Submission and Friendship

Posted by Alan Knox on Feb 5, 2009 in blog links, community, fellowship | 2 comments

Once again, Matthew has given us a snippet of John Calvin to think about in his post “Submission or Self-will“:

“For fellowship and friendship cannot be cherished when everyone pleases himself and refuses to yield or accommodate himself to others.” -John Calvin

“Yield” and “accommodate” are difficult. It requires us to accept the other as an equal… no, beyond an equal, as one who is more important than us. As I think about the statement above, the following passages of Scripture keep echoing in my mind:

Therefore welcome [accept] one another as Christ has welcomed [accepted] you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7 ESV)

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)

I agree with Calvin on this point, and I would even take it further: Fellowship and community are impossible without mutual submission.