The Lost Virtue of Submission
Everyone needs to learn the meaning of submission -- children, wives, husbands, citizens, employees, church members, church leaders, and most of all Christians.
The inability or unwillingness to submit is the cause of a great deal of the conflicts in society, whether it is in the home, the church, the school, the workplace, etc. Submission is essential for order, and order is essential for human flourishing (consider the military, or a classroom, or a football team).
To submit means to place yourself under the authority of another. It means to let them be in charge. It means to obey.
The Bible calls children to submit to their parents (Col 3:20); wives are to submit to their husbands (Col 3:18); church members are to submit to pastors (Heb 13:17); citizens are to submit to the government (Rom 13:1); employees are to submit to their bosses (Col 3:22); and Christians are to submit to God (Jas 4:7).
The reason that submission is a lost virtue today is that people assume that it only applies when you agree with authority. As long people agree with their parents/husband/government/boss/pastor, they will gladly submit. But if they don't see the wisdom or benefits of a certain decision, they believe they have the right to buck authority and go their own way. But that's not submission. That is rebellion.
The simplest way to explain submission is by pointing to our relationship with the civil government. When the government passes a law, we are obligated by the government and by God to obey the law, regardless of whether we like or agree with the law. I don't agree with the speed limit on Camellia Blvd through River Ranch (35 mph!), but I am obligated to obey it. The only time that I am free to rebel against the civil government is when it commands me to disobey God. Submission to the civil government means obeying the law and respecting government leaders, even when I strongly disagree.
Now let's apply this definition to the home, the workplace, and the church. Submission means obeying and respecting your leaders, even when you strongly disagree. And the only time you are free to buck their authority is if they are commanding you to do something sinful.
Don't worry. Submission does not mean that you can't make an appeal. And God has strong commands for the proper handling of authority. For example, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. But submission is not a conditional command dependent on how well our leaders lead. We are to submit, regardless of the behavior of our leaders. Ultimately we are not submitting to our leaders, but to God.
Now imagine what would happen to our society if we regained the lost virtue of submission. Imagine how it would affect families, and churches, and companies, and the entire country.
But it starts with you and me. I challenge you to think about your relationships with the leaders in your life and ask yourself of each one, "Am I being submissive, or am I being rebellious?"
The inability or unwillingness to submit is the cause of a great deal of the conflicts in society, whether it is in the home, the church, the school, the workplace, etc. Submission is essential for order, and order is essential for human flourishing (consider the military, or a classroom, or a football team).
To submit means to place yourself under the authority of another. It means to let them be in charge. It means to obey.
The Bible calls children to submit to their parents (Col 3:20); wives are to submit to their husbands (Col 3:18); church members are to submit to pastors (Heb 13:17); citizens are to submit to the government (Rom 13:1); employees are to submit to their bosses (Col 3:22); and Christians are to submit to God (Jas 4:7).
The reason that submission is a lost virtue today is that people assume that it only applies when you agree with authority. As long people agree with their parents/husband/government/boss/pastor, they will gladly submit. But if they don't see the wisdom or benefits of a certain decision, they believe they have the right to buck authority and go their own way. But that's not submission. That is rebellion.
The simplest way to explain submission is by pointing to our relationship with the civil government. When the government passes a law, we are obligated by the government and by God to obey the law, regardless of whether we like or agree with the law. I don't agree with the speed limit on Camellia Blvd through River Ranch (35 mph!), but I am obligated to obey it. The only time that I am free to rebel against the civil government is when it commands me to disobey God. Submission to the civil government means obeying the law and respecting government leaders, even when I strongly disagree.
Now let's apply this definition to the home, the workplace, and the church. Submission means obeying and respecting your leaders, even when you strongly disagree. And the only time you are free to buck their authority is if they are commanding you to do something sinful.
Don't worry. Submission does not mean that you can't make an appeal. And God has strong commands for the proper handling of authority. For example, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. But submission is not a conditional command dependent on how well our leaders lead. We are to submit, regardless of the behavior of our leaders. Ultimately we are not submitting to our leaders, but to God.
Now imagine what would happen to our society if we regained the lost virtue of submission. Imagine how it would affect families, and churches, and companies, and the entire country.
But it starts with you and me. I challenge you to think about your relationships with the leaders in your life and ask yourself of each one, "Am I being submissive, or am I being rebellious?"
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