<\/p>\n
The humility and discipline of submitting to those over us has a subtle and unique power. \u00a0It is not power over the leader, but power over self. Power over selfishness.\u00a0 To place my desires and perspective and opinions below that of another person (husband, parent, pastor, teacher, rules, etc.) Is not only a freeing thing, but an empowering thing.<\/p>\n
Modern feminism, even \u201cChristian\u201d feminism, rebels against this. \u00a0This militant movement seeks to supplant the hierarchy God has ordained, and seize power. \u00a0Of course, Eve learned quickly that this is one of Satan\u2019s lies. \u00a0He would have us believe that power is always authoritarian, and that humility is always demeaning, and service is always servility. \u00a0God says that the power of God is in obedience to His Word (1 Cor. 2:4-5<\/a>,\u00a02 Cor. 4:7<\/a>).<\/p>\n Most of the power of submission is in the spiritual life, not necessarily in the temporal world. Oh yes.\u00a0 There may be loss of rights, loss of pride, loss of control, loss of identity sometimes if we submit to an authority, especially an imperfect one.\u00a0 But what do we gain? \u00a0Scripture is clear that we are not to value this life, but rather seek things that will last in the next (Mark 8:35<\/a>;\u00a0Matt. 6:33<\/a>). \u00a0We gain the perspective of our leaders.\u00a0 We learn from our leaders. We grow under the ministry of our leaders. \u00a0We learn to get out of the way and let God work. \u00a0We store up treasures in heaven that do not burn up, but are precious throughout eternity.<\/p>\n You may say, \u201cBut what about that situation they\u2019re not seeing? \u00a0I have this knowledge that surely my leader needs to have in order to be a good leader!\u00a0 How can he be a good leader if he doesn\u2019t do A, B, or C? \u00a0How can THAT be God\u2019s will?\u00a0 What he\u2019s doing doesn\u2019t make sense to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the perspective you must have as one in a submissive role, which is not always for women, by the way. \u00a0Men also have times they must submit to authority. \u00a0God has placed that leader over you.\u00a0 God has led that person there, just as well as He has led you to your place (situation).\u00a0 God is in control.<\/p>\n In my relationship with my husband, I went through a time of struggle having been a very strong willed single adult supporting myself and then becoming \u2026 a wife. \u00a0Aron and I knew each other as good friends for 6 years before we were married. \u00a0I knew he was a godly man, a man who was strong and sought to please the Lord above all other things. \u00a0But even having a good man as my leader, it was still difficult for me,\u00a0because I was not very submissive at first.<\/i>\u00a0Indeed, I still struggle to submit. \u00a0(I can just hear all of the egalitarians groaning.) \u00a0I was so enamored by my own abilities and strengths that I neglected to follow my leader. \u00a0It took me a long time to really watch what he was doing and follow his lead.<\/p>\n Aron has a different mindset than I do, partly because of the call on his life from God Himself to serve in full time ministry which gives him more time devoted to the Word and to prayer. \u00a0He has more experience in applying the truths he has studied because of his calling as well. \u00a0He also has a perspective based on his experiences that God has led him through and a unique personality that God has given him. \u00a0There are numerous things that my husband does that don\u2019t make sense to me, things that I would not have thought of first.\u00a0\u00a0 But I\u2019ve learned to watch him, and wait.\u00a0 I\u2019ve learned to ask him what is his reasoning for this or that action.\u00a0 I wish I could tell each person who does not know him as well as I do, \u201cWatch him.\u00a0 Look what he\u2019s doing.\u00a0 Follow his lead.\u00a0 You\u2019ll like where it takes you.\u201d \u00a0Not because he is perfect, but because\u00a0he really is a good leader. \u00a0He has been so to me and to others. \u00a0I would never have learned this joy had I not submitted when I disagreed or when I saw him mess up.<\/p>\n That is submission. \u00a0It is following, not leading.\u00a0 A follower is not to be the stopgap for the leader.\u00a0 It is not my job to check up on my husband and make sure he\u2019s doing right. \u00a0My job is the submissive roll, the helper\u2019s role. \u00a0He may perform as a servant leader and serve his family and church as God has called him, and that may reveal his humility and meekness. \u00a0 My job, though, is not to point out whether he\u2019s doing it right or doing it wrong.<\/p>\n I still haven\u2019t answered the question. \u00a0How is this empowering then? \u00a0Andrew Murray\u2019s book, Abide in Christ<\/i><\/a> answers us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And so His people are still taught to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. When He strengthens them, it is not by taking away the sense of feebleness, and giving in its place the feeling of strength. By no means. But in a very wonderful way leaving and even increasing the sense of utter impotence, He gives them along with it the consciousness of strength in Him. \u2018We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.