Submission is given not taken
This post is part of a monthly synchroblog. The topic for November is “leadership”. At the bottom of this post you’ll find links to other posts about leadership.
Today is election day in the USA, and many Americans are thinking about leadership. In the church, Christians often think about leadership as well. In fact, as Hans Küng has stated, leadership defines the church to such an extent that, for many, ecclesiology is simply an exercise in hierarchiology.
Whenever we discuss church leadership, the question of submission arises. Who is supposed to submit to whom? How do those “above” get those “under” to submit to their decisions? I suggest that these questions demonstrate a flawed understanding of the leadership that Scriptures teaches the church.
Starting with Jesus, he said:
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV)
Thus, according to Jesus, leadership among Christians is to be radically different – not front and center – but among and under. Leaders who follow Jesus’ example are not in front of a group directing them, but among and under a group serving them. Jesus was not talking about “servant-leadership”, but “servants”.
However, the more important point for this post revolves around the idea of “submission”. According to Hebrews 13:17, we are to “Trust our leaders, and submit to them.” This passage, and others like it, are often used by leaders to force, encourage, persuade, even cajole people into acquiescing to the decisions made by the leaders. This practice demonstrates a misunderstanding of submissions.
Leaders cannot force people to submit to them. This is not submission, but subservience. Instead, submission can only be given.
We often take instructions given to others and apply them for ourselves. For example, husbands often feel it is there responsibility to force their wives (or at least remind them strongly) to submit. Yet, the instruction is for wives to submit, not for husbands to force their submission (which is not submission but subservience or enslavement). Instead, husbands are instructed to love their wives. What does a husband do if his wife does not submit? He loves her.
The same can be said of leaders. We are told to follow or submit to those who are leading us. In reality, our submission demonstrates who our leaders are. Leaders are never told to force or even try to persuade others to submit to them. What are leaders to do if others do not submit? Keep living as an example of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We cannot choose whether or not people submit; we can only choose to obey for ourselves.
To look at it another way, is someone a leader if no one is submitting? If someone chooses not to submit (or follow) then I am not their leader – it doesn’t matter what “position” I hold, or what they say about me being a leader.
When Jesus began to teach about leaders among Christians, he pointed his followers to the “Gentiles” and said, “It shall not be so among you.” Today, most leaders in the church model themselves after the prevailing Gentile cultures and norms. But, this is NOT the type of leadership that Jesus taught.
Its time for believers to start following servants, not those who place themselves in the front of the group because of position or education or knowledge. And, its time for leaders to stop trying to force people to submit (which is not submission), and instead simply live their lives as examples of Jesus Christ. We persuade people to follow Christ, not our decisions and our leadership and our vision.
Submission is something that can only be given; submission cannot be taken.
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Below is a list of other bloggers who are taking part in the synchroblog on “Leadership”:
Jonathan Brink – Letter To The President
Adam Gonnerman – Aspiring to the Episcopate
Kai – Leadership – Is Servant Leadership a Broken Model?
Sally Coleman – In the world but not of it- servant leadership for the 21st Century Church
Alan Knox – Submission is given not taken
Joe Miller – Elders Lead a Healthy Family: The Future
Cobus van Wyngaard – Empowering leadership
Steve Hayes – Servant leadership
Geoff Matheson – Leadership
John Smulo – Australian Leadership Lessons
Helen Mildenhall – Leadership
Tyler Savage – Moral Leadership – Is it what we need?
Bryan Riley – Leading is to Listen and Obey
Susan Barnes – Give someone else a turn!
Liz Dyer – A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Polls…
Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America
Julie Clawson – Leadership Expectations
Ellen Haroutunian – A New Kind Of Leadership
Matt Stone – Converting Leadership
Steve Bradley – Lording or Leading?
Adam Myers – Two types of Leadership
Bethany Stedman – A Leadership Mosaic
Kathy Escobar – I’m Pretty Sure This Book Won’t Make It On The Bestseller List
Fuzzy Orthodoxy – Self Leadership
I am a PhD student in biblical theology and a web developer. My interests include PHP and ecclesiology. My dissertation topic is the purpose of the gathering of the church in the New Testament. By God's grace, I try to live what I am learning about the church.
