Q35. Submission

[Pastor Ralph]

Q35. (Titus 3:1-2; Colossians 3:23-25). How is appropriate submission related to humility? Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride? When you have to submit to a harsh person, how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual? How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile?

[Brother Clifford wilson]

Q35 Being humble means to submit oneself to others.  Humbling, being humble to others of higher or lower stature applies the same, status doesn't matter.  The humbling experience is a reward of itself.  To be humble separates one from others in this world.  Humbleness is in short supply.  The reward is teaching others how to become humble.  As your gift of humility submits itself it leaves others sensing your kindness and gentle demeanor.  Humility seeks no reward, seeks no words of kindness, it only seeks to be a gift to others.  Hopefully contagious.  He who prides, let him pride in the Lord, we are called to live in the spirit.  A spirit filled man seeks to separate himself from worldly complaining and stressing. We cannot become overly servile, we are sent by God into situations where servility is required.  Be filled with the spirit in all that you do.

[Jewells]

Q35. (Titus 3:1-2; Colossians 3:23-25). How is appropriate submission related to humility? Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride? When you have to submit to a harsh person, how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual? How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile?

The Lord commands us to submit one to another.  He said the greatest among you will be the servant of all.  Jesus was our example of servanthood.  We must humble ourselves and submit one to another.  The Lord is the one who is in charge.  He places the leaders among us or that is what is suppose to be happening.  The leaders submit to God and the church submits to the leadership and direction God is giving the church.  We all submit and to do this we must stay in the place of humility.  The Lord says that whatever we do we must do it as unto the Lord.  So those being directed can do it unto the Lord, and the Lord is the one who will repay.  That way if the leadership is harsh, or neglectful or someway out of order, we know in the end the Lord will make it right if we stay in the right attitude and serve as unto the Lord.  Being humble in heart does not mean to slavishly cower before man.  Since God honors all men and is not partial, as we humble in our hearts we have dignity before God.  As long as we make God our priority and glorifying him our priority the attitudes of the others should not taint us.  We can ask God for protection.  

[Clelie]

Appropriate submission is obedience,respect and ready to do whatever is right.

opposing church leaders shows that we are more capable or knowledgeable than them ,which is pride and judgementalism. 
 

impatience and outburst is lack of self control which is a fruit of the Spirit.

Forebearance comes through situations God allow us to be patient waiting on Him for answered prayers.

 

when two people get married they both come with their own  upbringings which may differ from each other .They both have to make room to understand each other and to accept each other for their own good,peace  and harmony.

 

 

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q35. (Titus 3:1-2; Colossians 3:23-25).

How is appropriate submission related to humility?

It shows that you accept with a sincere heart the authority over you. 

Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride?

They don't have self-control and mostly feel inferior.

When you have to submit to a harsh person, how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual?

The harsh person is there to from you self-control and keep you on your knees asking GOD for guidance.

How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile?

This is difficult specially if the authority is UNGODLY, but the WORD say submit so shall it be.

[Mama Eve]

Q. 35  ( Titus 3:1-2, Colossians 3:23-25) How is an appropriate submission related to humility?

Believers as the Bible Scriptures mean that we are instructed to be submissive to authorities and be obedient. We are to do our work heartily with all our being and treat others with love and respect. This all relates to humility.

Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride?

This is not godly. We are seeing this more and more in today's society. People should honor and respect church leaders . That includes the Pastor and elders as well as the entire congregation, because they are God's representatives. However, many church leaders abuse their position. However, people who oppose church leaders show no respect, because they want to usurp the leaders authority or discredit the church leaders so they can get their way. This is sinful Pride.

When you have to submit to a harsh person how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual?

When dealing with such a person we still need to show humility. We are to see them as they are, respond with love and diffuse the situation and pray for them. We must always remember we never know what that person is going through.

How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile?

Humility = Patience, Forbearance and Perseverance.

 

[George L]

Q35. (Titus 3:1-2; Colossians 3:23-25).

1. How is appropriate submission related to humility? Humility is our vision of our position in relationship and ministration to avoid conflict if possible. Submission is recognition of who is the responsible head of organizations. Recognition of their authority and their responsibility.
2. Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride? The leader is responsible to God for care of God’s sheep in his charge. That is not the position of the sheep. One’s personal view from within an organization is quite limited in scope. The pastor has a top down view of the whole. My view is vs this is the whole view. At the person level, false pride.
3. When you have to submit to a harsh person, how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual? Harsh people rarely respect any advice given. I start suggesting twice. If they will not hear, after that I tell once. I have done my duty to them. Then they can run off the cliff themself. I have avoided confrontation and offered my help. That is my rightful duty as they placed the limits on interchange of information.
4. How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile? I have no issue with bosses needing to operate as they need to. Everyone is different in personality profile and therefore how they process information. Submission is presenting information and workmanship the best way you can so they can function with it efficiently.  The more ‘slavish’ exists the less valid the exchange of information and the poorer the outcome. The demander walks upon their own choices of slippery slope. Obey and pray. They turn or slip away. God protects the faithful servant if he be obedient.

