That Foul S Word!
There is one word that is considered by many as one of the foulest words that a Christian can say. In fact, if you aren't very careful--and tactful--in speaking concerning this topic, you are going to get yourself into a peck of trouble with some people. If you really want to get into a fight with someone when it comes to matters of faith, just say one word: submission.
I think that the word submission has taken a bad rap. But then society hates the idea of submission. Why? Well, I think there are at least five reasons.
First, the topic of submission brings to mind slavery. A picture comes into the mind of some that would be a master with a whip over his slave.
Second--and this is a real tender subject--is the idea of women being in submission to men. Does the Bible teach women being in submission to men? To a degree, but mostly in the realm of husband-wife relationships. And even in that circumstance, there is a huge burden on the man do out-do the women in the category of love. Women have, thoroughout human history, been oppressed by men in large part. Actually, Jesus changed all of that.
Third, is a tyrannical family. Either Mom or Dad rules with an iron fist and shows little or no love toward the children. Children are to submit to Mom and Dad, but often this leads into abusive situations.
Fourth--and I guess this would be somewhat like the first point--would be the picture of a tyrannical employer, supervisor or boss. I think we have all either worked for or met people like this. They get great pleasure in wielding their power over their employees, treating them as one level above slaves.
Fifth would be tyrannical government. All you have to do is look at the regimes of Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Josef Stalin and Kim-Jong Il in Korea.
All of these are improper views of submission. This is no where near what the Bible teaches. Over the span of the next two messages, we will examine the topic of Biblical Submission and how submission is not only a good idea, but it is commanded by God.
The Koine Greek word for submit is hupotasso, and means "to arrange under, to subordinate; to subject, put in subjection" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). Vine notes that hupotasso is " primarily a military term, "to rank under" (hupo, "under," tasso, "to arrange"). Submission is a pretty important topic in the Word--mentioned some 40 times in the Greek New Testament.
Think of submission, then, like this. It is like the military. When we are in submission, we are lining up under God's authority. In addition, God puts others in authority over us in the chain of command. If we are in obedience to God, and to those who are in authority, then we do well. If not, we are mutineers or deserters. We then commit "conduct unbecoming an officer".
1) Submission To God
Wow, this would seem to be a no-brainer, wouldn't it? But each time we sin, we go out beyond the submission to God and therefore outside His protection. This all started with Adam and Eve when they wanted to "be like God".
God is a God of order. He is not a God of chaos:
1 Cor 14:33, 40 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints...Let all things be done decently and in order.
We will get back to this scripture when we talk about submission to the church, but it is important to note that God is big on order. God hates chaos. In fact, God has order within the Godhead itself: Father, then Son, the Holy Spirit. There is a chain of command so to speak.
If you think about it, the Christian that is in submission to God is pretty much at peace. Even if the world's troubles swirl around him, there is that "peace which surpasses all understanding". If you are at peace with God in submission, you will be at peace with yourself, and with others as well.
James 4:7-8
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. KJV
Look again at James 4:7. If you go by the context, if you are in submission then you can resist the devil successfully. Otherwise, you can't.
I meet and talk to people online that say that they do not feel the presence of or influence of God in their lives. They will mention how at one time they had a powerful relationship with Him, but it has disappeared. If you look at verse 8, you can see the reason why. You need to work at it. You need to commit to and walk a Christian walk. You need to be in submission to God--not in chaos of self direction--to be a good soldier of Jesus. Follow your orders in love!
2) Submission To The Church And It's Leadership
Wow, I really take a beating over this topic on submission from some people. But then, it all goes back to those five areas of presupposition when it comes to the topic of submission.
There is some validity to opposition to tyrannical leadership in the church. I have met some preachers that state "if you don't agree with me there's the door". They put all sorts of burdens on the church folk--they become legalists. If you don't do this or do that, or if you do other things then "God is gonna get you" or "we will put you out of the church". Tyrannical pastors have become well known in the extreme--Jim Jones of Jonestown Guyana for example.
However, more often I see the opposite of the tyrannical pastor. I hear from some preachers that say that their church is like a battle zone. The pastor is viewed as an employee instead of a shepherd that leads the flock. Each and everything that he does is criticized, and his ministry is determined by the vote of deacons or the popular vote of the congregation. I read, a few years ago, that more than half of the pastors in churches across the country were so discouraged by persecution of a tyrannical church or church leadership that they were going to leave the pastorate. Chaos in the church is not to be. The church is to be in proper order, not a free for all in worship or in the manner of governing the church.
This does not mean that you are prohibited from disagreeing with your church leadership. But if you do disagree with something taught or how the church is governed, go directly to the pastor or teacher and discuss it with him. Don't start gossiping, serving "roast preacher" or "roast deacon" to everyone you meet up with.
We pastors have to give an account for your souls at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. NKJV
At the same time, we as pastors must have a loving, shepherding leadership quality. The key is to lead in love, the love the Christ has for us.
3) Submission to Government
Railing on the government has pretty much reached an art form in our country. Whether it is the President, Congress, State or local officials, it seems that none are exempt from the wrath of the masses. Many times it seems that these folks bring it on themselves, and indeed often they do.
However, we are to be in submission to "the governing authorities".
