French philosopher Simone Weil said, “Obvious and inexorable oppression that cannot be overcome does not give rise to revolt but to submission.”
Canadian historian Goldwin Smith said, “The Roman legions were formed in the first instance of citizen soldiers, who yet had been made to submit to a rigid discipline, and to feel that in that submission lay their strength.”
Submission is a difficult subject in the world today. Sometimes, we feel as if we are being forced to submit to the ideas of others. For example, the modern-day acceptance of homosexuality as a lifestyle choice, or pre-marital sex for all couples, though both break God’s laws, are rampant on almost every television show. But are you truly being forced to watch those shows? No, we can choose to turn off the television and read the Bible instead.
Submission carries a negative connotation in the world today. Webster defines it as the condition of being submissive, humble or compliant or in another context, the act of submitting to the authority or control of another. Leave it to Webster, who as a Christian, understood the word better than most today, using the most godly attribute, humbleness. Common thought has us to believe that submission is weakness.
Ephesians 5 and 6 give us much insight into the meaning of submission:
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:17-21
Additionally, Paul writes that wives are to submit to husbands. Does this mean that women are less important to God? To answer that question, let’s look at the life of Jesus! Does Jesus have less power or knowledge than God the Father or God the Holy Spirit? No! All of them are omnipotent and omniscient, equal. Yet they all have a place. Jesus does the will of the Father and the Holy Spirit always points to Jesus. Yet Jesus came to earth in submission to the Father and the Father's will. Marriages are an instructional tool designed by God to teach us to submit one to another and additionally, to understand the intimacy that God desires in His relationship with us!
To me, this verse sums it all up:
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-12
Jesus submitted Himself more than any of us will ever submit ourselves! If He can consider Himself of no reputation, being God, how hard could it be for us to do the same, when all we are worthy of is death? Submit one to another as it is commanded by God!
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