When We Must Not Submit

The apostles refused to submit to government authorities when they were in direct conflict with God's authority; they refused to stop spreading the gospel. Question 3 sounds like an ethical dilemma from one of my classes. That's a difficult situation. I suppose you would just have to convey love and respect, but remind him that God is your ultimate authority.

Relationship with Leaders

Sadly, this lesson is going to step all over my toes. I know a few of the elders at Auburn Church of Christ, but definitely not all of them. I know all of the elders at Beltline, but I couldn't make them all of the top of my head. I rarely, if ever, go out of my way to speak to them or thank them for their guidance and willingness to take such responsibility for our church family. Our submission to their leadership does not mean that we follow mindlessly or agree with everything they say. I do realize that I've left some bitterness in my heart for one leader from my home church, and that is a struggle for me. I have a hard time being submissive to a man that I do not fully respect as a spiritual leader.

"For the Lord's Sake"

True. Submission is bending my will to comply with another's. If I refuse to bend my will to God's then it is only for my sake, because I would rather further my own will than God's. For example, my entire relationship with Alex. That was obviously destructive and not God's will, but I refused to listen and comply with His direction for my life because I had my own plans I was unwilling to sacrifice. As for the statement from question 4, I think that I Peter 2 makes it blatantly obvious that we as Christians must submit to man's authority. It's really quite simple and laid out in black and white.

Key to Growth

I think that to grow and learn, you have to be submissive. If you walk into a classroom, but refuse to submit, then you fail to acknowledge the greater wisdom of your teacher. If you fail to acknowledge that he/she is more knowledgeable, then you learn nothing and remain stagnant in your own miniscule wisdom. Even Jesus grew and learned through submission and obedience. I think God has plenty to teach me, but unless I can let go of my own pride and submit to His will, I never will learn.

A Matter of Attitude

Jesus submitted Himself to an undeserved death on the cross. We have trouble just submitting to legitimate authority. Jesus had done nothing wrong, and couldn't be held accountable by any standards, legal or moral. He was perfect, and still He submitted His life in the place of ours. As Christians, we follow Christ's example and try to live as He did, so all Christians must be submissive. However, our ultimate submission is to God.

Different Situations

We are called to be submissive to: God, to all authority instituted by men (including slavery), to our husbands, to one another (brothers and sisters in Christ?), to our leaders (elders?), and to those who are older than us. That means I should be in submission to the officer who wrote me that ticket and to each of you and to Dr. Chandler whether I like it or not. My issue with this is that the majority of the time, I'd rather not listen to someone else. For example, I would love to ignore the authority of the officer that gave me a ticket. I tend to buck and pull at the reigns instead of willingly submitting to the authorities in my life. However, Jesus showed submission all through His life, even when He was entitled to do otherwise.

Pray, Then Proclaim

I think today is a real challenge for me. In order to live the lifestyle God wants, I have to always be alert for opportunities to share my life. I need to be in prayer every day, asking for God to open doors so that I can share what He's done for me. God is all-powerful and He can bring opportunities to me and He can give me the confidence and the words to minister to others.