How Submission Builds Relationships
I have to admit I have not been a fan of the word "Submission." It has always rung of those in lower social positions being brow-beaten or oppressed and relegated to lesser status. Equality definitely didn't enter into the conversation.
A particularly vivid example of submission lived out in the faith arena was modeled by my husband's faith (he grew up Christadelphian) where women play a second class role to men all the way around. They can't pray in the presence of male baptized members of the faith, they are to defer at all times to the man's perspective and they certainly can't teach. All are cited as Biblical, and as such for many years that contributed to my Biblical understanding of submission.
I am relieved to say the church I worship at doesn't follow this model and women hold leadership positions, teach and although not in our conference, in others are ordained as pastors. Submission is a give and take relationship between individuals, one where the other's interests are put first, where servitude is the ideal norm, and submission to God is what matters.
We have been reading Richard Foster's "Celebration of Discipline" in Sunday School. This book has given me a new paradigm and perspective about submission to absorb. It is one that has allowed me to relinquish lingering preconceived notions about submission that equate it with subservience. Submission is not finding one's self at the bottom of a social pecking order, placed there by others, rather it is a state of mind satisfied to be in a position at the end because a conscious, liberated choice to put others first has been made.
It is a gift of freedom, not a state of oppression and for this I am grateful.
Foster talks about submission as basically giving up our perceived right and desire to always have our own way and last word. Our attitude becomes one of sincere deference to what is correct and what puts the other person first.
A particularly vivid example of submission lived out in the faith arena was modeled by my husband's faith (he grew up Christadelphian) where women play a second class role to men all the way around. They can't pray in the presence of male baptized members of the faith, they are to defer at all times to the man's perspective and they certainly can't teach. All are cited as Biblical, and as such for many years that contributed to my Biblical understanding of submission.
I am relieved to say the church I worship at doesn't follow this model and women hold leadership positions, teach and although not in our conference, in others are ordained as pastors. Submission is a give and take relationship between individuals, one where the other's interests are put first, where servitude is the ideal norm, and submission to God is what matters.
We have been reading Richard Foster's "Celebration of Discipline" in Sunday School. This book has given me a new paradigm and perspective about submission to absorb. It is one that has allowed me to relinquish lingering preconceived notions about submission that equate it with subservience. Submission is not finding one's self at the bottom of a social pecking order, placed there by others, rather it is a state of mind satisfied to be in a position at the end because a conscious, liberated choice to put others first has been made.
It is a gift of freedom, not a state of oppression and for this I am grateful.
Foster talks about submission as basically giving up our perceived right and desire to always have our own way and last word. Our attitude becomes one of sincere deference to what is correct and what puts the other person first.
Labels: Celebration of Discipline, Christadelphians and submission, RIchard Foster, servitude, Submission
posted by www.kathypride.com at
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