Rom 13:1-3
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. NKJV
First, let's look at what this does not mean. It does not mean that we should blindly agree with each and everything that comes down the pike from our government. We are privileged in our country that we elect those who are in office, and we can vote our conscious and vote them out as well.
We also are not to agree with things that our government does that are immoral, such as abortion or fetal stem cell research. If the government tells you to do something that is against God's Word, then conscientious objection is called for.
However, what the passage above speaks of is the authority of the government in establishing and enforcing law. There is no government that exists that is not put in power by God. In fact, in verse 4 the term "minister" is the Koine Greek word diakonos, the word from which we get the term deacon. A deacon is one who serves. God puts the government as a servant to it's people. The good government puts laws in effect to ensure public safety and the prosperity of all of the people.
The government is not to be a "terror to good works, but to evil". However, we do see a lot of corruption in government these days, don't we?
You may ask "If God puts governments in power, then why does He allow bad government?" In Daniel 4:17, Daniel told the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar that the governments of the world were ruled by "the basest of men" (KJV). J. Vernon McGee states that this means that the government we get is what we deserve; the leader is a reflection of who that country really is.
In short, as much as we may not like a certain law, ordinance or tax, we are responsible to be in submission to the government and obey, although we are not to tolerate or conduct evil even if the government allows it. Peaceful protest against such is actually quite noble.
4) Submitting To One Another
Eph 5:18-21
8 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. KJV
Let no man be so tenacious of his own will or his opinion in matters indifferent, as to disturb the peace of the church; in all such matters give way to each other, and let love rule.--Adam Clarke Commentary
Adam Clarke states it quite well. One of the biggest problems in the church is the lack of submission. Many people just plain flat out have an issue with the subject; they do not want anyone to tell them what to do.
When Turtle was about 4 years old, there was something that he wanted to do that was beyond his ability as a four year old to do. What it was, I don't remember, but he insisted saying "I can do it all by myselse". While the idea of a child with initiative is somewhat good, it is also not such a good idea if it is beyond your capability. Well, he did not succeed in the task that he was bound and determined to do "All by myselse." It was a learning lesson.
We see the same in life. Some people are bound and determined to things "All by myself". They do not want guidance, they do not want anyone to tell them what to do. There is the issue of pride in the heart, and discounting others views.
One of the greatest acts of love that we can do in the church is to take a fellow member aside and let them know when they are in error. However, there is often a fear that the person approached will lash out in anger. Because of this, it is rarely done. Always be willing to listen to those with advice given in love.
The idea of submitting to each other should never be repugnant--it should be welcomed. This includes us in the pastorate. Pastors are human, and contrary to the opinions of some of my colleagues, we do still sin. While the Word of God does teach that submission to pastors and those in authority is required, that does not mean that we are immune from a loving rebuke by someone in the flock.
Your pastor should not, as Clarke says above, have "opinion in matters indifferent". I know some pastors that think it is just beneath them to ever have someone question or be critical of a doctrine, message or behavior. However, we are told to "rightly divide the Word of God" and "Always be prepared to give an answer"--this applies even more so to preachers than anyone.
I think that the biggest issue in submission is a question of love. If the person in authority (church leadership, pastor, teacher) is conducting himself in love, then submission should be much easier for the people under their charge.
5) Submission to Employers
1 Tim. 6:1 Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. (ESV)
Another area where people have issues with submission is with their employers. The excuse is given that the employer treats them badly, and the employee feels that they "deserve" better treatment from them. They feel that they are "entitled"
The key issue is often one of pride in the heart. Of course, many employers over the years have abused the relationship they have with employees by imposing low wages, long hours and intolerable work conditions. Out of situations like those arose labor unions to protect the labor force. I myself am a member of a union, and I do think it is something that is often necessary in society today. However, many unions "hide" those employees that are, for lack of a better term, slackers. I have seen people in various jobs take advantage of their employers because the union will hide them, but in other circumstances the union will not protect some of it's own. Some people go so far as to steal from their employer, taking tools and/or material home from the job and are content that it is a "fringe benefit". No, it is theft. If a person steals from their employer, they are a thief.
Often times, employees forget that they are being paid for the work that they do. And often employees complain as though their employment is a right, not a privilege. It goes back to one of the plagues on our society, the feeling of entitlement. We need to remember that when we go to work, that is what we are being paid for--WORK.
It was indeed a big change for me when I went from being self employed for twenty nine years and then being an employee. I was no longer in charge, and did not make leadership decisions. There are times when I have to ask my employer permission to do something that before I would just do myself. That was quite an adjustment. But I sure don't miss the days of being the boss.
We do not represent ourselves as Christians when we are a lazy, dishonorable employee. We put shame on the name of God when we do not respect our boss. We are thieves if we take something home from work without the permission of our employer or supervisor.
Key Point: Employers are worthy of honor (note you are not excused from this if the boss is mean)
Proverbs 25:13 (KJV) As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Key Point We are refreshing to our employers when we do our job well and in a state of respectan and thanks.
You are like a cold blast of air in the heat of the summer to an employer--quite refreshing--when you treat your employer with honor and a good work effort. We honor Christ when we honor our employer with honest work.
