This week’s prickly word is … OBEY.
Perhaps this word sounds neutral and not prickly at all.
In the current North American culture of individualism and the pursuit of personal freedom, this word may not come up very often. But when the laws, guidelines, values and practices we live by in our earthly world rub against the laws, guidelines, values and practices we live by in our Christian world, all of a sudden “obey” gets prickly.
If someone asked us, “are we Canadian Christians or Christian Canadians?” What would we say?
If Canada comes first then do we obey the laws of the nation over God’s commands? And if Christian comes first then do we defy the nation’s authority and follow God?
Think about Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat on the bus; or Martin Luther who tacked 95 theses to the church door: who were they obeying?
Is the word still neutral, or is it getting pricklier?
Keith Green – an American Christian from the 70s who was a prolific worship music singer/songwriter, wrote a song called “To Obey is Better than Sacrifice” and the opening lines are: “To obey is better than sacrifice; I don’t want your money, I want your life.”
We are called to follow God’s commands, and to love God with all of our hearts, souls and minds – with all our lives, all the time.
Between now and Sunday let’s all see if we can capture one or two moments when we are consciously thinking and deciding who to obey.
See you Sunday!