utter humility of our creatureliness leads to obedience. The Catholic Church teaches that obedience is VERY important, not out of some vain, prideful, power hungry, obsessive way, but because obedience leads us to that true eternal happiness.

Based on all of this, I hope that I have made it clear that we should be striving for humility and obedience at all times, as Christ did ("Let Your will, not mine be done.") There is an associated topic of culpability, which has to do with who is responsible to God for decisions/rules/laws. In brief, we are all called to obedience of the rules/laws set before us (unless what is being asked of us goes against basic human dignity or against God Himself). If we disagree with a law, we should bring our disagreement to the lawmakers, all the while being obedient to the law in question.

When the end comes and we stand before God, we will be held accountable for our obedience, as well as our use of any authority he gave us while on Earth. Keep that in mind when making decisions that affect the people you are responsible for and when you are tempted to break church or civil rules/laws. Be respectful and obedient to authorities, and be a responsible authority yourself; then you will be just and upright before God when your day comes. Remember, he knows what is best for us, and we often don't.