 The honor that a believer receives from the church is always earned by humble service. It’s never demanded or asserted. Those who are truly spiritual don’t claim to have spiritual authority over others. Nor do they boast about their spiritual labor and maturity. In fact, people who make such claims reveal their immaturity. The person that declares that he is “God’s anointed man of strength and power for the hour”—or similar self-accolades simply proves one thing: He or she has no authority.
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 A sure sign of greater spiritual maturity is a spirit of servanthood and childlike meekness. -Frank Viola
The Greek word most often translated “submit” in the New Testament is the word hupotasso. Hupotasso is better translated “subjection.” In its New Testament usage, subjection is a voluntary attitude of giving into, cooperating with, and yielding to the admonition or advice of another. Biblical subjection has nothing to do with control or hierarchical power. It’s simply an attitude of childlike openness in yielding to others. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21 NIV) Again, the Bible never teaches “protective covering.” Instead, it teaches mutual subjection. Mutual subjection rests upon the New Testament notion that all believers are gifted. As such, they can all express Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are to be in subjection to one another in Christ. -Frank Viola Read More on this subject in the Article section Church Paradigm titled "Who is Your Covering?"  Much Christian leadership is exercised by people who do not know how to develop healthy, intimate relationships and have opted for power and control instead. Many Christian empire builders have been people unable to give and receive love.
—Henri Nouwen |
AuthorsJohn & Amy Meyer Archives
January 2017
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