The Scout Law: Obedient

October 13, 2025

The scout book writes, “A Scout is Obedient. A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them.” As I continue this series on the Scout Law, I think that is a very good definition of obedience.

Obedience means obeying people of authority, like parents, teachers, leaders, or laws, while discerning what is right. In America’s early days, obedience to shared values and just laws created stable communities where people worked together. Today, with rebellion often celebrated and authority questioned, obedience can seem outdated, yet it remains vital. True obedience isn’t blind; it’s a choice to honor structure and trust, even when it requires humility or sacrifice.

In Troop 200, we try to always abide by the buddy system, especially in the wilderness, while snorkeling and in caves. This means no one ever goes alone, but has someone with them, so the two of you can look out for one another. On a trip to Bermuda, the boys had abandoned the buddy system while playing in an especially rough surf. I heard someone saying how a tourist had drowned that morning, and saw my scouts playing as if they had lost their minds. I put on the “Voice of Authority”, and gave them a serious speech about the importance of obeying the buddy system, and I didn’t have to say anything about the buddy system the rest of the trip.

Scripture affirms this value. In Romans 13:1-2, Paul writes, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” Jesus modeled obedience, submitting to God’s will even unto the cross (Philippians 2:8). God calls us to be obedient, not out of fear, but to align with His truth and contribute to a just society, discerning when to follow and when to stand for what’s right. Exodus 20:1-17 lists God’s Ten Commandments. The Book of Leviticus is a book of laws for the people of Israel not just to live by, but also to survive and thrive in harsher times.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ said you can summarize all of God’s laws into two. Jesus said, “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” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Obedience is one of the hardest of the scout laws to live out because our natural desire is to be rebellious. Faith in God, and our desire to be obedient to God, has been key to helping me become and live as an obedient Christian and scout.

I see this struggle with rebellion a lot when a father calls me up and pleads, “Please, talk to my son, and convince him to complete his Eagle scout badge.” The father tells how every time he tries to convince his son to complete the work, it seems his son resists more and more. I have seen this many times each time I invite the father to back off. I will have that talk, but my hope is to challenge the scout to make it his goal, and then be obedient to completing that goal. It works almost every time.

Have you considered what obedience looks like in your life? Maybe it’s following a workplace policy, respecting a parent’s guidance, or adhering to traffic laws, even when inconvenient. Reflect on a time when obedience required effort. How did it shape you or your community?

How might more obedience strengthen our nation? Imagine communities where people respect just laws, honor leaders, and work together for the common good. Obedience, when balanced with discernment, fosters trust and stability, values that made America great and can do so again.

Do you see yourself as having a rebellious spirit, or is obedience important to you? When did you last follow rules, even when it was challenging, or you thought they were stupid? Who in your life models obedience? How does their example inspire you? How could more obedience in our nation make us stronger today?

As we root ourselves in Christ, prayer and Scripture guide us to live obediently. Psalm 86:11 prays, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.” Let’s commit to being obedient, reflecting God’s order. Consider adding obedience to your list of values and challenge your family to do the same. Praise be to God, whose authority leads us to righteousness!

(To learn more about Al Earley or read previous articles, see www.lagrangepres.org. You can purchase my book, My Faith Journal, at Amazon.com, a compilation of 366 articles as a daily devotional. Check out my podcast on YouTube, called “My Faith Journey”).