While looking at what the Bible has to say about marriage, it’s hard to avoid the subject of submission. We have Paul’s famous words to the Ephesians: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22) Such words seem out of place in the twenty-first century. Sensitive ears listening for misogyny in Paul latch onto these words as evidence that the apostle was a chauvinist.
I think such accusations are unfounded. Tomorrow I’ll look at that verse in particular. Today I want to point out the role submission has in Christian life in general. To see that we have to go no further than the previous verse in Ephesians 5: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) Paul doesn’t just call women to submit their husbands, he calls all Christians to submit to one another. It becomes a contest of sorts to see who can submit to the other. He wrote to the Philippians: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) When writing to the Romans, Paul told them: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)
However, none of this originated with Paul. Jesus not only taught about submission, he lived a life of submission. He described his ministry in this way: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) When the disciples argued about who was the greatest among them, he told them: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:25-28) He gave an example of submission by washing his disciples feet, then offered the supreme example by dying on a cross.
In an age of self-promotion, “looking out for #1,” standing up for one’s rights and assertiveness training, submission seems out of place. We shouldn’t be surprised; Jesus didn’t call us to live like everyone else. He came and turned the world’s values on their ear, including the concept of power. Instead of seeking to impose our will, Christians are called to submit.