\u2019 The feebleness and the strength are side by side; as the one grows, the other too, until they understand the saying, \u2018When I am weak, then am I strong; I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me.’1<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n So the real challenge to us is not so much to submit to my earthly authorities, but ultimately do I submit to God? \u00a0And, after all, do we believe in God\u2019s sovereignty?\u00a0\u00a0 Is God really in control and is His will really for me to follow THIS leader?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 Check how many times we are to OBEY from a submissive stance:<\/p>\n To parents:\u00a0 Eph. 6:1<\/p>\n To husbands:\u00a0 Eph. 5:22, 33<\/p>\n To employers:\u00a0 Eph. 6:5<\/p>\n To government: 1 Pet. 2:13-17<\/p>\n To pastors:\u00a0 Heb. 13:17<\/p>\n Submission to my leaders, even imperfect leaders, can move a prideful and impulsive girl toward humility and patience and temperance. \u00a0So that makes my point. Pride, impulsiveness and selfishness are weaknesses. \u00a0\u00a0Humility and patience and self-control are strengths! \u00a0Those are the qualities that God can use. \u00a0These good fruits of the Spirit clear the way for God to work through me. \u00a0The fruits of\u00a0my<\/i>\u00a0spirit only quench the Spirit. \u00a0Submission will allow that quiet dove to convict and change me from within. \u00a0The Potter will smooth out the bumps and mold the clay into His vessel. \u00a0Spurgeon said,<\/p>\n That rough looking diamond is put upon the wheel of the lapidary. \u00a0He cuts it on all sides. \u00a0It loses much \u2013 much that seemed costly to itself\u2026. Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for in the day when the crown shall be set upon the head of the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, one day of glory shall stream from you. \u00a0\u2018They shall be mine,\u2019 saith the Lord,\u2019 in the day when I take up my jewels.\u20193<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Modern feminism and so-called Christian feminism or egalitarianism miss this point. The power to be satisfied, fulfilled, at peace, and with joy is not in finding yourself. \u00a0It\u2019s not in avoiding pain or suffering. \u00a0It\u2019s in trusting, resting, abiding, serving. \u00a0It is in submitting to the Lord. \u00a0I must quiet my soul and \u201cbehave myself like a weaned child\u201d (Psalm 131:2<\/a>).<\/p>\n We must submit to God\u00a0at the point of salvation. Why do we fight against it in our Christian walk?\u00a0 Submission is power. \u00a0The Potter may choose to\u00a0make me a vessel for honor that is admired by all, or He may make me just a clay pot to be used and then broken for His purposes (Romans 9:21<\/a>). \u00a0Either outcome is reliant on a submissive lump of clay in the Master\u2019s hands, and either outcome is good.<\/p>\n Submission\u00a0is<\/i>\u00a0power. \u00a0But it\u2019s not my power. \u00a0It is God\u2019s power working through me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n None of self, and all of Thee<\/b><\/p>\n By Theodore Monod<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow<\/p>\n That a time could ever be,<\/p>\n When I proudly said to Jesus,<\/p>\n \u201cAll of self, and none of Thee.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet He found me; I beheld Him<\/p>\n Bleeding on th\u2019 accursed tree,<\/p>\n And my wistful heart said faintly,<\/p>\n \u201cSome of self, and some of Thee.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Day by day His tender mercy,<\/p>\n Healing, helping, full and free,<\/p>\n Brought me lower while I whispered,<\/p>\n \u201cLess of self, and more of Thee.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Higher than the highest heaven,<\/p>\n Deeper than the deepest sea,<\/p>\n Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:<\/p>\n \u201cNone of self, and all of Thee.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ** Rebekah Schrepfer is a regular contributor to Aletheia and a blogger at MostlySensible.com<\/a>. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Notes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The humility and discipline of submitting to those over us has a subtle and unique power. \u00a0It is not power over the leader, but power over self. Power over selfishness.\u00a0 To place my desires and perspective and opinions below that of another person (husband, parent, pastor, teacher, rules, etc.) Is not only a freeing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[167],"class_list":["post-7163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-christian-living-cross-discipleship"],"yoast_head":"\n\n