Pride and Obedience

The role of Pride in sins of all sorts is particularly noteworthy. Pride is what leads us to doubt God's grace, to think we have the means of salvation in our own will, and in all sorts of sins. When analysing a sin, we may find that pride is often at its core. The variable manifestations of pride make it difficult to find our own particular weakness to address. Pride is very broad.

However, there is a more particular sin, which is from pride, but more precise and more useful to identify. This sin is disobedience. Naturally, disobedience to proper authority, which stems from God the highest authority, is a sin. This issue of authority is what causes most problems with most people I suspect. Natural law is often self evident. It is natural to obey it, and we find it easy to question authority because we are only seeing the person giving the command. Why should one follow the commands of a particular individual or institution? Is not the God the only authority? That is the reasoning. It is easy to be mislead into believing one is virtuous in disobedience because one ignores a very important fact: all authority comes from God.

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God.

It is this: that those with authority have responsibility that makes authority just. It is a sin to misuse authority, for one's own purposes, but even so, that is a sin against God and will be judged in time. It is not an excuse for one to sin in response. If obedience to a particular authority would not require disobedience to a higher authority, then willful disobedience would be a sin. This includes things which are mundane.

Being self-willed is not a virtue, but it is lauded by the world. In response to proper authority, demands of explanations, of compromise, and the like are common. Questioning authority, appealing to higher authority when there is no conflict, and plain refusal are improper responses to authority.

The Fall of Man is literally the first act of disobedience of Man. The command was repeated by Eve to the Serpent, and Adam chose to disobey God. It is a sin of pride, but a sin of disobedience in particular.

Obedience to superiors is the mark of a Christian. It is only in the gravest of circumstances can one no act in accordance with an authority's command and this requires that obedience itself to contradict higher authority. Our own will is never the higher authority.

In the scriptures, we can see Our Lord Jesus Christ directly teaching obedience, and even setting several examples, the highest being the lack of resistance to death.

John 13:14-15
If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.

Romans 5:19
For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners; so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just.

The the Purification of Mary, the Circumcision of Our Lord, the following of the Law, even as it was fulfilled, show virtue of obedience. It is not utilitarian.

Obedience is a matter of will and act. It is not only words. It is one thing to profess belief, but another to act in accordance with that expression of belief.

Matthew 21:28-31
"But what think you? A certain man had two sons; and coming to the first, he said: Son, go work today in my vineyard. And he answering, said: I will not. But afterwards, being moved with repentance, he went. And coming to the other, he said in like manner. And he answering, said: I go, Sir; and he went not. Which of the two did the father's will? They say to him: The first."

There is a danger of lawful authority, civil and ecclesiastical, being a danger, but the greater danger has always been in disobedience.

The lives of the saints show this virtue. How many great members of religious orders were "restrained" by their superiors? How many people given great graces were silenced by ecclesiastical authority? How many were persecuted by governments?

The draw to opposition against "organised religion" is a direct result of disobedience. How many people claim to be religious, but not in "organised religion"? This organisation they defy is what they see as mere man, humans telling others what to do. They see greater grace in being their own master, and that is the error. The fact we are drawn towards thinking we can better be good if we are left on our own is what causes death. To think we can reach God by defying authority is like a child thinking he knows better than his parents. This world is passing and the justice of God will be shown before all, but obedience is our calling now.