Let's face it, humans seem to be 'rule averse' along with the 'natural order' where survival of the fittest is the theme of existence.
"we have obedience classes for dogs
which we seem to regard as a good thing . . .
If it cooperates and is obedient to the master, the dog will have all its needs met and enjoy a safe and loving relationship. This relationship will be smoother and less frustrating for the master as well."
We also like the idea of obedience when raising our children. "Don't touch that." "Say please." "Brush your teeth." These are commands parents issue on a daily basis and are happy when they are obeyed. Then one day the toddler makes perhaps the most important discovery of his or her life—the power of the dreaded word, "No!" With its rapidly developing brain, the child figures out: "You don't control me," "You can't make me," and "I don't have to."
We're forced to concede, the toddler is right.This little human has figured out that obedience is a choice. Essentially, "I will obey you if I want to and if I choose to" thinks the child. "If there's something in it for me, then I might choose to obey you." - QUOTED FROM Art Frenz
So,
Imagine the shock on the new Christian's face when he finds out at the new members 'discipleship class', that the word OBEY occurs at least 66 times in the Bible and that there are going to be people who "have the rule over you".
Some church 'managers' quickly realizing the possible negative impact of this 'dilemma', immediately adopt a 'policy' shift to minimize the usage of Bible words such as commands, laws obedience etc and always emphasize grace (alone).
In fact, some may even adopt a 'special' (bad) word, LEGALISM, to describe ideas that include RULES, RULERS or those RULED.
Other more 'sophisticated saints' explain away the OBEDIENCE problem with statements like:
"us current humans are just trying to find a way to interpret what we experience, in terms
that we understand, in our current frame of reference .... eg language used in today's (current) time period" . . . Meanwhile, The Master Himself (Jesus of Nazareth) says this:
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him - John 14:21
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. / If anyone says, "I know Him," but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. / But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love.
We love because He first loved us. / If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. / And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
Jesus declared, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ...
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart
NOTES
https://www.gotquestions.org/if-you-love-me-keep-my-commandments.html
https://www.artfrenzphd.com/obedience-is-not-a-dirty-word-but-a-choice/
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