Submission Isn’t a Dirty Word — Here’s Why

Submission sounds like a bad word because the world champions empowerment, independence, and self-reliance. For women, it’s even worse. Telling the modern woman to submit to her husband feels like endorsing slavery or setting us back to medieval times. If you’re a submissive wife, people assume you lack self-confidence, education, or financial freedom—that you’re dependent on a man for your well-being. Or they think you’re just plain dumb. But, as always, the world likes to take God’s wisdom and twist it into something He never intended.

A House Divided

Biblical submission is God’s design for order in our relationship with Him and each other. One of the original uses of the word comes from a military term that refers to organizing troops into divisions. Imagine soldiers going to war with no leader—everyone wanting to be the boss and doing their own thing. Their enemy wouldn’t even have to fight! They’d turn on each other before the battle began!

A house divided...Mark 3:25

That’s why it doesn’t take much for the devil to destroy our marriages. Jesus said in Mark 3:25, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” That’s exactly what a relationship without order looks like. It’s the root of many divorces today: two people pulling in opposite directions, both trying to lead the household their own way. In the end, it becomes a tug-of-war where no one wins—and the marriage is left in ruins.

Jesus Sets the Example

God’s idea of submission, however, establishes order based on His infinite wisdom. He not only commanded it but demonstrated it perfectly. Many of us struggle with submission because we take pride in our economic status, academic achievements, knowledge, or accolades. Yet Jesus, who is the Almighty God—full of glory, power, and dominion—set all of that aside to take on flesh for our sake.

If the money in our bank accounts makes us boast and keeps us from humbling ourselves, we need to remember: that we’re not wealthier than Jesus. We’re not smarter than Him. Whatever glory we possess pales in comparison to His. Jesus had every reason to be proud, yet the Word tells us, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).

Only the worst criminals were crucified on a cross! Yet Jesus, who committed no crime, willingly laid aside the worship He received in Heaven, the fellowship He enjoyed with the Father, and all His power to become human. He took upon Himself every sin that has ever been—and ever will be—committed, all to reconcile us with God.

If it were me, I probably would have told the Father to send me to Earth as a king or something! “Why should I be washing the feet of people I created?! Not only that, but I have to let them torture me, spit on me, pull my beard out, pierce my head with a crown of thorns, and insult me when I can just call a whole bunch of angels to destroy them. All for their own salvation?? If I have to die, let me at least die a dignified death! Let me die in my sleep or something! ” But Jesus didn’t say any of that. He humbled Himself to the point of a criminal’s death, removing every reason we might have for pride. 

Conclusion

So, submission may sound like a bad word to the world, but for God’s children, it represents obedience and strength.

No matter who we are, we’re all called to submit to someone—whether it’s parents, government leaders, husbands, wives, or church leaders. Ultimately, we submit to these authorities as an extension of our submission to God, just like Jesus did.

If we struggle with submitting to earthly authority, we’re really disobeying the God who established those authorities. Our issue isn’t with people; it’s with our Heavenly Father.

Let’s remember: whatever we think we’re giving up by humbling ourselves is nothing compared to what Jesus gave up to die for our sins. Being God is as big as it gets, yet He didn’t boast about it.

So, what’s keeping you from humbling yourself today?