| introduction
to the City's Gate |
Section
2 - The Vows V - A |
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V.
Commitment to King Jesus
and His Rule
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| Vow 5: "Do you
submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the church, and
promise to pay careful attention to its purity and peace?"
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A. "... submit yourselves...”
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| This membership vow looks suspiciously like a
surrender of personal rights. Typically, we see rights as privileges inherent to the individual,
in no way related to any universal perspective. Submission is
practically equivalent to slavery or servility: a degradation of the individual, an attack on his rights, and a
demeaning of one's self-esteem. |
| If, however, God is the Creator and Sovereign
of all mankind, then one's rights must be viewed within that framework.
And if Jesus is the Redeemer of God's people, then we see all
"rights" as gracious and undeserved gifts of God. Our natural
understanding of rights and submission is a consequence of our
alienation from God. |
| Our rights, then, are defined and given by
God. Submission is our recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that
he has the authority to command. Submission is our willingness to serve
him. Since Jesus not only was, but also is, the Redeemer of God's
people, then our submission never brings harm to us, only the
fulfillment of our deepest joy. |
| What we see in Scripture is that Jesus Christ
has been made king and head of the church. According to Galatians 1:12,
we receive his word and obey it. In
Ephesians 1:22-23, we read that Christ was placed over all things and is
head of the church.
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