[Brenda Joy]

Q35. (Titus 3:1-2; Colossians 3:23-25). How is appropriate submission related to humility? Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride? When you have to submit to a harsh person, how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual? How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile?  Appropriate submission is related humility because it makes us peaceable, considerate, and we honor God.  Opposing church leaders exhibits pride because it is disrespectful and dishonors.  When we have to submit to someone harsh, we can look at it as we are serving God.  

[hanks]

Q35. (TITUS 3:1-2; COLOSSIANS 3:23-25). 
How is appropriate submission related to humility? Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride? When you have to submit to a harsh person, how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual? How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile? 
Appropriate submission is that made to those in authority over us, and in difficult circumstances we consider it as a service to our Lord Jesus. This applies to a harsh or difficult person, and we gladly submit to our Lord as an honour to serve Him. Even the humblest service can be glorified and dignified by doing it for the Lord. In a true church our leaders are representatives of God and are to be respected. Authority has been given to them, and we as believers should be submissive to this authority, remembering that they will eventually have to give an account to God. Opposing displays the pride of recognition. Rather than destroying the church find another church. 
 

[Lisa Wolf]

Q35. (Titus 3:1-2; Colossians 3:23-25). How is appropriate submission related to humility? Why does opposing church leaders so often exhibit pride? When you have to submit to a harsh person, how can you look at it in a way that is spiritual? How can we submit voluntarily in our hearts without being slavishly servile?

"...Be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone." Titus 3:2 reminds us how we are to act in regards to everyone.  Only a humble person can achieve peaceable, considerate, and gentle to EVERYONE!  Thus, submission when appropriate exemplifies the character quality of humility.  When we oppose a church leader, it shows we think ourselves above that leader.  However, if the person is teaching false information, I believe we have to speak with them privately in hopes they will align themself with the Word of God.  Submitting to a harsh person is nearly impossible.  Two of my children worked for horrible bosses who would yell and scream and  be unreasonable.  Both were quiet and respectful, but I let them know they had my permission to quit those jobs.  Both of them grew in patience during that experience. Romans 8:28 promises that all things work for the good of those who love Jesus. All things.  Submitting by being quiet is easier than submitting your heart to a harsh person.  Colossians 3:23 gives us encouragement and hope, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters," As I told my granddaughter last week, we can do hard things, with God's help.

[Krissi]

Perhaps we should distinguish between coerced submission and that which is freely chosen or "in our heart." To submit to governmental authorities is an involuntary act, one of giving into the coercive power of the state; to submit to a pastor is a voluntary act by an individual or family, one of submitting to his spiritual authority.

Submitting to a pastor is a choice subsequent to joining a church. You voluntarily join a church, then submit. If the pastor or other people in the church are behaving in ways contrary to the gospel, or if they are nasty and back-biting, you have no scriptural or moral obligation to submit to them. If, with good conscience before the Lord, you cannot submit, you should leave. 

Regarding groups to which you have no choice but to submit, such as the state, your submission can either be insincere/coerced or sincere/voluntary. Not all citizens respect the government at all times. There is a point where some citizens decide that non-violent, civil disobedience is the only moral choice that remains to them ... the only Christian choice. The American revolution was initiated by godly men who were unwilling to submit to tyranny. They chose to die rather than give into a harsh monarch who wanted to crush the new colonies and bring them under submission to the crown. Were they wrong? They would be if submission meant being quiet, respectful and patient. If you believe that God wanted the American revolutionaries to passively wait for all things to work together for the good rather than actively work for the good themselves, then, in your eyes, their rebellion was wrong. 

There must be a role for non-violent, civil disobedience - this is the opposite of submission. Again, civil disobedience does not apply to church because membership there is voluntary and uncoerced. It only applies to non-voluntary collectivities with the power to coerce its "members" or citizens such as the government. 

So, if you "have to" submit to a harsh person in church, you've chosen compliance. You can choose to not comply, too, to "vote with your feet," that is, leave.

What about submitting to a cruel boss or spouse. Some women feel coerced into staying in abusive relationships because the church demands their submission -- this is wrong, imho. Similarly, no one should stay in workplace that's cruel and harsh. They can improve their situation by either getting out of it or working within it. It's their choice to submit.

Here are two examples of coerced submission that border on "slavish servility."

1. Hate speech laws. Here, the state coerces citizens to think and speak a certain way … not allowing us to communicate among ourselves or in public ideas that the authorities deemed unacceptable. This is Orwellian, not Christian. To submit to these laws is sin, in my opinion.

2. Coerced vaccinations. Here is another example of the state forcing some Christians to go against their conscience, to refuse to let us make our own decisions. Many people chose to submit to keep their jobs or careers. A few, too, willingly chose to submit. For most of us, though, was this true submission or mere coercion?