You are right. A leader gets out in front with the baton and leads the parade.
A little in the back with a bullwhip is in a cattle drive and is a tyrant.
1Alan you said:
“To look at it another way, is someone a leader if no one is submitting? If someone chooses not to submit (or follow) then I am not their leader – it doesn’t matter what “position” I hold, or what they say about me being a leader.”
I love that statement brother. Let me ask you then. Why is it that many Theologians are writing books and preaching on “submission” so much today. Why do you believe that they are trying to convice people that they need to submit to them because they are their leaders?
By the way here was take on Heb 13:17, let me know what you think.
http://blackandreformedministries.com/2008/11/03/obey-your-leaders-but-who-are-your-leaders/
2Good post. It’s all a matter of attitude – of the leader, that is.
3.. great post- attitude in leadership is all important- we need to ask ourselves how and why we are leading.
4Alan, To pick up on what Lionel said about your comment.
“”To look at it another way, is someone a leader if no one is submitting? If someone chooses not to submit (or follow) then I am not their leader – it doesn’t matter what “position” I hold, or what they say about me being a leader.”"
If we look at it this way, then Jesus was certainly not the “leader” of the disciples in the end because they all betrayed him to the cross.
5Joe,
Actually at the end, Jesus was their disciples, the story doesn’t stop at the cross it stops at The Revelation.
6Andy,
Not in front pulling and not in back driving… but in the middle serving… that a leader to me.
Lionel,
You asked, “Why is it that many Theologians are writing books and preaching on ’submission’ so much today.” Because we don’t really believe that simply serving people (Jesus’s way of leadership) is effective, so we have to come up with other “biblical” methods of leadership.
By the way, in your last comment, did you mean that Jesus was their disciple or their dicipler?
Jerald,
Yes. But, I would say attitude and actions of both the leader and others. Unfortunately, those of us who are not leaders often demonstrate a wrong attitude and actions by following the wrong people – not the ones serving.
Sally,
Yes, I think we should often ask ourselves how and why we’re leading, and if anyone is following our example.
Joe (J.R.),
Actually, I think Jesus perfectly illustrates my point. He became a servant – even to the point of death. While he was dying, very few followed him. But, later others started following him – even to their death.
-Alan
7I think Jesus gave away power. And people liked that.
8Alan, what I find important is that we don’t use numbers to determine the success of a leader. If we take that one moment in time of Jesus’ life, he was not a good leader, but as Lionel suggests, the long term picture is much different. (to be clear, i don’t think this was suggested by your article or by any comments, it is just something that came to my mind as I was reading)
I shared my concern about this a short while back.
I agree though, I don’t think this in any way contradicts your post and it fits in well with most of what you write on.
9Jonathan,
Why do you think people liked that Jesus gave away power? (I think I agree, but I’d love to hear your take on it.)
Joe (J.R.),
I agree. In fact, I think when we start trying to figure out how many are following us, we become less of a leader. Instead, we should simply serve. And, if others decide to follow – or even recognize us – that’s between them and God.
-Alan
10Hi Alan–
Did Jesus give away power, or only acknowledge where it rightfully belongs–within each of us?
Thanks for this thoughtful post!
11hi alan, thanks for these thoughts here. i like this line “it’s time for people to start following servants” not just necessarily those who are up front. one of the reasons certain leadership models are perpetuated is that people follow them because of knowledge or ability or you name it. peace, kathy
12Beth,
Thanks for the comment. I think, of all people, Jesus alone has the right to exercise authority (power). However, he chose not to do so, but to allow others power instead.
Kathy,
Yes. I’ve learned alot over the last few years about who to follow. My life has changed drastically by following servants.
-Alan
13Hi Alan, thanks for your relevant post. I have also posted on leadership but from a South African perspective, quoting our biggest daily newspaper that asks “Where is OUR Obama?”
14This is one of the most encouraging posts I’ve read in a while. Thanks!
15Andries,
Thanks for telling us about your post. I have several blogs from South Africa in my blog reader, and I’ll add yours as well.
Ellen,
Thank you for the compliment!
-Alan
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