Old Dog V

Back to: UNTO WHOM SHALL I SUBMIT?

UNTO WHOM SHALL I SUBMIT II

Bob Neumann

For some reason “we” Christian-types use the term “submission” a lot when we talk and think about religious and spiritual “stuff”. Rarely would we even try to use it in our daily lives. But in reality we submit to some level of authority in everything we do.

When we drive our cars we often submit at every stop light and stop sign. Why? Because on the next light we run we may find a truck in our way? Probably. The rules of the road are followed mostly because if we blatantly try to break them at every opportunity, We will either have our license revoked and be incarcerated …or get ourself more permanently killed. Most common “law” was created to protect people. Sometimes from themselves, sometimes from their neighbors, and even sometimes from “temporal authority”. Joe’s vision on THE MAGNA CARTA is a warning that those “rules” that gives us our rights and freedoms will be “lost”. When that happens so will any and all protections we may have had.

People who work in the “marketplace” have to follow rules set by government and by their employers. Rebel against either rules and you will find yourself unemployed. In my job there are people in management who i am accountable to. I submit to their authority. I may be older, more experienced, and more knowledgeable…. but they say whether i “come or go”. Many people would rail and rant if anyone tried to tell them what to do and how to do it. Personally, my ego takes second fiddle to a pay check. Over time most of those “over me” have learned that i know my job and can trust me to do it. They have learned that they do not have to “teach grandpa how to suck eggs”.

It is not impossible to teach people how to use their authority. Just hard. Ask any Sergeant or CHIEF Petty Officer how long it takes them to break in a batch of new officers. Any COB or TOP can tell you if the newbie has “command potential” in very short order.

Over the years i have only one who is WORTHY to submit to. After that i have to TRUST HIM on who i will defer to. When i first met Stephen Benning i saw that THE LORD was “grooming” him to “command”. So I had no problem “submitting” to his authority on the site THE LORD instructed him to form…the WPA. Does that mean i have agreed with everything and anything he has said or done. No…but he would listen to my position and i his. We could agree to disagree.

But i have never tried to undermine his authority or even challenge his authority. Why…because nothing we really could not agree on meant that much. The things we were in strong agreement together out numbered the others by a huge margin.

Over the years THE LORD has given me an awareness of the burdens Stephen carries. And with that awareness has grown both respect and affection. Likewise Joe Cook with whom i have had several intense phone calls. Randy has a special flavor that only SERVANTS seem to have. So i see them as BROTHERS and FELLOW SERVANTS. Easy to submit to.

As i look at the past 4 weeks it has become obvious that many out there see me as the 900 pound gorilla.

I have seen comments about “being too intellectual” and “being intimidating”. So i want to ask…DO You feel safe as long as i stay quiet and eat my bananas flambé’.(I might be a gorilla, but i have class.) But if i merely growl you jump away scared… but safe behind the bars.

Nah…won’t ask that question. So i wonder….are the bars to keep me in, or to keep all of you out?

selah

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