Why Is ********** A Dirty Word In Christianity?

In a world that champions independence and personal rights, the idea of submission often gets a bad reputation. It sounds restrictive, outdated, or even oppressive. Yet, when we look at the teachings of Jesus, we see a radically different view of submission—a view that offers true freedom and transformation.

Pastor Russell Johnson’s sermon series, Dirty Words: Real Submission, invites us to reconsider what it really means to submit in the context of our faith.

1. The Negative Connotation of Submission

The word “submission” can be a difficult one for many to digest.

In a culture that prides itself on self-expression, individualism, and autonomy, the notion of submitting to anyone—or anything—seems counterintuitive. However, submission is not about surrendering to control or becoming weak; rather, it is about aligning ourselves with God’s greater purpose for our lives. It’s a submission that leads to freedom, joy, and peace in ways the world cannot offer.

2. A Biblical Understanding of Submission

To truly understand submission, we must look to the Bible.

Submission isn’t about domination or dehumanization, but about following God’s design for order and harmony.

From Jesus’ submission to the Father’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane to the Apostle Paul’s teachings on the role of submission in marriage and the church, Scripture paints submission as a powerful, life-giving act.

It’s an act of humility, trust, and obedience.

3. Submission is a Choice

One of the most profound aspects of submission is that it is a choice. It’s not forced upon us; it’s a deliberate decision we make to honor God and His authority.

Jesus modeled this perfectly in His earthly ministry. He didn’t live for His own will but submitted to the Father’s will in all things.

As followers of Christ, we are invited to do the same. Submission, therefore, is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength and courage to follow God’s path.

4. Submission Leads to True Authority

In a society where authority is often abused or questioned, submission actually leads to greater authority.

When we submit to God’s will, we gain authority in our own lives. We no longer have to control everything; we can trust in God’s sovereignty. As we submit to His leading, He equips us to lead others with humility and wisdom.

True authority, as seen in the life of Jesus, comes not from asserting dominance but from surrendering to God’s purpose.

5. The Role of Submission in Relationships

Submission plays a key role in our relationships with others as well. Whether it’s in marriage, the workplace, or the church, submitting to one another in love fosters unity and respect.

Ephesians 5:21 tells us to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” When we submit in humility, we create an environment where love and peace can flourish. Submission, in this sense, is not about losing power but about using our power to serve others selflessly.

6. Submission in Marriage: A Mutual Commitment

Pastor Johnson emphasizes that submission in marriage is not a one-sided action. It’s mutual.

The biblical teaching on marriage, particularly in Ephesians 5, tells both husbands and wives to submit to one another. The wife submits to the husband in love, and the husband submits by loving his wife sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church.

True submission in marriage is not about inequality; it’s about equality in service and love.

7. Submission and Leadership: A Biblical Paradox

In the world’s eyes, leadership is often associated with control, dominance, and asserting power. However, Jesus flips this paradigm. He teaches that true leadership is rooted in submission. He, the King of the Universe, came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45).

Submission in leadership means being willing to lay down personal desires for the greater good of those you are called to lead. It’s a leadership that seeks the well-being of others, not self-glory.

8. Freedom in Submission

This idea may seem paradoxical, but submission brings freedom.

When we submit to God’s will, we free ourselves from the chaos and burden of trying to control every aspect of our lives. Instead of battling against God’s design, we find peace in knowing He is in control.

Submission, therefore, is not a loss of freedom but the pathway to true freedom—a freedom from sin, pride, and selfish ambition.

9. Overcoming the Resistance to Submit

One of the greatest challenges to submission is our own resistance. Our natural instinct is to fight for our own will and to avoid discomfort. However, the process of submitting is a spiritual discipline that refines our hearts. It requires humility, patience, and trust in God’s timing.

Overcoming the resistance to submit is part of our growth as disciples of Jesus. The more we practice submission, the more we experience the transformative power of God’s presence in our lives.

10. The Call to Radical Submission

Ultimately, submission is about surrendering our lives to God’s authority. It’s about saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” This is the call of discipleship. It is a call to live radically different from the world around us—submitting to God’s plan, His ways, and His timing.

As we embrace this journey, we will find that submission is not a dirty word, but a beautiful invitation to live in the fullness of God’s purpose for our lives.

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