So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12
An underlying theme permeates Scripture. Humanity, the pinnacle of God’s divine and supernatural creation, is fully immersed in a spiritual battle. At the heart of that conflict is our lust, craving, hunger, and appetence for independence, thus our unwillingness to submit to God. Our rejection of God manifests in our violation of His laws, decrees, statutes, commands, boundaries, vision, mission, and plan.
In 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, the Apostle Paul exposes that the greatest threat to God’s people and plan comes from within. Since Satan masquerades as an angel of light, it’s no wonder that his followers disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, but one thing they cannot do is submit to God.
We’re all submitting to something. If it isn’t God, then it most certainly is the pattern of the world. Paul addressed the sin-issue of faulty submission within the church at Colosse, saying, “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules?” The rules of the world today are things like hypocrisy vs authenticity, political correctness vs boldness, affirmation vs correction, inclusivism vs transformation, liberalism vs surrender, and hedonism vs humility.
Many will say they affirm the authority of Scripture, but when push comes to shove - that’s not reality. Churches make up their own rules of governance and operation even though Scripture provides a clear and solid framework. Ultimately, it demonstrates that we, like the Pharisees - whom Jesus rebuked harshly, treasure our traditions, ceremonies, customs, habits, heritage, folklore, religious mythology, and rituals far above Scripture.
We’ll say we affirm the authority of Scripture while readily withholding generosity to and service within the Body of Christ to express our displeasure - rather than doing all things by faith as unto the LORD. We’ll say we affirm the authority of Scripture, but then undermine the authority of pastors, elders, and deacons with our gossip. Of course, we justify it through our pure motives and good intentions in order to redeem and sanctify our sinful behaviors. We’ll say we affirm the authority of Scripture, but do we really consider others more important than ourselves? Are we absolutely certain that what we’re pushing and striving for isn’t rooted in some deep-rooted and misguided desire for our opinion to be affirmed or our agenda to be recognized?
The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:1-3, “As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Do we only affirm and uphold the authority of Scripture in our doctrinal statements, or is it manifest in how we practice our faith in reality? Can we honestly say we’re making EVERY effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace?
Hebrews 13:17 states, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”
The flip side of the submission coin is the joyful privilege and burden of leadership. King Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—” As church leaders, is our desire to “lord it over them” out of a warped desire for power and recognition? Jesus addressed the Pharisees for this by saying, “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
As leaders, are we neglecting the sheep or prioritizing their care? Are we diligent and proactive in preventing bloodsucking and disease-causing parasites? Are we actively laying down our lives to defend them from predators (including wolves in sheep's clothing) or are we merely hired hands who bolt at the first sign of trouble? Are we truly leading the flock into nourishing pastures beside still waters so they can rest in the life-giving presence of The Good Shepherd?
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor 6:7, “The very fact that you have condemnation (the Greek word κρίματα, which means tormented judgments) among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” Paul was addressing the underlying issue of selfish and misguided agendas, i.e. “tormented judgments.” He reiterated this in 2 Cor 13:5, “Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit?”
Whenever God’s kingdom and plan advance, Satan, the one masquerading as an angel of light, opposes it under the guise of righteous deeds and good intentions. In Acts 6:1 we read, “In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” Satan, the accuser, didn’t incite the Grecian Jews to grumble until “the disciples were increasing in number.” Scripture certainly instructs God’s people to advocate for and NOT neglect widows, orphans, and foreigners. But when we elevate anything, including “social justice” to the throne where God alone is Sovereign LORD… the outcome of idolatry is always disastrous.
Grumbling, complaining, worry, fear, and agitation are sinful behaviors that saints are only subject to if we invite and allow them into our lives. Satan seduces us into leaning on our own understanding, logic, reason, and the rules of the world rather than trusting God (Prov 3:5-6). The accuser uses them to lead and lure us further down the wide path that leads to destruction. That’s why Paul states in 2 Corinthians, “My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything… in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” That’s why Paul revealed the “obvious works of the flesh” in Galatians 5 as things like, “idolatry, manipulation, hatred, discord, jealousy, rage, rivalries, divisions, and factions,” and ended with saying, “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
James wrote, “You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” The one thing demons don’t do is submit to God. Their desires are ultimately and inherently selfish. Their agendas are their own because they believe their goals, strategies, values, plans, processes, and practices are better than what God Almighty has decreed. We can cross over land and sea, sing, pray, tithe, volunteer, cast out demons, prophesy, and even do great miracles - doing them all in Christ’s holy Name - and still be completely unheard (Proverbs 28:9) by Him and unknown to Him (Matt 7:23).
King Jesus had every opportunity to instruct His followers to ignore the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and sin. Instead, He said things like, “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles,” and, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Scripture isn’t instructing us to be silent cowards when something we don’t understand or disagree with is happening. That’s what led to the rise of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. It is always appropriate to voice concerns and raise questions, but we must do so in the manner Scripture provides (see Matthew 18:15-20).
Are we upholding the sovereignty of God’s Word in theory or practice? Are we making every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the body of peace? Are we striving together to do the good works God prepared beforehand as our new way of life? As members, are we submitting to the leaders God has placed over us? As leaders, are we leading the flock to rest in the presence of The Good Shepherd? Are we striving to resolve conflict in the manner Scripture prescribes for the edification of the church? Are we demonstrating the humility of Christ in truly considering others more important than ourselves?
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”
-James 4:1
Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
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