Paul
wrote, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
The
subject of mutual submission only makes sense when it is considered in the
context of how Jesus wants us to live our lives. He was very clear that we are called to
respond to his love and to love each other unconditionally. Also, even as I try to communicate what this
teaching has meant in my life I am reminded of one of Doug Coe’s statements,
“Following Jesus is not an exact science.”
Thus, these thoughts are things that have helped Kay and me on our
journey. They are not the way in which submission is done.
The most
important thing I have learned as I have sought to live in obedience to this command
is that I am to be a submitted person to
Jesus and to other followers of his.
This is transformational in my life as it is a way of experiencing love
for God and love for others—which is the basis for all Kingdom work.
Because of
the way the word “submit” has been used to control and abuse people in
Christian circles it often rings in our ears with a negative tone. If we can mute that tone we might discover
this is an important subject for serious followers of Jesus Christ.
Consider
the help that practising submission could be to improve our lives and our care
for others. What if we viewed the
process in the way we think about submitting a manuscript to an editor. We do the very best work we can, withholding
nothing, and present it to the editor for correction and insights. It is done to improve our work, not to
diminish it. In the same way, we submit
our best thoughts, our dreams and visions to those we trust so we can more
clearly discern the things that are from God. And knowing we are going to
submit our ideas to others bring clarity to our thinking even before we submit
them. In this process of submission we
not only have a clearer sense of the mind of Christ but we also come to know
each other better and to love each other more. It is empowering!
Other things learned about submission
on this journey
- The
Trinity models mutual submission for us.
As we begin to understand and experience God we see that God is a
living Fellowship who creates through submission. The more we walk with Jesus the more our hearts are directed towards this kind of love for each other.
- Biblical
agreement and biblical submission are inseparable. In Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus teaches us the
importance of keeping our relationships reconciled because we all need a
small group with whom we walk in agreement. The presence of Jesus in each of our
small groups helps us come to an agreement with the Lord and with each other
so that the things we pray for are the things God wants in our lives and
in the lives of those we love and pray for.
·
Then the objective becomes one of walking
in agreement in thought and action in the work of the Kingdom. Humility is basic to this process. We are commanded to humble ourselves and
unless we do this we will never submit our ideas and our lives to others. Thus we will continue to be doing the work of
the kingdom as individualistic, self-centred, unteachable persons. Out of humble submission agreement comes and
agreement empowers with the power of God. Without the humility to submit to
others, we can never work in agreement.
We can get the pseudo agreement—which is really capitulation—but we will never have the agreement Paul
advocates.
- Submission as part of the process leading to the agreement is natural, not imposed. As
mentioned earlier the Greek word hupotasso means a sweet reasonableness and a willingness to accept less than what may be due. It is the opposite of self-assertion, the opposite of an independent, autocratic spirit. It is not the end-all or a stand-alone
concept but is the process that means we are better able to hear from God and from others to move forward with power and discernment.
- Often this process of submitting ourselves and
our ideas will not be perfect because we are not perfect. But regardless of the outcome, we can
trust Jesus who is over-seeing and active in the process.
- Being submitted to God makes submission to others
possible. However, how can we say we are submitted to God who we can’t see if we refuse to be submitted to our sisters and brothers who we can see.
Too often saying we are submitted to God rather than our companions
slides into doing whatever we want to do and calling it “God’s will.”
·
The implication of the “one to another” is
that submission is to be mutual and that is what allows us to walk
together. In my relationships, some
companions submit more things to me than I do to them and often I submit more
concerns to others than they do to me but the submission is mutual even if the
number of things submitted is not equal.
·
None of us is able to process all the issues
of all our friends so it seems like God connects us with the people we need to
move forward in agreement in each part of our lives. I don’t want to be an unsubmitted and lacking
agreement in any of the places where I believe God has me caring for others. In each of my involvements: Africa, Church,
Fellows, Young Life, etc. I have, and need, at least one person to whom I am
submitted as we discern how to move forward in that area. The submission that brings real benefit has
always been with a very few on any issue.
A larger group can affirm what the few have discerned, but rarely is a
large group a place of mutual submission.
However, when we submit to the few it helps us become willing to hear other
thoughts from the larger community.
·
Building trust in the relationships makes
submission possible. We should not
submit to those who haven’t earned our trust as we have walked together. And more than likely, if we do not share a common
vision we will not have insights that are helpful to each other.
·
We also know that many people do not want
the responsibility of others submitting their lives and issues to them so this
“smallenizes” the pool of people available to us for this deep walking
together.
·
As I learn to hear God through people I
know well and have come to trust I am also learning that people who I know only
casually may also be able to speak truth into my life and my discernment.
·
Jesus is the protection of our submitted
relationships. We are submitting to
Jesus through people and this can be a messy process. Because we are not perfect, invariably we
will come to some agreements that are not helpful. But because our goal is to know what God
wants, his grace shows up and redeems even our mistaken discernments.
·
Hebrews 13:17 reads in part, “Have confidence
in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you
as those who must give an account.” There is a place for submitting to the ones
God has given the responsibility for shepherding us.
·
Another time submission to a leader
naturally happens is a result of discerning together. When companions who are equal discern
together what should be done they also often discern who has the gifts and
calling to lead a venture. When this is
discerned the others all submit to this leader in the activity.
·
Paul and Barnabas give us a clear picture
of how to do this right. In Acts 13,
they, and three other elders in Antioch were together centring their lives on
Jesus when the Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Paul for a mission. The group fasted and prayed and submitted
this idea to the Lord and to each other.
When they concluded this was the right decision they laid hands on
Barnabas and Paul and sent them off.
The next phrase is, “The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy
Spirit. . .” so for the next three years
Barnabas and Paul were empowered by both this submitted agreement with their
companions and by the Spirit within them.
·
Then they showed us how to do it
wrong. When talking about the next
mission, as recorded in Acts 15, pride kept them from submitting to each other
over the issue of taking John Mark with them.
Thus two of the closest companions in the New Testament walked away from
their partnership and went separate ways because they would not submit to each
other.
There are still some questions that
are not easy to answer
·
The only one who has the right to direct
my life or to veto my ideas is Jesus, but when we submit to Jesus in others does
this give them veto power over our decisions.
If so, when we give them this power have we quit being responsible for
our lives?
·
Does this process have to be understood in
ways that we can verbalize it or does our love for each other have us naturally
living in submission and agreement with each other?
·
How does mutual submission work in an
organization that has specific lines of authority? What does a boss submitting to an employee
look like?
By
Kent Hotaling
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