Christians Submit!
“James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.” (Galatians 2:9-11, emphasis mine, NIV )
What? Paul opposed Peter, one of the twelve, a pillar?
If this happened in today’s church setting, Paul would have been branded as a grandstanding rebel that ought to be disciplined or asked to leave. For is it not true that the word “submission” today is so misused by many church leaders who bought the idea that they were set up with unquestionable authority? Paul’s public rebuke of Peter, if done today, would be readily viewed either as disrespectful at best or a usurpation of authority at worst.
One way or another, these leaders may have been influenced by the philosophy of Watchman Nee. In his book, “Spiritual Authority,” the idea of submission to delegated authorities are portrayed as something as absolute and unquestionable as the authority of God. In p. 71 he wrote:
“If God dares to entrust His authority to man, then we can dare to obey. Whether the one in authority is right or wrong does not concern us. The obedient one needs to obey. The lord will not hold us responsible for any mistaken obedience, rather He will hold the delegated authority responsible for his erroneous act” (Spiritual Authority, p.71)
This idea has also brainwashed many in the churches into thinking, “since God will not hold me responsible by following a leader whether he is right or wrong, I might as well obey.” This man-made philosophy is turning many church goers’ faith, blind.
- It is true that we are to submit to our leaders who keep watch over us so that their work will be a joy (Hebrews 13:12) in a church which is the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
- It is true that we are asked to submit to our employers with all respect not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh (1 Peter 2:18).
- It is true that wives ought to submit to their husbands as it is fitting to the Lord (Ephesians 5:24; Colossians. 3:18).
- It is true that it is necessary to submit to the government not only because of the power to punish that they so wield but also because of conscience (Romans 13:1-5).
But in Galatians 2:12-21, Paul gave the reasons for opposing Peter in public. It may appear petty on the surface for it to demand time or effort to be scandalized but if you take a closer look at it, public defense of the Gospel is more important to Paul than keeping quiet just to be deemed submitting to a fallible pillar.
Obedience to delegated authority is clearly not absolute. Submission to man cannot be more important than submission to God who?has given us the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). When the religious leaders of Jerusalem commanded Peter to stop preaching the Gospel, they refused to obey and said, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29)
Paul’s rebuke of Peter in Antioch was made public that the light of the true Gospel will be seen by all lest it be overshadowed by a perverted one. To him, the public defense of the Gospel is paramount and he would have opposed an angel face to face if he had to (see Galatians 1:8-10).
Let us therefore pray that our leaders realize this: false submission is always pleasing to?man but not to God. May our leaders be reminded to always be God pleasers as they were so entrusted with the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
Let us also pray for each other to see we are also accountable to God who will punish those who do not obey the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). That if we follow what is contrary to the Gospel just for the sake of submission, we are harming our conscience to shipwreck our faith (1 Timothy 1:19).
A brother reminded me of Luther who was?himself branded as a heretic by his own church leaders and then put in a religious trial. When asked?by his church leaders to recant, he said:
“Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason and not by Popes and councils who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.” (Diet of Worms, 1521).
We may not be of the same caliber with that of Luther and Paul, but just like them, we can still hold fast to a good conscience that adheres to “sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:10b-11).
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