It seems rather overly dramatic to be a part of a spiritual walk that declares we are to die to ourselves. These words of Jesus are some of his more serious: If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23).
These words form one sentence. If ever we are to be found "sentenced" to life, this has to be one of the strongest pronouncements.
But how is it that we are to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him?
It comes through a word that is snubbed; especially in the American culture. It is so disregarded that once pondered it may be even clearer why this concept has been buried in our society. It is because it is the secret that gives us the life so many crave; but cannot reach.
The word is submission.
To deny self is to submit. Submission is the opposite of stand up for yourself; don't let anyone run over you. Compliance, acquiescence, and deference; all of these words are supportive to the concept of submission. If ever there is a challenge for each, it is surely that from early childhood our striving has always been one main thing; getting our way.
Submission, however, places us in the lowest position in the crowd in order to find the highest life. It is just the weirdest and most backward concept ever. But take a good serious look at the dismay and the burden so many possess living in this rich and abundant land of ours. Why can't the general population get happy?
Submission has been aborted. Looking out for #1 is now primary. Scott Bessenecker points out, Self-centeredness cannot be permitted to live on in the healthy, spiritual adult. The opposite of submission is rebellion, and although rebellion is generally considered cool in American culture it doesn't seem to be considered "cool" by God. Even the most well-intentioned "rebel" who is committed to justice is bound to be wrong sometimes and will hurt themselves and others if they never submit to anyone.
As Americans, freedom and independence are pathological obsessions. Our natural tendency to resist authority has been put on steroids. "Live and let die!" is the philosophical foundation for our country and stands in stark contrast to the philosophy of the kingdom of God, which tells us to die that we might live free. We Americans are cowboys who believe submission is for yellow-bellied, lily-livered, chicken-hearted cowards who don't have the guts to fight for what they believe is right.
It would be no surprise that such descriptive terms (yellow-bellied, etc.) would be the perception of unbelievers toward those in churches. The reason, furthermore, is very legitimate. We are soft. We are whiny. We can be among the loudest in protest of church not going our way. Yet, submission is the only route to real life; whether individual or as a church.
Jesus got it right. Bessenecker may have pegged some of (many of) us, but his words bounce off of Jesus. Jesus' submission to God upon the cross carried with it a secret backdrop; an underground one if you will. Waiting beyond the torture was the resurrection.
Our job is to be submissive to unfair, uncharacteristic hardship. Christianity isn't failing to spread because we lack fame and glitter and catchy phrases. Christianity is failing because we have replaced the cross with individual judge's benches and we have determined what we will take and what we won't.
So God leaves us alone. We have not submission; but insubordination. And such a trade is killing off the effectiveness of the, what is supposed to be, dynamic move of God.
How are we to die to ourselves? By relinquishing getting our way when someone over us--especially someone unfair--bullies and pushes. Submission is the doorway to an abundant life uncalculateable by human determination and strong will.
Although shockingly surprising and even backward, submission is the secret which keeps many of us from reaching our highest potential.
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