Spiritual Discipline // SUBMISSION
By Chris Bowlby
Have you ever noticed that people posting on Social Media, particularly Facebook and Twitter are fairly convinced of the things that they post?
This is the truth about this political issue
This is the truth about this news headline
This is the truth about this health issue
This the truth about this theological question
I RARELY see someone post a conglomeration of articles from an array of view points and ask, “can this online community help me sort through these questions?” If they did the internet would explode.
How exhausting it is to have to decide and commit to THE correct viewpoint on every issue plaguing humanity! Yet it seems as though we are being forced to be convinced, to be the expert, to not only know but to convince others only to have to rinse and repeat with a new topic. It’s all too easy, in the echo chamber of our own minds to convince ourselves that WE are the arbiters of truth.
On Sunday, Lead Pastor Isaac said,
“For, if I think that if I am the one or we are the ones who see clearly, then I am positioning myself as God and God (then) is not God. But, if all of us are living in the humility of curiosity, doesn’t it follow that God can reshape our bad doctrines, our bad thoughts or convictions? Yup! Good thing too: us Pentecostals have needed a lot of theological correction over the last 100 years. Thank God for the gracious Body of Christ!”
The Gospel writer John pens,
“6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
John 14:6–7 (NLT)
Jesus is the WAY. We are not. Jesus is the TRUTH. We are not. Jesus is the LIFE. We are not. To be submitted to the will and ways of Jesus is to walk in humility, understanding there will be times in which we need to be redirected, we need to be better informed, our thinking needs to be shaped. Part of walking out our Pentecostal calling to be ecumenical is to remember our denominations and our theology is submitted to Jesus; Jesus is not submitted to our theology.
Application
- The first step of Submission starts with access. Does God have access to redirect any and every area of your life, your thinking, your doctrine, or your political ideology? To not give access is to not be submitted. Take some time in the quiet today. Go for a walk or sit in an empty part of your house and ask God to reveal ANY area that is not submitted to him. Keep a notepad handy as God reveals fresh areas of Submission.
- Take some time to repent of anything that God might reveal to you. Lead Pastor Isaac regularly says, “We’re all one step away from the Kingdom.” No matter what God might reveal, you are one step of repentance away from walking with God.
- Tell a friend about your fresh revelations. It’s easy to have a moment with God and move on with little or no commitment to submission. Telling someone else solidifies God’s direction and provides accountability.