Spiritual Obedience
If we’re being honest, the idea of obedience to another human being is contingent upon our agreement with said human being. Every day we willingly place ourselves under obedience to those around us. It is what makes society civil. In the Church, it is what makes us worthy of the kingdom.
BRETHREN, when you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each one of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another by sitting by, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. But God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only one it has reached? If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; but all things should be done decently and in order. 1st
Corinthians 14.26-40
Before I get into the topic today, let me remind you that the Letter of Saint Paul, most of the New Testament, were written to existing Churches. These Churches oftentimes were experiencing struggles, disagreements, and even divisions. The letters we have maintained in the Scriptures were Saint Paul’s teachings and commandments to them to become better Christians and better communities, and Saint Paul expected them obey.
We can gather from this passage that one issue the Church in Corinth was struggling with was the lack of order during worship. It seems to me the Sunday gathering must have been a bit chaotic for Saint Paul to write such a stern letter. In short, Saint Paul commanded the Church to do everything “decently and in order.” In other words, stop the chaos and focus on edification. So what, if ‘you’ don’t get to say and do what ‘you’ want to say and do.
Then Saint Paul issues the edict. “If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.” If that wasn’t enough, he added. “If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.”
How can we embrace the commandment of Saint Paul to be in obedience to the Church today unless we first agree the Church speaks from God? Remember, Christ promised the Holy Spirit would come upon the Apostles and guide them “into all truth.” (John 16.12) We can trust that the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, speaks from the Lord.
This is the core of Apostolic Succession. So long as the Church remains faithful to the teachings and commandments of the Apostles, we can trust it as ‘all the truth.’ Still, many of us choose not to obey the Church. Sometimes we don’t even try to obey the Church. That brings us to the relationship with our Spiritual Father.
Within our relationship with our Spiritual Father, we learn and practice obedience. During Holy Confession with our Spiritual Father, we learn and practice to be admit where we are headed in the wrong direction. Our Spiritual Father will answer to God for the commandments he sets on us. When we obey him, we are obeying the Church. When we obey the Church, we obey the Lord.
I understand it is difficult to change a lifetime worth of behaviors. Obedience begins with deciding to agree with the truth of the Church. Once we choose the Church, then our mind shifts. Rather than thinking we always know the best choice, we turn our hearts to the Church. One behavior at a time, we learn to be obedient to God and His Church.
If you think you can be obedient to God and not the Church, then you are ignoring the premise Saint Paul lays out in today’s passage. The Church speaks from the Lord when it is faithful to the teachings of the Apostles. Saint Paul had to alter his teachings too. You can read about that in Acts. As I like to say, “If it was good enough for Saint Paul, it is good enough for me.”
So, where to begin? Obedience begins with repentance. The first step is to change the way you think about the Church. Recognize the Church speaks from the Lord, and you will want to be obedient. When you have difficulty accepting the Church speaks from the Lord, sit with your Spiritual Father for guidance. Then, obey the Church!
