Introduction
In teaching spiritual formation, there are at least twelve spiritual disciplines that believers are taught. These consist of the following: [taken from Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Richard J. Foster]
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Study of the Holy Scriptures
- Living a simplic lifestyle
- Solitude
- Submission
- Service
- Confession/repentance
- Worship
- Guidance
- Celebration
Of these twelve spiritual practices, it is the discipline of submission that is the most abused and misunderstood by the Body of Christ. The essence of this blog post is to use the Master’s teaching and example to shed the spiritual intent and transformative nature of submission as a discipline for a faithful follower of the Master.
The ultimate goal of spiritual formation is the character/heart of the follower to be like Christ. This miracle of inner spiritual transformation rest on this very difficult teaching and example of the Master of “self-denial or death to self-life. This self-life or teaching of losing one’s life is the actual exposed ruined life within the heart of the submissive follower of Jesus, that God’s desire is to replace with spiritual virtue.
The Spiritual Discipline of Submission
“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. John 13:13-14 [We will revisit this passage later in the section: The New Norm for Greatness below]
Every spiritual discipline for a disciple, the greatest intent is to bring about ultimate spiritual freedom as opposed to static legalism, bondage, or ritualistic activities. Everything associated with the Kingdom of God is to be appreciated and experienced by the Believer as God’s common good and moral standard.
The most important factor toward understanding the discipline of submission is for the Disciple of the Master to learn how to willfully, lay down the learned burden of needing to always be right, or the need to always get one’s needs met at the expense of others.
Those who are mature in their spiritual growth, have learned not to ever justify, defend, or vindicate themselves to anyone. Below are some supportive scripture references:
The Lord judges the people; vindicate me, O Lord according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. Psalm 7:8 Likewise, Romans 8:33 states Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies. Lamentations 3:58 proclaims, O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause; You have redeemed my life.
One of these spiritual intentions of the gift of submission is it is transformative of an individual who possesses a very strong self-will spiritual disposition will begin to lose its stronghold on the individual. We are never to force our wills upon others, nor are we to be argumental at the expense of unity, grace, peace, and agape.
The spirit of Consideration
Let each of you look not to their interests, but also the interest of others. Phil. 2:4 Believers are encouraged to honor and respect the elders in families and the community, “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.” One of our greatest offenses to the soul of others is verbal assault, To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:2
Spiritual mature followers’ willful action of submission is the very basis for the spirit of consideration and mutual respect toward others. This reality is only possible when an individual is disciplined enough to give up one’s rights toward others as an expression of unconditional agape. Giving up one’s rights for others frees the individual from anger, arguments, bitterness that you feel when someone misuses you or is abusive toward you without just cause.
Understanding biblical submission in the spirit of consideration towards others before ourselves begins with this appeal from the Teacher, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Mark 8:34
These ancient words of the Master were counter-culture during HIs time, as well as during our modern times. Our culture encourages self-worship, individualism, self-fulfillment, vanity, meeting one’s needs, and watching out for number one.
The deeper spiritual implications associated with Jesus’ words and His demonstration of “self-denial” do not imply “self-hatred.” What a mature follower of the teachings and practice of self-denial learns is that one’s ultimate happiness and fulfillment within the Kingdom of God will never become actualized by getting one’s way, or wishes needs on-demand.
Self-denial does not mean the loss of one’s identity but the teaching and its practice within the lifestyle of the Believer reinforces the miracle that you belong to Christ as one who He has called unto Himself. One’s ability to extend the practice of denying self for Christ’s sake and others are clear indicators that you are one of His chosen.
Self-denial is not self-contempt, or emotionally feeling worthless. The Master’s words “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. Matt. 10:39
The New Social Norm of Greatness
Jesus’ teachings and spiritual practice in society were revolutionary in many ways. This is so true about His refashioning the definition of greatness in the Kingdom of God. Jesus identified and defined who is the greatest of all, and who is the leader of all is he who is willing to be the last of all and servant of all. This new social norm of greatness is not the positions and places of power that will determine who you are. Jesus’ concept of greatness is of service is humility.
