A few days ago at work some friends and I were discussing submission and obedience. It stemmed from a comment that I had heard from an older man (not a co-worker) in reference to his wife, “she's a mean old woman, she should do what I tell her!” I was shocked to hear him say such a thing. This brought up the whole topic of the difference between submission and obedience. We didn't specify what the difference is but that there was a difference between the command to a child to obey their parents and to a wife to submit to her husband. The difference between one command and another is the difference, not really so much of definition of the word submission versus obedience, but of the difference between a child and an adult. Children have very little understanding and therefore very little opinion on the way things should be done. However an adult may be under authority but will not be mindlessly obeying and likely not obeying out of fear but out of love. Therefore, the command is somewhat different, will be manifested differently, and has a different reasoning.
Children are to obey their parents for their own personal blessing
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother..that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
Wives wives are to submit to husbands to set an example
1 Peter 3:1
In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives.
The secular definition of these words is also different. While the definition of obedience conjures up images of action the definition of submission brings to mind an attitude more than an action.
obey
To follow the commands or guidance of
to conform to or comply with
submission
The condition of being submissive, humble, or compliant
an act of submitting to the authority of control of another
While it is quite possible to obey with a bad attitude (although some would differer that that is not true obedience) the whole concept of submission is in the attitude. It is humbling one's self to be under the authority of another.
3 comments:
As someone I know very well says: "Attitude is everything." It's amazing how humility plays such a huge part in every aspect of our lives. Can't truly be obedient without humbling yourself and giving your will to serve another.
Is that you Lizzi? If it is are you referring to your mother *wink*
I was referring to my mother. No, I'm not "Lizzi."
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