Follow-Up Thoughts on Submission

Follow-up thoughts on Submission

To summarize my BLOG on Submission, I stated that submission is a lifestyle, not just a one time event. It is becoming like Jesus to those we come in contact with through our love, service and sacrifice to and for them. True submission is “one-to–another”, not just wife to husband. As I have continued to think and work through this concept, there have been a couple of points that I have heard taught regarding the passage in Ephesians 5 that I would like to work through.

First, I’ve heard that Paul called wives to submit because we, in general, have trouble submitting, i.e., women have more of a problem when it comes to submitting than men. But is that really true? Next to the laws of God, the laws of our government should have the greatest authority in our lives. We should all submit to them. But across our nation, the prisons are disproportionately full of men who refused to submit to the laws of our land. When I’m driving down the freeway, more men pass me driving over the speed limit than women. How many women have you heard of who have walked into their workplace and opened fire? I don’t really think that women have a harder time submitting than men, we’re all sinners who want our way. I think what Paul is doing in Ephesians 5 is showing us examples of what submission looks like. He says to all of us, “Submit one to another.” Then he gives an example of how wives can be like Christ, by submitting to their husbands.

I’ve also heard it taught that Paul called men to love their wives because men have a harder time being loving. Again, I would ask is that really true? How many women do you know who would lay down their lives for their husbands? Sure most of us would die for our kids, but that’s not the point Paul is making. In fact, most of us as wives need to be like Christ in our willingness to die for our husbands. I think that is exactly the point Paul is making, “Submit to one another.” Then he gives a practical way of demonstrating that submission by a willingness to lay one’s life down for the sake of one’s spouse. I don’t believe he’s only telling husbands to love like that. The Scriptures are full of commands that tell us to love one another with both an agape (self-sacrificing and best interest) and phileo (friendship, common interest) love.

How did Jesus demonstrate a lifestyle of submission? The most obvious answer lies in His willingness to submit to the will of His Father. That involved leaving the splendor of heaven, the privilege of being with his Father, and coming to earth where He would eventually face ridicule, rejection, betrayal and death. He loved us sacrificially by laying down His life for us—His righteousness for our sin. He took the wrath of God that we deserved, willingly, not with resentment or bitterness, but out of His deep love for us.

I also see His lifestyle of submission demonstrated as He washed the feet of His disciples—yes, even the one who would betray Him in a few short hours. He took off His outer robe and became like a servant to them, performing a menial task reserved for a lowly slave. The God-Man Himself, down on His hands and knees washing dirty, smelly feet. Now that’s submission.

The bottom line as I see it is this, “Do I really want to be like Christ and willingly, without bitterness or resentment, sacrifice, serve and love? Or do I want to hang onto my ‘rights’ to get what I want when I want it?” Quoting Carolyn Custis James:

[Submission] is an act of strength, of sober responsibility, and of commitment to God. (emphasis mine) The voluntary taking up of a cross; the freedom to lay down your life. It is the pursuit of God’s glory and the good of another. It is becoming more like Jesus. Submission is the gospel—God’s kingdom come on earth. (James, The Gospel of Ruth,170)