Editorial April 6, 1912 Issue

OBEDIENCE TO LAW

Annie M. Knott

It is generally conceded that the Mosaic Decalogue contains the vital elements of moral law, and that its provisions underlie all civil and criminal codes. It would therefore be very interesting to learn the extent to which the moral requirements of the ten commandments are obeyed by nominal Christians the world over, even the four statutes which forbid murder, moral impurity, theft, and lying; that is, taking these statutes in their most obvious signification. No one could justly deny that if these requirements were heeded by all mankind, there would be no need of prisons or of the large army of those who are required under present human conditions to protect the lives, property, and reputations of their fellow men. The fact that these are so largely in evidence shows that law separated from obedience does little for the human race, and this should be impressed upon children at the earliest possible period.

Here it may be well to remember that mortal man is not, in the very nature of things, identified with law, yet mortals have learned by sad experience that law is necessary for their protection, and that its enforcement is demanded because of human ignorance of the blessings attendant upon obedience to all righteous law, and in the truest sense there is no other. In Paul's epistles we find several references to "the children of disobedience," and he does not hesitate to say, "We ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived;" but he also tells us the true way to obedience when he speaks of the law which is written upon the heart, not upon tables of stone; written "not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God." Respecting this our revered Leader says, "The law of God is the law of Spirit, a moral and spiritual force." She also says, "God is the fountain of light, and He illumines one's way when one is obedient" (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 257, 117). This being admitted, we can have no uncertainty as to the right course to pursue or the results of following our highest sense of right at all times.

A great deal is said at this period respecting the advantages of military training, but perhaps few stop to think that its chief advantage is in the discipline, which demands ready and unquestioning obedience to properly constituted authority; and that the hardihood which all admire is a direct product of this obedience. Paul, who spent several years as a prisoner in the Roman fortress of Cæsarea, learned many lessons of the soldiers, and he counsels Timothy to "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." We also have his splendid words regarding the Christian's armor and weapons and their use. But nowhere is there a finer example of the true significance of obedience than that found in the case of the centurion who came to Jesus to ask healing for his servant. The Master responded to his request by saying, "I will come and heal him;" but the centurion said this was not necessary, that the Master's word, spoken where he was, would be enough. With simple straightforwardness he argued that the soldiers under his authority obeyed unquestioningly, and that the one who represented divine law and authority need but "speak the word only," and the willing and obedient thought of the soldier would respond to the Christ-command. We read that Jesus marveled at the centurion's words, and said he had not found so great faith (or possibly such intelligent obedience), "no, not in Israel." We do not, therefore, wonder that the servant was, as we read, healed "in the selfsame hour."

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