The Living Translation says The greatest among you must be a servant. Matthew 23:11
The spiritual discipline of submission/self-denial is very difficult teaching of many in followers’ lifestyles. The Master’s spiritual formula was “Cross-death” will transfer into “Cross-life!” This was the greatest spiritual truth of His life as the Son of Man. The apostle Paul understood this very well and reflected this spiritual truth in this passage:
Have this attitude in yourself, which was also in Christ, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
The results of Jesus’ successful example of the epitome of spiritual humility, He won sovereignty over all people and creation. This radical Kingdom lifestyle of “Cross-life” undermines all the social constructs that have their base upon power and self-interest.
Before the initial disciples would understand this principle within their own lives and ministries, Jesus demonstrated and implemented this “Cross-life” discipline to His disciples by washing their feet before His crucifixion. He stated, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15
For Jesus, this act was the display of His humility and His servanthood. For the disciples, the washing of their feet was in direct contrast to their heart attitudes as they wished for selfish, human greatness in His coming Kingdom.
The washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus also implies the spiritual cleansing for a continued relationship with Jesus. As such, this humble act of Jesus functions as an extension of the disciples’ baptism in that it signifies continual. cleansing from the sin acquired (after baptism) through life in a sinful world.
The Discipline of Submission is an ethical theme and practice that runs throughout the New Covenant communities of followers of the Master. Followers of the risen Christ were commanded to live a life of submission after the example of Christ. Self-denial is a posture fitting for all those who faithfully follow the crucified and resurrected Lord and redeemer of our soul-life.
The “Beloved Communities” that practiced “self-denial” in the social context, completely ignored all of the contemporary customs of superordinate and subordinate, while choosing to call everyone to “count others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
Willful acts of self-denial or subordinate status by the followers of Christ were not governed by the greater society, culture, ethnic place of origin, social status, class status, sexual origin, it was driven by the spiritual calling of discipleship and the faithful example of Jesus’ teaching and demonstration.
Limits of the Discipline of Submission
The discipline of submission is established by the spirit of agape. The eventual learned limitations and resistance of this practice of submission are morally and scripturally accepted whenever thought, actions, beliefs, practices, laws, conflict with the Word of God.
Just as we have suggested earlier that the willful act of self-denial is never to be confused with self-rejection or weakness to be exploited by those in power or authority.
Whenever our hearts, minds, and will encounter unscriptural situations in our life journey as believers, we must ask the question: “whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you [or systems, institutions], rather than God…, we must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29.
The litmus test for the authentic acts of submission is to be genuinely giving demonstratively and not intellectually or doctrinally. Spiritually generated acts of submission will always partner with service, for they are yoked together. Below are just some of the acts of willful submission that are motivated and nurtured by agape.
Total submission to our Creator. “You shall have no other God but Me.” Exodus 20:3
Total submission to the reading, studying, and examination of the Holy Scriptures. The lifetime daily study of the Holy Scriptures is to become a form of worship to our Creator.
Submission to our biological family and our spiritual family. Keeping in mind the above-mentioned restrictions and limitations of submission.
Acts of submission toward our neighbors and those we encounter in our daily lives. The young ruler asks Messiah, what are the greatest commandments? “You shall love your God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and next, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The entirety of all the Holy Scriptures hinges on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37 ff.
Acts of submission and random acts of kindness to those who live among us who are broken, rejected, and outcast in our culture. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Michah 6:8
And finally, acts of submission toward a broken world. Christ has commissioned faithful disciples as His ambassadors. chiefly to go into all the world and make other disciples after all that He has instructed us. Matthew 28 Also to use our God-given gifts, talents, and resources toward tending and mending a very broken world until He returns. Amen
Grace and Peace
Brother Alonzo
This blog post is my class notes for my students of the “Walking in The Messiah Discipleship Group.” Our class will resume in January 2022. Resource books are Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster and Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard, and the Holy Scriptures.