Why Submission Doesn’t Need to Be So Difficult

There’s a word in the Bible that tends to make the hair stand up on people’s necks. That word is: Submission. Because there’s something within each of us, no matter how old or young, that wants to respond, “Submit? Not me! No way!”

 

I’ve seen this exhibited in each of our children and grandchildren. As soon as they develop past the point of total dependence, they somehow arrive at the conclusion that they don’t have to do whatever mom or dad, or the grandparents say. Even when we’re clearly asking (or telling) them to do something that’s for their own good, they purse their lips, fold their arms or strike some other pose of defiance.

 

“Eat your food?” “No!” “It’s time to go to bed.” “No!” “Put that cookie down.” “No!” “Come here, put on this shirt (or dress or pair of pants).” “No!”  Believe me, we didn’t have to teach any of them to do that. They learned it all on their own.

 

It doesn’t get any better as we become teenagers or adults. The idea of submitting, whether to parents, teachers, bosses, law enforcement officers, or even the government, makes us cringe. As a result, we find the biblical commands to submit quite troublesome.

 

We find admonitions to submit to spiritual leaders: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17).

 

Then there’s the command, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). That’s a tough one, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican. But it’s affirmed in another passage: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority…” (1 Peter 2:13).

 

Submission in the realm of work is another biblical admonition: “Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh” (1 Peter 2:18). We might not be slaves is a literal sense, but it’s hard to submit to bosses when we’re treated like slaves, isn’t it?

 

Marriage isn’t excluded. In fact, for many this is the most problematic area of submission, since the Bible says, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). Many wives read this and think, “You’ve got to be kidding. Submit to HIM?! Just as soon as they confirm that the moon’s made of gouda cheese!”

 

But did you know husbands are given a command that’s every bit as demanding, perhaps even more? Because a verse that follows says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Consider the extent to which Jesus loved His Church, offering up His own life. 

 

And those verses directed toward husbands and wives are preceded by the admonition that we’re to “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).

 

Recently I heard a speaker offer a helpful insight into this matter of submitting. He pointed out that ultimately this means being willing to subordinate oneself to a common mission – sub-mission. 

 

Think of a football team as an example, since that’s the particular sports season we’re in at the moment. The goal of each member of the team is to move the ball down the field and score points, while keeping the opposing team from doing the same.  The center can’t decide, “I’m sick and tired of hiking the ball to the quarterback!” And other offensive linemen can’t stop doing their jobs because, “It’s not fair that the running backs and wide receivers get all the glory!” 

 

No, they all willingly – and eagerly – perform their specific assignments because they’re united in a common mission: Outscoring the opponent and winning the game. To submit to one another in that sense does not diminish the importance or value of each. Because when one or more fail to do their jobs, their combined mission is unsuccessful.

 

As followers of Jesus Christ, we shouldn’t step back in resistance when it’s time to submit to one another. Because ultimately, our mission is to glorify God and advance the work of His kingdom on earth – with a look toward the “new heaven and a new earth,” as described in Revelation 21:1 and 2 Peter 3:13.

 

With these things in mind, we can “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4:7-8).

 

Romans 12:1-2 does not include the word “submit,” but it’s implied: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Instead of singing, as Frank Sinatra did, “I did it my way,” we understand that it’s better, more joyous and more fulfilling to do it God’s way – even if it means submitting. 

The Elect – and Election Day

The Bible uses numerous terms to describe God’s people, including “the chosen,” His “children,” “adopted,” and “predestined.” Another intriguing description is “the elect.” In 1 Peter 1:2, the apostle writes to “God’s elect, strangers in the world.” The apostle Paul writes, “I endure everything for the sake of the elect…” (2 Timothy 2:10). Even Jesus used the term when He warned, “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles [trying] to deceive the elect” (Mark 13:22).

Using the term a bit differently, Peter admonished Jesus’s followers to “be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). This obviously isn’t referring to our names appearing on some celestial ballot. We don’t have to articulate a platform, nor declare a party affiliation. After all, if there’s a “vote,” it belongs alone to Jehovah God.

I don’t bring this up to delve into the realms of theology and biblical interpretation. But as another Election Day draws near, it’s interesting to ponder what is the role and responsibility of God’s “elect” in the electoral process.

Some of us have already cast our votes. Others are waiting for Election Tuesday to visit the polls. Either way, I find myself a bit torn about the actions and reactions the Lord expects of His people in this context. As the verse above states, as God’s elect we’re “strangers in the world.” The old gospel hymn declares, “this world is not my home. I’m just a-passin’ through.” Our ultimate hope and trust should not to be in who wins or loses in the various political races.

However, neither does the Bible tell us to ignore or avoid political involvement altogether. Throughout the Scriptures we see accounts of God’s people involved in matters of governance. Joseph, for instance, through a series of circumstances rose to a level of high prominence in ancient Egypt, second in authority only to Pharaoh himself (Genesis 37-50). 

