Notes on Submission

Submit in our modern American context can often be seen as a weak characteristic and an idea that many of us look down upon. In Greek, however, it is translated as hupotasso [hoop-ot-as'-so], which comes from hupo [hoop-o] to mean "under" and tasso [tas-so] to mean "to arrange in an orderly manner". Looking at submission in this context brings a whole new perspective to our view of submission. To submit becomes a word that encourages active behavior, purposeful influence, and a strong mission.

Throughout the Bible, we see the impact of submission or placing oneself “under” the authority of another. Paul’s submission to authority has influenced millions. Consider the teaching of children submitting to parents, slaves to masters, or husbands and wives to each other. All of these examples of submission stem from the idea that there is a mutual submission. We are called to submit to one another willingly out of reverence for Christ. True biblical submission can be difficult, bear in mind—it takes self-control and a passion for loving the Lord at your full potential. We can love god and serve him all we want, however to truly live the way he desires we must first submit ourselves to him, i.e., sacrifice our idea of what he wants and align ourselves to how he is actually calling us to live.

How often do we willingly submit to one another in a manner that promotes peace and glorifies God? What does that even look like? When we are submitting to one another, we are aligning our wants and needs with the wants and needs of others. Paul writes in Romans 12 about being a living sacrifice, this is our submission to God. He goes on to write about love, submission to authorities, and lastly he writes about the strong sacrificing for the weak. Love and respect seem to the core of our submission to one another. It involves us actively and freely loving in a way, that we place the value of another person at the forefront of our mind. We respect them above arguing with them or disregarding their opinions, thoughts, or needs. What does that really mean for us though? Maybe, it means simply answering yes the next time our parents ask us to do something. What if the next time our friend wants to play basketball instead of our favorite sport, Soccer, we go along with it as a blessing to them. Or maybe this means that we are called to respect the ideas of our neighbors even if we don’t completely agree with them (Romans 14 reminds us that others may have a weaker faith then we do. Therefore we are called to humble ourselves before passing judgment)

Paul saw the importance of submission and how crucial it is for us to submit to one another in the body of Christ. Philippians 2:3 reads: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” When we are genuinely contributing to the well being of others, it is surprising how fulfilled we often become. Discover this fulfillment with me as together we place the needs of others above our own.