“Hi Shane, I’m thankful that the Lord has given us many powerful motives in the form of doctrinal truths (indicatives) as reasons why we should obey Him. However, would you agree that the Bible uses an indicative to motivate only some imperatives? But, other imperatives are given with no motives, just sheer duty?Do you believe it’s OK to obey God out of duty, with no conscious motive? (No, that’s not Phariseeism or legalism. Christ rebuked the Pharisees for obeying from sinful motives, not NO motives.)  Can I suggest that much if not most of our obedience is without conscious motives? Every day we obey our Lord from disciplined habits of godliness. And, you know what? That’s not a sin.  Sure, I prefer to stop and think about why I should obey.  But, we often don’t have time to think.  And, God accepts our obedience in Christ, whether from conscious motives or no motives. . .”

This post is a continued response which started by making some general comments to clarify what I believe (last post).  In this post I will interact specifically with the above objection.

Specific Reply

Obj: “I’m thankful that the Lord has given us many powerful motives in the form of doctrinal truths (indicatives) as reasons why we should obey Him.”

Shane: Amen!

Obj: “However, would you agree that the Bible uses an indicative to motivate only some imperatives? But, other imperatives are given with no motives, just sheer duty?”

Shane: Firstly, imperatives are never given without motive although motive may not be discussed in the immediate context. 

The context of every command comes to us in the context of Christ’s finished work on the cross.   Every command is given in a context.  The context of every word, or command, occurs in the context of the sentence it is placed. Each sentence is given in the context of each paragraph; each paragraph in the context of the chapter and the chapter within the book it is placed in.   Each book has a unique place within the entire historical redemptive program of God climaxing in the person and work of Christ on the cross.

Commands are sometimes given without discussion of motives.  Where such qualifications are not given we should not make assumptions about the acceptability of simple performance of the command without the appropriate accompanying motives or mindset.

The author of Hebrews considers that the history of the Old Testament, including its commands, aught to leave us “looking unto Jesus the author and perfector of our faith . . .” (Heb 12:2 see also the context of Heb 10 & 11 and earlier. In particular Heb 10:1, 9, 12, 16-19; Heb11:8, 10, 13, 16, 32, 39-40.)   Paul determined “to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2).  And Jesus, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted to them in all the Scripture” (Luke 24:13-27) while speaking of the events of his life, death and resurrection (as per the context).  

The centrality of the Christ and His Gospel is the great truth and wellspring from which all other realities in the Christian life are derived including our obedience.  

Secondly, let’s examine Scripture to see if there is a place for exclusively obeying out of “a motive of sheer duty”:

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all (actions) to the glory of God (motive).” 1 Cor 1:31

1 Cor 10:31 indicates there is no action in our lives that is not to flow from the motive of glorifying God ( i.e. no action is to be performed merely from a motive of “sheer duty” alone.)

“46 They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. 47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, 48therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything.”   Deut 28:46

Can “no motive” and “sheer duty” be consistent with serving “ the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart”?

“3 If I give away all I have (a loving action), and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love (encompasses motive), I gain nothing.” 1 Cor 13:3

Love, in this context, encompasses motive also, and not merely action.   If love in this context is referring to the action of being loving then the person, giving away all they have and delivering up their body, would be a loving person by definition. Notice here that nothing is gained by the action if it is not motivated by love or at least accompanied by a loving attitude.  Notice, it is not just the absence of a sinful attitude that is to accompany the giving actions, but also the positive presence of healthy motive.

And what is the font from which love flows according to Scripture?

“5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Tim 1:5

Obj: “Do you believe it’s OK to obey God out of duty, with no conscious motive? (No, that’s not “Phariseeism” or “legalism.” Christ rebuked the Pharisees for obeying from sinful motives, not NO motives.) “

Shane: Consistent right motives and thinking is also a disciplined habit.  I don’t see that having most of our obedience from ‘no motives’ as an option.   Whether it is ok for most of our obedience to be from right motives and some to come without conscious motives is probably overworking the details. 

As regards actions established by discipline and habit in which there are ‘no motives’-   Firstly, I question whether ‘no motives’ is ever a reality.  But allowing for it, for the sake of argument, it still would come back to why the habits were formed in the first place which brings motives back into play.   And these motives must be informed by the overarching context of the Gospel and who we are in Christ.

Obj: “Can I suggest that much if not most of our obedience is without conscious motives?”

Shane: Sure, you can suggest it.  Keep in mind:

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil . . .” Luke 6:45

And, ” . . . whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23

Having said that, I think it can be unhelpful to overly compartmentalize the commands and our motives, and seek to analyze or manufacture a right motive for every single life action.   And perhaps this is what you’re getting at.  Personally, I don’t think it is helpful to get hung up on finding a motive for each action.  

Rather, obedience to our one Lord, and his single law, flows from the one place: our heart.   All our actions flow from our heart inclinations and our duty is to maintain a right heart-felt focus on Christ.

Obj: “Every day we obey our Lord from disciplined habits of godliness. And, you know what? That’s not a sin.”

Shane:   No one says it is a sin.  But those disciplined habits must include right motives when performed and not just the absence of wrong motives.   This is also a discipline.

Obj: “Sure, I prefer to stop and think about why I should obey. But, we often don’t have time to think. “

Shane: Thought is a prerequisite to all voluntary actions whether we stop or not. 

If we are seeking to live lives that are flowing from a mind set on Christ we don’t need to stop and analyze each action.   In fact, a big part of what I’m saying is that it is unhelpful to look too much at our lives and our actions.  We’re better of being caught up in Christ, His life, His actions, His inheritance to be shared with us, and thus setting our mind on things above.

Obj:   “And, God accepts our obedience in Christ, whether from conscious motives or no motives”

Shane:   I absolutely agree and would even take it one step further.  God accepts our obedience in Christ even when we act from motives tainted by sin.  That’s the joy and rest we have in Christ (provided we are in Christ of course).  We can wake each morning, as a child of the Living God, and know there is nothing we can do this day that will make us any more loved and accepted by God, or any less loved and accepted by God.   We’re in Christ!  And if we live in the reality of this joy our sanctification will flow.