What does it mean to submit?
Let me give you some definitions of the word.
SUBMIS’SION, noun [Latin submissio, from submitto.]
- The act of submitting; the act of yielding to power or authority; surrender of the person and power to the control or government of another.
- Acknowledgment of inferiority or dependence; humble or suppliant behavior.
- Acknowledgment of a fault; confession or error.
- Obedience; compliance with the commands or laws of a superior. submission of children to their parents is an indispensable duty.
- Resignation; a yielding of one’s will to the will or appointment of a superior without murmuring. Entire and cheerful submission to the will of God is a Christian duty of prime excellence. Webster’s Dictionary 1828
Wowza! Probably not what you thought! I know I was surprised at how vast that definition is! Sure, we get the submitting to authority, but these definitions bring much more to the forefront, indicating that submission is not as easy as simply pronouncing the word.
Based on these definitions, submission is NOT agreement!
Truth be told it would actually be true quite opposite; that in spite of being in agreement, to submit would mean that one would forego their own opinion, tradition, culture and even their rights (as believers do we even have those?) in order to yield to God and His Word. This makes submission a really BIG deal, because it means that daily we must lay down our life.
Not easy, especially in a world where we think we are entitled and have certain rights. Don’t misunderstand what I am trying to say. Of course there are certain human rights that are in fact founded upon the Word of God. We don’t, however, have the right to be rude, high-minded, prideful, judgmental, selfish and disrespectful!
In fact 1 Peter 2, verses 13 to 15 admonishes us to act quite opposite to what I have been hearing way to much of lately! It says,
“For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.”
Live blameless, honouring and submitting to God above all else!
For the only cause that counts,
Julia