Combatting Blind Obedience

Today’s Lesson was about Unselfish Service. It was a good lesson, but the most remarkable discussion ensued because I was brave enough to speak up (something I sometimes regret because the people at church who you think are not going to judge you really DO judge you so I usually keep my mouth shut if what I have to say goes against the grain.)

Accusation: “Your people volunteer out of blind obedience.”

Question: “Why do you think people would say that about us.”

Response: Indignant, shocked. “We don’t volunteer because we are forced to! We volunteer because we want to!” After about 5 of those types of answers, I raised my hand.

“Maybe I’m just a bad person, but I used to volunteer on the sign-up sheets that go around because I felt guilty not to. We’re told we should never turn down a calling, and yet I get hung up on that issue. Sometimes that calling is just too demanding on our overflowing plate. I think it’s important to learn to say no. We are told we shouldn’t run faster than we are able, but we all sure do our darndest to try. A lot of people do a lot of things they are expected or asked to do because of the pressure and the guilt they feel. I know I used to. Personally, I’m prideful and I rebel against such pressure. But others get resentful and leave the church. It’s easy for me to see why others think we obey out of blind obedience because it is part of the culture, although not doctrine.”

I expected to get flamed like I have in the past sometimes for admitting what most people would never admit. But to my amazement, about 8 or 9 comments followed, echoing my opinion and how relieved they were that they were not the only ones who felt such guilt. There was one person who was overwhelmingly grateful for the discussion.

And then we were back to “…but we should still try to do it even though we don’t think we can, because that’s how Heavenly Father helps us grow.”

This is a sore spot for me. One of my soap boxes. It all stems from the lesson I learned as a junior in high school striving to be one of the top students in my graduating class until one day it finally hit me. But that’s a story for another time. But it’s probably one of the biggest epiphanies of my life because it defined genuineness of character and made me evaluate that as the most important attribute in a person. (Because, let’s face it, the majority of people in this world are not really who they make themselves out to be.)

“To thine own self be true.”