Are you Submissive to your authority or just an Obedience?
By ghieptc
@ghieptc (2522)
Philippines
April 19, 2010 1:40am CST
"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for what would be unprofitable for you." Hebrews 13:17
Often, when we are confronted with the word "submission" we immediately feel a certain amount of hesitation or even resistance. In our sinful natures, we are not naturally inclined to submit to authority on any level. We can begin to misunderstand the nature of submission and ask question like these:
Is obedience unconditional?
What if I don't agree with my leader's decisions?
What if authority is making bad decisions?
What if authority tells me to do something wrong?
Where do I draw the line?
God judges the condition of a person's heart. Once we begin to understand the difference between an attitude of submission and the action of obedience, we can learn to follow the precepts of God and avoid sinning through obedience to authority. We must always remember that our submission is to God and not to man. the only time that we should resist obedience to an authority is if we are being asked to directly violate the Word of God. Even then, our attitude should remain respectful and our actions should represent the Lord. What do you think? For you what's the difference between obedience and submission? Are you submissive person or just an obedience?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@climber7565 (2579)
• United States
19 Apr 10
I don't do submissive nor obedient. I act in behalf of my convenience, so call me unreliable if you feel I should be obedient and you banked on my submission, cause you will loss big if you fool yourself about that. I do what is right for me.
@climber7565 (2579)
• United States
20 Apr 10
Rebelling? haha, its interesting you say that. I am not anyone's slave. No one has authority over me or my actions and on that note I don't submit to no one ever, nor do I owe obedience to anyone. What authority over you are you referring to? Government, your parents, your master? what are you talking about?
@ghieptc (2522)
• Philippines
20 Apr 10
So you mean you are rebelling? Do you think what our authority says are not right? Our parents, boss, local or national leaders, specially God is responsible also for very human being, we make decisions in life to what we think is right or good for us but our authority over us also wanted the better life and what right for us, what do you think?
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
19 Apr 10
I have never just obeyed Anyone. I need to know the reason for the new rulingand then Most of the time I go with it , But there are times when I just say No I'm not doing it. I rather just lose the friendship or even a job than do something I strongly disagree with.I know G-d Knows this about me . So He doesn't waste His time trying to get me to do something I won't do.
@ghieptc (2522)
• Philippines
20 Apr 10
You don't obeyed anyone? I'm not just talking about through friends I know that some cannot actually obeyed their friends coz maybe that wasn't unfair. But what about our parents, boss, and most specially our local and national leaders, do you usually obey them, and be submissive to whatever they asked for?
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
20 Apr 10
I don't blindly obey Anyone.If I understand the reason , Then I wil obey. I never associate with the police or my officials.
@replyashu (745)
• India
19 Apr 10
both.........
at times it is obedience and also at times, we find that we are submissive...
a lot depends on the situation and mental frame of mind at particular moment....
enjoy
TATA
@ghieptc (2522)
• Philippines
20 Apr 10
Even God said that we need to obey and be submissive in any situation I guess, the only time that we should resist obedience to an authority is if we are being asked to directly violate God's Word...Even then our attitude should remain and our actions should represent the Lord?
@hanizah (255)
•
17 May 10
Yes I definitely agree with what you have post.Submission is totally different with obedience.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
20 Apr 10
I find that I am always obedient to those rules that are placed over me. However, I know that I am not always submissive. In saying that a person is submissive means that they are able to accept things without questioning them and that is something that I've never been able to do and something that I think I'll never be able to do going forward. There are sometimes rules that are placed over us that make no sense at all and that is the reason that I sometimes question authority.
@ghieptc (2522)
• Philippines
22 Apr 10
I'm glad that you are obedient, sometimes we're still questioning how would I be submissive to our authority if they was the first who disregard or disobey laws, right? I guess somehow we have to understand everything and all of us gonna face judgment so we have the right to question but we don't have the right to judge people coz we are imperfect...sometimes we just look on authorities flaws, differences but let's try to look ourselves first, do you think you could say to yourself that I'm not doing any unlawful, sin or even just mistakes. We really can't do anything about imperfect leaders even if we're going to make a rally or something there's nothing we can do about it. Let it to be God.
@Rysonia (310)
• United States
16 May 10
I have been abused so many times in my life that the ability to trust another human being enough to submit to their authority is long gone. If people in positions of authority still were attempting to look out for our souls and do right by those in their care then it would be far easier for people to submit, in fact it would be almost natural.
Obedience in my mind is doing what I need to to stay alive, healthy and free, while submission is the same as acknowledging I am a slave and completely under the rule of another authority and one that could potentially be harmful to my soul.
