There are at least eight manifestations of Spirit-filling in the New Testament, four of which are in our text. The first is music (Eph. 5:19a), second, there is worship (19b), and third, there is thanksgiving (v. 20). Fourth, there is submission—Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (v. 21).
Here is one of the most misunderstood principles of God’s Word! It has been greatly misapplied and abused. But this principle is actually the one that leads into Paul’s deeper discussion of the family and the responsibilities of each family member. How desperately we need to understand this all-important truth. Let us look at two thoughts.
First, there is the meaning of submission. It needs to be made plain right from the start that submission has absolutely nothing to do with superiority, inferiority, authority, or position. Submission does not mean “slavery” nor does it imply “domination.”
The Greek word used here is hupotasso. The root tassō originally carried the military connotation of drawing up troops (or ships) into battle array. From this came the ideas of directing or appointing someone to a task and to arrange and put things in order. The prefix hupo means “under.”
To illustrate, when one joins the military he is no longer an individual; he no longer governs himself; he voluntarily ranks himself underneath someone else. For this reason, I was amazed when the Army came out with the new recruiting slogan some time back, “An Army of One.” How silly that is, but it reflects the philosophy today of individualism and independence apart from submission. The whole point of hupotassō is not to be an army of one, but to voluntarily get in order under someone. So, as Spirit-filled Christians, we are to rank ourselves under one another within God’s predefined positions. Again, this does NOT imply that one person is inferior to another. Rather, this means the Christian is humble and is willing to be “ranked underneath” as God prescribes. Consider a few illustrations.
First, Church leadership. Each Christian within the local church is to submit to the spiritual leadership of the church. Why? Because God ordained the church and its leaders. This does not mean that the leaders are better people, nor does it mean they lord over you. It simply means you rank yourself under their leadership.
Second, human government. According to Romans 13 Christians are to submit to the laws of the land. Why? Because God ordained human government to carry out his laws and precepts. This does not imply that government officials are superior or better. It simply means we rank ourselves under their leadership and obey as long as they do not demand that we disobey God’s Law.
Third, the master and slave relationship. In American society this means the employer and employee relationship. The employee submits to the authority over him. This does not imply that the employer is a superior person, rather that he is the head.
Fourth, the Lord Jesus. Here was the greatest act of submission. Our Savior submitted Himself to the greater need, the greater good. Does that imply that He was inferior? Certainly not! He voluntarily put his will aside and submitted to the demand of the Father’s holiness and sovereign will in the salvation plan. That act actually gives us our motive for submission. Our text reads in the fear of God. Therefore, we should submit because our Savior submitted. He asks no more of us than what He did Himself.
So, may we repeat, submission is a mutual thing; it is designed to be balanced. It is not something one person lords over another like an axe above the neck. Rather, it is designed to bring about a mutually satisfying and productive relationship.
This leads us right into our second thought, which we’ll examine next time.
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