Proper Disobedience

Sep 15

Let’s quickly look at four stories of disobedience. First, in 1781 Congress appointed a five-man commission to negotiate an end to the war with Britain. The commissioners ignored Congress’ orders to only insist on independence when it became clear that America would be better served to ask for more. This disobedience to orders was vindicated by the extremely generous terms Britain offered. Second, Hitler had ordered General von Choltitz to destroy Paris before the Allies could capture it. He refused to do this because he had recently seen Hitler drooling and acting like a madman. Third, near Cape St. Vincent off Portugal, 15 British ships attacked 39 Spanish ships. Commodore Horatio Nelson disobeyed the tactical orders of his superior, Sir John Jervis, because Nelson believed the orders would make it impossible to bring the Spanish to battle – which was Jervis’ more important strategic goal. The result was a great British victory and Jervis praising Nelson. Fourth, at the Little Big Horn, Colonel George Custer disobeyed orders to wait and had his 212 men attack Crazy Horse’s 6,000 warriors. Custer and his men were all killed.

There are times we should disobey the letter of the law so we can properly obey the spirit of the law. Jesus took this approach and so should we (Mt 12:1-8). Otherwise, in our rigid obedience to what is less important, we don’t do what is more important (Mk 7:9-13). Rules are to support principles as tactics are to support strategy. When rules get in the way of what is clearly the greater good, as was true of Congress’ directive to the peace commissioners, or when tactics undermine strategy, as at Cape St. Vincent, then we must act as the commissioners and Nelson did to serve the higher purpose. We refuse, as General von Choltitz did, to blindly follow a destructive and seemingly nonsensical order. Yet, we realize there can be consequences: Congress could have punished the commissioners, Sir John Jervis could have ended Nelson’s career, Hitler could have executed von Choltitz, and Jesus was criticized then crucified. It may be costly to do what seems to be right.

So how do we know when to disobey? We try to discern the purpose of the order; we look at the larger picture and the greater good; we see if there are extenuating circumstances (such as the lunacy of the order-giver), and we use godly common sense (Ps 111:10, CJB). In addition, we make sure that we aren’t disobeying, like Custer, for the wrong reasons – arrogance, ego, and desire to be acclaimed (Prov 16:2). We avoid grave blunders in godly common sense and see to it that we are normally in the habit of listening (Jas 1:19).

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