Submission and a close relative, obedience, are not the most popular topics of the day, but they do play a significant role in the life of the assembly. Here are a few exhortations to obedience: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account” (Heb. 13:17). “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21). “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5).
The Lord Himself was the perfect Man of obedience. One of the most mysterious verses in the Bible tell us: “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5:8).
The church has always been threatened with a carnal way of thinking that sees the local church in terms of worldly power struggles. Some Christians have thought that power in the assembly is something to be sought after through whatever manipulation or strategy that works best. In the first century, the apostles warned of unbelievers who “crept in unawares” (Jude 4) with a view to destroying the flock through their power plays. But even professing believers in the early church were guilty. Diotrephes (3 Jn. 8), Alexander (2 Tim. 4:14) and others saw the local church as a place to seek power.
We need to be careful that we are not guilty of these charges in greater or lesser degree. My responsibility as a member in fellowship in the local church is to obey. But some will immediately object that such apparent blind obedience does not adequately handle church rulers who fail to rule well. And so, we might reason, we have to take things into our own hands to compensate for their failure. This thinking has led some in the history of the church to assume no elders exist anywhere.
However, a careful review of what the Bible teaches about obedience and submission in the assembly should give us assurance that God knew what He was doing in teaching us plainly about these issues.
We submit to the Lord. Wives, children, servants, and “sheep” all submit “as unto the Lord.” Underline that word “Lord” in Ephesians 5 and 6 in your Bible.
There is great power and peace in submission. When we submit to the elders, we are recognizing God’s appointed authority, and are now His responsibility.
Instruments of His authority carry serious obligations. It is a serious thing to abuse God’s delegated authority. For example, the Scriptures instruct a wife to submit to her husband, but the husband is not required to demand it. Rather, the husband’s duty is to “love, cherish and nourish” his wife. In fact, the model is Christ’s love for the church. Most husbands have enough to do in keeping this command without worrying about the wife’s submission.
Fathers likewise are told not to “provoke” their children to wrath. This guards us against worldly notions of power over those who are entrusted to our care.
Elders do well in following the example of the apostles. Peter for instance says, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2-3). Or consider Paul’s approach to the Thessalonians: “Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thess. 2:6-7).
Rebellion is sin. Samuel’s solemn words to Saul still ring in our ears: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” Pretty strong words. Submission and obedience to God is a safe place to be. His rule and delegated authority is not a cold, lifeless system that can be explained by diagrams. It comes from a heart of love for sinners. He could order our obedience, but His grace has won our rebel hearts through the death of His Son. Let us be characterized by His ways as the church displays to the principalities and powers the “manifold wisdom of God” (Eph. 3:10).