Our Mission is Submission

Romans 13:1-2: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Submit to authority.

But what authority specifically is God commanding us to submit to?

Here scripture clearly says that no authority exists that isn’t established by God, so the list of authorities that we are to submit to is an extensive list, and goes on and on.

• Children are to obey their parents. Ephesians 6:1-3 tells us Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” which is the first commandment with a promise “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
  
  
• All must submit to the local authorities like employers and land lords, police and city officials, and on top of that, governmental authority as well.
  
  
• The Bible also teaches us that our pastors are our shepherds and spiritual authorities as well. We are to honor them, pray for them, and we are to submit to them as well.
  

So what does submission mean? Is it merely obeying the law? The rules set forth by the government? Is it just doing our chores as children, and doing our job as adults?

Paul tells us exactly what it means to submit to authority, in Titus chapter 3 verses 1 and 2.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

From this scripture, we can easily see 5 key points of true biblical submission:

1. Obedience. This includes abiding by the laws set forth by the local and federal government. Paul says in Romans 13:5 “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him. If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

• The obedience that the Bible calls for, doesn’t depend on our input, it depends on what the local and federal governments, the police department, and the IRS decide. Any less then full submission to the authority God has set up is not merely rebellion towards the authorities, but rebellion against God Himself.

2. Ready to do whatever is good. This stands out as one of the main themes for Christian living throughout the Bible. Doing good, can be summed up, in loving your neighbor, as you love yourself.

3. To slander no one. Did you realize, that God commands us, as believers, to respect authorities, even in how we talk about them. It doesn’t matter if we do not agree with them, or like them, or if they are making wise decisions, because the Bible teaches us, that it was God’s wise decision to put them there. Instead of bashing leaders, lets pray for the leaders we have, and ask for God to give them wisdom as they govern us. As Christians, we must understand that no authority, none, not Hitler, not Sadam Hussein, not Pharaoh, who oppressed Gods people for an entire lifetime, have come into power on their own. God put them there!

Romans 9:16-17 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

4. To be peaceable and considerate. This brings the last two points together, to be ready to do good and to slander no one. This kind of living is exactly what points your neighbor, your friend, your enemy, toward Jesus Christ. It is our lives that point others to Christ, if you truly live for Christ. You truly are a light shining out to the world when you carry out your life as both peaceful, and at peace with God, and you live that life with an open compassion and consideration toward others.

5. And to show true humility toward all men. Showing humility toward all men means, that you are not trying to be better then others, not pointing out the fault of others, and not trying to win the argument. The point is, that whoever exults himself will be humbled, but if you humble yourself, then God will exult you. Humility is seeing yourself in light of the Gospel, which tells us very plainly that we are all very sinful, and desperately in need of grace and forgiveness. If you spend your time looking deep down, into your own heart, into your own life, examining your own walk with Christ, you will most certainly find that there is plenty that you need to be dealing with first, before you go about “helping others” get the speck out of their eye.

So, (you ask) when do we not have to submit to authority?

This question is easy to answer, though Christians have been asking this for centuries to side step their obligation to be obedient. The answer is simple. Submit in every instance, unless you are told to violate God’s written commandment in His Word. You cannot know what to submit to, unless you read the Word, and know it for yourself.

We see this principal in the book of Acts, chapter 4:18-19.

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied. Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Here the apostles respectfully answered, but nevertheless held firm to Gods commandment, Peter and John literally lived and died by this principal, and in 1 Peter 2:13-17 Peter tells us the true heart of submission, that God desires in us.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong” and to commend those who do right. For it is God;s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone; Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.

Have we really looked at submission to authorities here on earth in light of our worship of God? I pray that as you meditate on these truths you will see yet another scriptural principal to live your entire life, as an offering of worship, to our Holy God, who alone is worthy of our complete submission, adoration and worship.

In His Service,
Brian Bivens