Exodus tells about Moses who, after being taken into the family of another Pharaoh, negotiated with the Egyptian king to bring about the release of the Israelites from 400 years of slavery. Nehemiah, cupbearer to Artaxerxes, sought the king of Persia’s permission to lead the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

Daniel, similar to Joseph, gained the favor of a king – this time in Babylon – through the interpretation of a series of perplexing dreams and also was entrusted with much civic responsibility. Esther intervened on behalf of the Jewish people, defying the law by approaching King Xerxes without invitation to uncover a heinous plot, even saying without fear, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Jesus was challenged regarding how God’s people should interact with governmental regulations. The Jewish leaders asked Him whether the people of Israel were obligated to pay taxes to the Roman empire. Looking at a denarius bearing the image and inscription of Caesar, the king, Jesus replied, “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Luke 20:25). Belief in God did not exempt His people from government laws.

So as we ponder the tension between living in this temporal world and longing for our eternal home, it seems a balance is required. Yes, we’re “aliens and strangers on earth” as Hebrews 11:13 and other passages declare. And we’re admonished to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Nevertheless, we’re also charged to be “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And part of being Jesus’ witnesses is to engage effectively with the world around us in every way. That includes participating in elections, voting our convictions, and even running for public office if we sense God is leading us in that way.

If you haven’t already done so, I hope next Tuesday you’ll be voting for those candidates you believe are most aligned with the principles and values God has revealed through the Scriptures. Then we, as His elect, can confidently heed the exhortation of Romans 13:1 to “submit…to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist are established by God.”

What to Do When All Else Fails

In less than one week, the 2016 Presidential campaign will have finally, and mercifully, come to an end. As they say, it’ll all be over except the shouting. And we can expect to continue hearing lots of that, regardless of the outcome. For each Presidential campaign there’s a lot at stake, but this one has been more raucous and contentious than any we’ve known in recent memory.

Voting is important, but we can do
something even more important.

For those of us suffering from campaign fatigue, Election Day can’t come soon enough. Some of us have already cast our votes, taking advantage of early voting options. (Let's hope there won't be voters that attempt to cast their ballots both early and often!) We’ve all been urged to exercise our right to vote, and I wholeheartedly concur. Even if, as some critics contend, the choices are less than optimal, voting is still our right as well as a privilege that many people around the world don’t enjoy. We dare not take it for granted.

But whether you’ve already voted or are waiting for “the day” to arrive, that’s not all you can do as the day when our next President will be chosen draws near. In fact, one thing we can do, if we believe the Scriptures, carries more weight than a single vote – or all of the millions of votes that will be cast. We can pray.

A verse familiar to many of us explains why this is so important. God makes this promise: “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Too often, rather than pray and seek God, we’d prefer to grumble, complain, argue and contend. We get excited about likeminded people on social media who agree with us and our political and ideological views, and get incited by others who disagree. We expend great energy trying to dissuade people whose minds are made up and are unwilling to reconsider their positions. If only we’d expend as much effort turning to the One who can truly make a difference.

Because whether we believe it or not, whether we agree with how He does it, the Bible asserts God is not in heaven wringing His hands, fretting over what decisions Americans will make at the polls. No, it says He is sovereign and very much in control of not only what will transpire next Tuesday, but also what happens in the days that follow.

Writing to his young protégé, Timothy, the apostle Paul exhorted “that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men, for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This applies universally; he was not writing about the United States, but the principle certainly applies.

But what if the “wrong” person is elected, one whose views and aspirations and intentions disagree with our own? We’re to pray for that individual, too? Yes, and elsewhere Paul explained why: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God” (Romans 13:1).

Reading those passages, it’s hard to find wiggle room. Nowhere does it say, “except this” or “unless that.” There are no exceptions. As someone has wisely stated, in the Bible when God says “all,” He means ALL.

If we’re tempted to argue, “Well, that’s what Paul said,” then look at Jesus as the ultimate example. When challenged about paying taxes to a Roman government that was far from “Christian,” He replied, “’Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they answered. So Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s’” (Luke 20:24-25).

And throughout His ministry, Jesus never stood up to the Roman rulers. Actually, that’s one reason many people turned against Him – they became disenchanted when it became evident He had no plan to overthrow the evil and corrupt government.

This, however, doesn’t mean we must take a fatalistic posture about who will be leading our nation, passing legislation and interpreting those laws. No, we’re to pray, as 2 Chronicles 7:14 instructs. We’re to humble ourselves, setting aside arrogant self-righteousness. We’re to pray to the one and only God, approaching His “throne of grace,” as Hebrews 4:16 describes it. We’re to examine ourselves and turn from any wicked ways we may be practicing, even justifying. And we’re to trust that God will hear our humble, repentant prayers and respond – even if we don’t necessarily like or agree with how He does it.

As they say, “When all else fails, pray.” Let’s resolve to pray – BEFORE all else fails.