The value of individualism remains one of the few defining pillars in the Culture of Death reigning today.
I will borrow a definition of the value of individualism from a popular website:
“The philosophy that places the interests of each person above the welfare of society. It is the subordination of the common good of many to the private good of the individual. In practice it is the sacrifice of social values to the personal desires of those who are most aggressive in demanding that society recognize their individual liberty” (emphasis added).
That pretty well sums up the popular culture these days, does it not?
Any notion of a “common good” has been displaced and all but forgotten. As a result, everyone feels entitled. Anyone can claim to be offended about virtually anything.
THE LURE OF AUTONOMY
Any pro-life person who has been involved in the movement for any length of time will have experience running against this flawed philosophy.
More often it takes the form of autonomy. That same site defines autonomy this way:
“The theory that each person imposes the moral law on himself. It is opposed to heteronomous morality, which holds that the moral law is imposed from outside of man by another, and ultimately by the divine Other, who is God, which makes the moral law theonomous” (emphasis added).
See how the value of individualism leads to the claim for moral autonomy?
In an effort to justify abortion, many so-called “pro-choice” folks will claim moral autonomy for the mothers. They will claim what a woman does with her own body is none of anyone else’s business.
Obedience is needed for our times, precisely because it subjects us to a Higher Authority. Namely, God, for whom all obedience and trust is due.
IN REFUTATION OF THE VALUE OF INDIVIDUALISM (AND AUTONOMY)
That same site that provided the definitions goes on to add this helpful nugget on the error of moral autonomy:
“Developed into a system by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), autonomous morality in effect deifies each person’s free will. In the Kantian understanding of freedom, liberty means not only freedom of choice but freedom of independence, on the assumption that one cannot retain free will and still be under the command of another’s law. To save freedom, Kant demanded autonomy, but by demanding autonomy he destroyed all real obligation and therefore all real law.”
It is ironic, is it not? They claim there exists no moral law which everyone is subject to. But in so doing, they are making an absolute claim in saying there is no absolute law. For, if there was no moral obligation whatsoever, then why should anyone respect another’s supposed autonomy? Is this not an admittance that everyone is subject to a moral law—dare we say a Natural Law—outside our individual wills?
Saint Paul writes, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, indeed it cannot” (Romans 8:7).
When you boil it down, the value of individualism flies in the face of the Creator, God. It claims autonomy from a Lord. It seeks to thumb its nose at any moral duty. In effect, it seeks to make each person his or her own god (with a small ‘g’).
WHERE OBEDIENCE COMES IN
This is where obedience can now enter the scene. After seeing the mess the value of individualism has made and the recognition of a moral authority outside each individual will, obedience can come to the rescue.
The same website defines obedience like this:
“The moral virtue that inclines the will to comply with the will of another who has the right to command. Material obedience is merely to carry out the physical action commanded; formal obedience is to perform an action precisely because it is commanded by a legitimate superior.
“The extent of obedience is as wide as the authority of the person who commands. Thus obedience to God is without limit, whereas obedience to human beings is limited by higher laws that must not be transgressed, and by the competency or authority of the one who gives the orders. As a virtue, it is pleasing to God because it means the sacrifice of one’s will out of love for God” (emphasis added).
Obedience is needed for our times, precisely because it subjects us to a Higher Authority. Namely, God, for whom all obedience and trust is due.
Only by humbling our pride and becoming subservient to His will, will we ever enjoy an abundant life (John 10:10). He has revealed His divine law and he has written the Natural Law on our hearts (Romans 2:12-16).
Pop culture wants to hear none of this. It wants to claim we serve no one, but ourselves.
But who was the first to declare he would not serve? Ancient Christian tradition says, of course, it was Lucifer himself who declared, “I will not serve!” (cf. Jeremiah 2:20) What’s more, those who refuse to obey are called “children of the devil” (1 John 3:10, cf. John 10:44).
To obey, we must be humble. And if we are humble and obedient, then God will heal our nation (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Until then, as a disciple of Christ, expect to be buffeted as He was. In fact, encourages Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, look forward to it. “Whosoever loves Jesus Christ with true love, let him greatly rejoice when he sees himself treated by the world as Jesus Christ was treated.
“He was hated, scorned, and persecuted by the world, even unto an agonizing death upon a shameful Cross. The world is altogether against Jesus Christ; and, therefore, hating Jesus Christ, it hates all His servants.
“Wherefore the Lord encouraged His disciples to suffer in peace all the persecutions of the world, saying to them that, having given up the world, they could not but be hated by the world” (emphasis added).
YOUR TURN
What do you think? Do you see where the virtue of obedience is the counter to the value of individualism?
Please leave your thoughts below in a comment.
