Go to the Home page Weekly bulletin article archives

Subjecting Yourselves

by Micky Galloway

Ephesians 5:21 says, “subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.” The more I study, the more I am impressed with the many passages that govern the relationships we have toward one another. This passage teaches that we are to subject ourselves to one another, but what does this mean?

The original word hupotasso means “to subordinate; reflexively, to obey: be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto” (Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994). Robertson’s Word Pictures tells us that the word is an old military figure to line up under (Colossians 3:18) (Biblesoft & Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament. Copyright © 1985 by Broadman Press). It means “to arrange under, to subordinate; to subject, put in subjection” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000 by Biblesoft).

This subjection is obviously something that is self imposed not forced. This self imposed subjection to one another is what makes God’s plan in the local church work. A look at Ephesians 5-6 makes this very clear. Husbands are not to force their wives into subjection; that is voluntary on the part of the wife. It is a command to wives, not husbands. Masters are not to put their servants in subjection, but servants are to choose to submit to their masters. Parents and children may seem to be the only exception as I Timothy 3:4 tells fathers that they are to have their children in subjection. However, even in this, a parent is to teach his child a voluntary submission, not a submission that is totally dependent on parental punishment. No two people could work together for long without this key ingredient.

In the same way, the work that is done in a local church and the submission that is given one to the other is completely voluntary. We are to encourage one another, we are to provoke to love and good works, but we cannot dominate, force, manipulate, or coerce. However, many elders, preachers and dedicated Christians have practically forced uncommitted and unqualified Christians to be faithful by either giving them a job to do or continually pestering and badgering them.

We must remember that God does not accept worship that is forced! Isaiah indicated it was better for them to stop bringing their sacrifices because they were not motivated by the right reasons. “Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies, – I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them” (Isaiah 1:10-14). Likewise Malachi said, “Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle (fire on) mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand” (Malachi 1:7-10).

Have we become guilty of trying to force uncommitted brethren to render service to God? We are to teach and encourage but to force the submission that is to be voluntary simply will not work. Can you think of a time when Jesus forced obedience? Even when Jesus realized that Judas had made up his mind to betray Him, Jesus said, “What thou doest, do quickly” (John 13:27). Let’s not squander our energy on uncommitted Christians (don’t give up until you are sure they are uncommitted) to the point that we are too weary to teach those outside. Remember, Jesus did more with eleven committed fishermen than he did with 5000 uncommitted fish eaters (John 6).

Let us be reminded that there may be a difference between those who are weak and those who are uncommitted. The apostle Paul taught in Romans 15:1-2, “Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.” “Weak” refers to one who is powerless or without strength. Thayer says this is used, “figuratively, of Christians whose faith is not yet quite firm” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000 by Biblesoft). Therefore, “weak” does not necessarily describe someone who is not committed to keeping the Lord’s commands first in his life.

Though attendance is not a sufficient gauge for faithfulness, it is an indicator. A person who is unreliable in attendance is usually not carrying his part of the load in the church. If he does not participate in the assemblies, he likely does not participate financially or with his abilities, nor does he seek the lost. Thus his lack of attendance indicates other more serious problems.

God shows the principle that when a man is faithful in small things, he will be faithful in the more important or weightier things (Matthew 25:23; Luke 16:11; I Timothy 3:5). Thus, a person who is unreliable in the small things of assembling is usually unreliable in the larger things such as: (1) teaching, edifying, and admonishing other Christians, (2) provoking one another to love and good works, (3) study or prayer; participation in classes (4) spiritual growth or (5) “subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.” Let us realize that “subjection” is the glue that holds us together. We have made an agreement to do these things together. This is voluntary. No one is forcing you to do so. Let us then fulfill our commitment to God and one another. If you need encouragement, instruction, or help – we are here to help. But if you are unwilling, you become a hindrance to the cause of Christ. Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth” (Matthew 12:30).

Go to the Home page Weekly bulletin article archives