Biblical Submission

"Me? Submit to him? He doesn't know enough to come in out of the rain!" Someone I know said that, but I'm sure that the mere mention of the word "submission" will elicit a similar response from a lot of people. Even Christians. I say that because it should not be. I say that because a principle Christian virtue is submission. Jesus said, "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt 5:39). Paul listed things we ought to be doing including, "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Eph 5:21). Think of that. Submission to others out of reverence (literally "fear") of Christ.

Peter gives an interesting rundown on submission. In 1 Peter 2 he begins with "Be subject for the Lord's sake" (there it is again -- "for the Lord's sake") "to every human institution ..." (1 Peter 2:13-14) referring to governments. So our submission to others is first in submission to God and out of reverence (fear) of God. That's one. He goes on to say in that, "Live as people who are free" while also requiring "living as servants of God" (1 Peter 2:16). Peter's next submission command is to servants (literally "household servants" as opposed to Paul's "bondservant") whom he commands to "Be subject to your masters with all respect" (and, yes, that was that "fear" word again). This isn't the master-slave relationship, but simply a boss and subordinate. And it is explicitly not merely nice bosses -- "not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust" (1 Peter 2:18). Peter spends time on this one using Christ as his prime example who endured injustice without a peep (1 Peter 2:19-25). So in 1 Peter 3 he begins, "Likewise ..." (1 Peter 3:1). He also uses the same term in 1 Peter 3:7 -- "Likewise." That is, "In the same way that Christ endured false accusations and abuse without complaining and subjected Himself to the human masters He faced even though they were unjust ...", "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives" (1 Peter 3:1). Wow! Wives, be subject. Wives, be subject to your husbands. Wives, be subject to your husbands even if they aren't good Christians. Just like Christ. That "subject" has some descriptions. It includes "respectful and pure conduct" (1 Peter 3:2). (Note that that "respectful" is, again, that "fear" word.) It includes the inner, imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:3). Be that kind of "subject." And then, "likewise" -- just as Christ submitted and endured -- "husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Peter 3:7). It kind of seems short for the husbands; don't let it fool you. Husbands, submit to your wives in this way. Be a student of your wife. Know her inside and out. And live according to that knowledge. Now, think about that for a moment. How much can a husband know about his wife? How understanding can he be? That's a tough command, but it is essential and it is submission and it doesn't matter if she's godly or not, gentle or unjust, nice or mean. Submit like Christ, doing what God has commanded without complaint. Recognize that she's not as physically strong as you and treat her with the honor that fine china or a fellow heir deserves -- as your equal deserves.

It is an interesting concept -- submission. It is fundamental to the faith. We submit first and foremost to God. Our submission is a respect that includes and element of fear -- the fear of failing to please, of running off the rail, of missing the mark. And that submission out of respect leads us to submit elsewhere -- to government (Rom 13:1-2), to masters (Eph 6:5-8), wives to husbands (Eph 5:22-24, 33) and husbands to wives (Eph 5:25-33). Submission doesn't always look the same in every application, but it is ever present. It is, in the end, an elevation of others over self, an application of worth and respect to others not because they've earned it, but because we've been commanded and because our submission to God demands it. Definitely unAmerican. Definitely Christian.