Obeying God and Denying Self” was one of eight attributes of discipleship found in the Transformational Discipleship study conducted by Lifeway Research. Over one thousand churchgoers, who attend church at least once a month, were surveyed. According to Scott McConnell, vice president of Lifeway Research, specific sins that churchgoers should avoid were not listed. Rather, researchers were more interested in attitudes, seeing how important obeying God is to churchgoers.1
The results were that only one-third agreed with the statement, “A Christian must learn to deny himself/herself in order to serve Christ.” Close to half (45 percent) disagreed. While more than half acknowledged that they try to avoid temptations, few were willing to say that becoming a better Christian involves self-denial. McConnell concluded, “Obeying God is only easy when a person’s own desires match God’s. Until believers have the same mind as Christ, denying their own natural desires will be hard.” He said spiritual maturity goes beyond avoiding sin and asking for forgiveness. It also involves conscious choices to obey God’s will rather than our own.2
Obedience to God is frequently taught as simple compliance with divine commands. But at a deeper, more existential level, obedience is not necessarily about rule-following but about aligning with the mystery of God’s will, where certainty is rare and trust is radical. In Scripture, the greatest acts of obedience come after inner wrestling.3
This reality is observed, for example, when Abraham debated with God over Sodom, Moses protested his calling, and Jesus prayed at Gethsemane (Gen. 18:22–33; Exod. 3:4–14; Matt. 26:36–46). True obedience needs courage even when there is a lack of clarity, allowing for reasoning, doubt, and pain.4
Obedience as spiritual growth
God uses the milestone of obedience to strip ego and nurture Christlike humility. Theologian Mario Veloso states, “Divine instruction prioritizes the formation of leaders and followers over the mere efficient or strategic execution of tasks.”5 Author Ellen G. White echoes this formative manner of obedience: “It is not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is done, the motive underlying the action, that determines its worth.”6
The central question is, Why does God frequently lead through mystery instead of through clarity? This question unravels perspectives that suggest that obedience is not necessarily administrative compliance but a crucible where the leader is spiritually formed. In contrast, there is a trap that elevates biblical obedience with procedural compliance, the do-this-and-don’t-do-that mind frame, which can lead to legalism. It is worth, therefore, exploring God’s mystery amid obedience as a faith-tested endurance; that is, not as transactional compliance but as transformational surrender.
Ambiguity of God’s voice: Trusting in mystery
The Bible records several instances in which God’s commands are vague, delayed, or paradoxical. God instructs Abraham, “ ‘Go to the land I will show you’ ” (Gen. 12:1, NIrV), without providing coordinates. Jesus tells the disciples to wait for power from on high (Acts 1:4) without clarifying what that power will look like. These instances reflect God’s concern for nurturing trust instead of explaining every detail.
The paradox of being led while not always knowing necessitates spiritual maturity. It presents a challenge and a calling. The pastor is trained to appreciate precision in doctrines, prophetic interpretation, and mission strategy.7 However, divine leadership operates through mystery. Leaders are expected to discern without demanding control, to wait without wavering, and to act without always understanding. This eschatology aligns with the kind of trust that is required (Rev. 14:4).
A protest against self-will
Obedience and leadership should be understood as a countercultural, subversive act against the idolatry of personal sovereignty. Obedience to God should be a prophetic protest against self-will. It is not merely submission but a rebellion against the tyranny of one’s ego. For example, Jonah was instructed, but he disobeyed, which reveals that knowledge is not enough. In contrast, Jesus serves as the model of radical obedience, leading through humilty, not status (Phil. 2:5–8).
Jesus became obedient to death on the cross. He demonstrated an active trust in the Father’s heart, even when the logic of Calvary made no human sense.8 His acts suggest a cruciform model of authority, where leadership is not a platform but a cross, and when it is not about visibility but about vulnerability. Leaders must stand for the right, regardless.9 This kind of leader obeys not because the path is clear but because the One who calls is trustworthy. This suggests that obedience is not weakness but holy deference. True authority flows from submission not dominion and character not charisma.
Leading in tension
Obedience is not the opposite of freedom, it is freedom rightly directed. Rooted in covenantal trust, leaders should view obedience not necessarily as an act of discipline but as an act of worship. The minister is invited to lead God’s people in moments of ambiguity, tension, and prophetic urgency. This demands the courage to say yes, even if God is silent; stand firm when the outcome is unclear; and obey not just when it is easy but also when it is costly.10 “Let the one who walks in the dark, / who has no light, / trust in the name of the Lord / and rely on their God” (Isa. 50:10, NIV).
Obedience is less about where God is sending you and more about who you become on the way there. This truth is practically relevant to ministers, whose calling is prophetic and often countercultural. The minister’s obedience should mirror that of Christ and early church pioneers, who followed divine light even when it led through personal dissatisfaction and social denunciation.11 Here, obedience is meant to purify, not just to guide.
Pastors and church leaders are not called to accomplish a checklist but to be shaped by every instruction. May our obedience mirror the Lamb and prepare a people to meet Him. May it illuminate our pathway, not because we always understand but because we always trust.
- “Study: Obedience Not Easy Decision for Believers.” Lifeway Research, December 2, 2013. https://research.lifeway.com/2013/12/02/study-obedience-not-easy-decision-for-believers/.
- Lifeway Research, December 2, 2013.
- John M. Fowler, “Sin,” in Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, ed. Raoul Dederen, Commentary References Series 12 (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 2000), 243.
- Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, Patience in the Midst of Trials and Afflictions (Berrien Springs, MI: Berean Books, 2003), 69–104.
- Mario Veloso, “The Law of God,” in Dederen, Handbook, 463. “Fulfilling another purpose, the law provides direction in the Christian’s life, showing the way God would have His people live in gratitude, faith, and obedience.” Cf. Vhumani Magezi and Walter Madimutsa, “Character Formation and Leadership Development: A Symbiotic Bond for the Practice of Theological Education,” Theologia Viatorum 47, no. 1 (2023): a206, accessed January 22, 2026, https://doi.org/10.4102/tv.v47i1.206.
- Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), 279.
- Jonas Arrais, Wanted: A Good Pastor: The Characteristics, Skills, and Attitudes Every Effective Church Leader Needs (Silver Spring, MD: GC Ministerial Association, 2011), 11.
- Raoul Dederen, “Christ: His Person and Work,” in Dederen, Handbook, 177.
- Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1952), 57.
- Karen Lebacqz and Joseph D. Driskill, Ethics and Spiritual Care: A Guide for Pastors, Chaplains, and Spiritual Directors (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000), 85.
- Nancy J. Vyhmeister, “Who Are Seventh-day Adventists?” in Dederen, Handbook, 4, 5.
