Letter from the Editor
Submission : The Cost of Unity
Nicholas Chuan
Submission is a frowned-upon word today , especially on college campuses like ours . In a world scarred by slavery , a verse like “ Slaves , obey your human masters in everything ” ( Col 3:22 , HCSB , and all following ) reeks of abuse . In a culture which cries for gender equality , verses like “ Wives , submit to your own husbands ” ( Eph 5:22 ) sound misogynistic , demeaning and oppressive .
On the other hand , unity is a celebrated concept that everyone seems to cherish and strive for . Be it across denominational , racial , political , or socio- ������������������������������������������������ campus ministries , we yearn for unity and constantly question why we appear so divided . The theme of this Cornerstone issue is unity , and in ���������������������������������������������������� aspects of it . From unity among missionaries on the ����������������������������������������������������� covenantal union between Christ and the Church , to unity bridged by the everyday practice of for- ������������������������������������������������������ subject . However , before you dive into all of that , allow me to provide a Biblical picture . In particular , I would like to contend that submission is a necessary cost of achieving unity .
Submission to whom , in particular ? If you ’ re a Christian , you may be thinking that I am talking ������������������������������������������������� necessary , the call to submission goes deeper . We are called to submit to one another for the sake of unity .
To see this , I would like to focus on a particular passage , Philippians 2:1-11 . This is part of Paul ’ s letter to the church in Philippi , after they heard about his ������������������������� �������������
This led to disunity within the church , which is one �� ���������������������������������������������������� four verses , he instructs them on how to seek unity , by “ having the same love , sharing the same feelings , ( and ) focusing on one goal ” ( v2 ). Moreover , they are to “ do nothing out of rivalry or conceit , but in humility consider others as more important than ( themselves ,)” and look out not only for their “ own interests but also for the interest of others ” ( v3-4 ). To exemplify this , Paul exhorts the Philippians to make their attitude like that of Jesus . He then writes a beautiful prose on Jesus :
Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus , who , existing in the form of God , did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage . Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave , taking on the likeness of men . And when He had come as a man in His external form , He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross . For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name , so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord , to the glory of God the Father . ( Philippians 2:5-11 )
Paul clearly points to Jesus as the ultimate example as to how the Philippians can consider others more important than themselves and look out for the interests of others . That is how the Philippians can have the same love , feelings , and goal . In a nutshell , they were to be united through Christ-like love for one another .
We are called to submit to one another for the sake of unity .
Let me unpack what “ Christ-like love ” looks like according to the passage . It is not self-seeking ( v6 ), it is self-denying ( v7 ), and submissive ( v8 ). Submitting to God ’ s will , Jesus gave up His rightful place in perfect communion with the Godhead and took on
6 Fall 2016