Pragmatic Disobedience of Christ's Commands

Pragmatic Disobedience of Christ's Commands

John Brown’s rich commentary on Galatians contains an interesting appendix on the issue of the financial support of Christian ministers. 

Commenting on Galatians 6:8, “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches”, Brown refutes those who content that State support is necessary for the continuation of the Christian Ministry.  Pragmatic arguments were raised in his day against the principle that the congregation, not the State, should provide for the support of the ministry.

Brown writes, “A plain expression of Christ's will, like that contained in the text, in a rightly constituted Christian mind, bars all contrary reasoning. My speculations about probable consequences must not lead me to disobey, or neglect, or tamper with, any of his commands. Let me do what he bids me, and I may safely leave consequences to him, who not only foresees them, but controls them as he pleases.”

It strikes me that this is a principle which has wider application.  If Scripture speaks we are called to obedience; we are not free to “correct” Christ because of the supposed consequences of obedience to his direct word.

Thus if Scripture calls for discipline against recalcitrant heretics or those living an immoral lifestyle, we are not free to ignore his command because it may have undesirable consequences.

If Scripture teaches that we are to celebrate the Lord’s Supper frequently, we are not free to overturn Christ’s instruction because we believe it would lead to an over-familiarity with this sacrament. If Scripture says that we are to use bread and wine, we are not free to argue against Christ’s clear instruction and use other elements.

If Scripture teaches that elders are to be properly qualified men, we can neither dispense with the biblical qualifications nor introduce women to the eldership because we believe that, pragmatically, it would be more useful.

We could multiply examples, but the principle holds true “My speculations about probable consequences must not lead me to disobey, or neglect, or tamper with, any of Christ’s commands.