Central Lutheran Church - Elk River
Central Lutheran Church - Elk River
Rhythm: Submission with Ben Carruthers
Ever noticed how certain words can immediately put us on edge? "Submission" is certainly one of them. What should be a pathway to freedom has become associated with control, oppression, and abuse. But what if we've been looking at it all wrong?
This exploration of submission as a spiritual rhythm takes us beyond negative connotations to discover its true essence: a freeing discipline that helps us recognize we can't do life alone, that we live for something greater than ourselves, and that we need not be molded by the broken patterns of this world.
The ancient story of the Israelites at Mount Sinai provides a powerful backdrop for understanding the "why" of submission. God's invitation wasn't based on threats or manipulation but on a simple reminder: "Remember how I have shown you my love and freed you." Their enthusiastic "yes" quickly faltered as doubt crept in during Moses' absence, leading them back to familiar patterns—the golden calf that represented their former captivity. Sound familiar? When uncertainty hits, we too often revert to what we know, even if those patterns once enslaved us.
The beauty of this story isn't the failure but what follows. Despite their rebellion, God renewed the covenant and still led them to the Promised Land. Even the forty years of wilderness wandering wasn't merely punishment but preparation—creating a people ready to live in freedom. This mirrors our journey with God, who loves us not because we get submission right, but "while we were still sinners."
Building this rhythm resembles helping a child construct a complex Lego set—progress is frustratingly slow, but the relationship formed through patient persistence becomes the real treasure. If you've shelved this spiritual practice because it seemed too difficult, perhaps today's the moment to pick it back up and rediscover the freedom found in yielding to the One whose love never fails.
What's truly molding and shaping your life today? Are you ready to experience the liberation that comes when love, not obligation, drives your surrender?
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Well, good morning. My name is Ben Carruthers, I'm the director of Student and Family Ministries here and it's good to be worshiping with you on this beautiful Memorial weekend. We are continuing our sermon series on rhythms and this idea of a rhythm. It's these things that mold and shape who we are and our lives, and our lives together and our relationship with God, and over the past three weeks we've looked at a few of these. We started off with fasting. Pastor Ryan talked about fasting. Ironically, he talked about fasting the same week. We had a ton of donuts for you to eat, so that was a good start off to the series. Then Sonia talked about service, and then last week we talked about silence and solitude, which, if you're watching from the cabin, obviously you were listening last weekend, so well done. And Solitude which, if you're watching from the cabin, obviously you were listening last weekend, so well done.
Speaker 1:And this week we're talking about submission, and I have to tell you I can't tell you how many times people have said how'd you get stuck with that one? And my response is I chose it, which is weird. I get it now that I understand why we have our CA meetings and our CA creative arts, and so we bring our sermon ideas to the table and we throw some stuff out and see what works and maybe what doesn't work. And I was pretty excited I picked this one because this is one like you've heard most of the preachers say, that one really they gravitate towards, one. It's important to their maybe daily rhythms of their life. It's something that's mold and shaped their life. And for me that was submission. Because at the heart of submission it's this idea of that you can't do it on your own, that you need God. At the heart of submission it's this idea that you don't live for yourself, you live for God. At the heart of submission it's we don't allow the things of this world and the broken relationships of this world to mold and shape our life. And I love that about submission. It's meant a lot in my life. And so I sat down at the CA table. I'm throwing out all these ideas and I'm just getting like blank stares and I'm like something's missing the mark here, obviously. And I remember I always run things past my wife a lot and I was really excited about it. I'm like something's missing the mark here, obviously, and I remember I always run things past my wife a lot and I was really excited about it. I'm like this is what I'm going to talk about, and she just looked at me and said, yeah, that's an idea. I was like what's happening?
Speaker 1:And what I found was that my idea of submission, and how it's impacted my personal life and my personal faith, is not perhaps the norm of the world. The norm of the world is this word submission comes with an incredibly negative appearance Because, much like things of this world, we have taken something that is a beautiful thing to do to God and we've corrupted it and we've abused it, and instead of it being a discipline, something, a rhythm that frees us from all of the stuff of this world, all the brokenness of ourselves and the brokenness of this world, it's a freeing rhythm. Instead of that, it has really become something that oppresses people. And so how do we tackle that this morning? How do we take something that, when we hear the word submission, even when we talked about it, people like, oh what, where are we going to go with this? How do we bring it back to what it's supposed to be a rhythm, a discipline that brings freedom. And so that's our goal this morning, because what submission is is a freeing rhythm, a freeing discipline. It's a giving up of oneself and living and loving for God and living and loving for other people. How do we get back to that? And the other question that we want to look at is why? Why should we submit to God? We've talked about the what it is, so how do we do it? Why do we do it? And that's our prayer this morning is that we leave here, maybe with a different look of what submission is. So let's pray for that this morning. God, we give you thanks and praise for the opportunity to gather together, whether here in the room or at home or at the cabin, wherever people may be viewing this. And, lord, right now, I just pray for your spirit to come into this place or wherever people are, and to open up hearts and minds, because when we talk about submission, it can really bring some dark, negative things into our life. Right now, lord, there are people in this place listening to this word that are submitting to things of this world, that are submitting to broken relationships, things that are oppressing them, and they are not experiencing the freedom that comes along with submitting to you. So, lord, god, open up hearts and minds for your word this morning. It's in your name we pray, amen. So, as we go this morning, the question that I ask, and as you think about, is what is molding and shaping you today? What or who is molding and shaping the person you are and the decisions that you are making? Because I think, if we take a moment and think about those things, we may be like how in the heck did this come into my life? How have I allowed this to come in and take such a stronghold in my life? It's very subtle.
Speaker 1:My son, Ezzy. He's six. He came home this week as they're clearing out their school locker and desk and stuff for the end of the year, and he came home with this piece of artwork and it's a still. What is it called a still life or whatever? It's the bowl of fruit. Right, he's supposed to paint the bowl of fruit. He did a pretty great job, right? He's six years old, pretty awesome. Now, what you maybe can't see, and what I didn't see the first time that I looked at it is in the bottom of the bowl of fruit. Is this? It's SpongeBob. I don't know what SpongeBob's doing in the bowl of fruit. He didn't know what he was doing because I asked him. I said what's SpongeBob? I don't know. I like to draw SpongeBob and I totally missed it. My wife called me and FaceTimed me and showed me this I'm like man, good job, buddy, good job. And she's like, look again and job. And she's like look again. And I'm like what is that?
Speaker 1:I think when we ask the question what or who are we submitting to? And we see some negative influences that are molding and shaping who we are, it's not so in your face and we miss it at first glance because it's it's sneaked its way in, it's found a way in to influence us, to mold us and shape us. So what is it or who is it maybe in your life that is molding and shaping you, that is causing you not to experience the freedom that is in submission to God? There's a great story in the Old Testament to answer the question why. Why should we submit to God? Now we are gathered in a church and there's an obvious reason, right, we all say Jesus and we could leave the room, but I got 15 more minutes, so we're going to go further into it. Why? And in this story of the Israelites, I think we see a beautiful picture of why we should submit to God.
Speaker 1:And so this starts in Exodus 19, verses 3 through 6. So this is right after the Israelites have been freed from Pharaoh and slavery, from Egypt, and they've wandered and they've made their way to Mount Sinai. And Exodus 19, 3 through 6 says this are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel. You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. Now, if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then, out of all the nations, you will be my treasured possessions, although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. So all of these thousands of people have come to this area by Mount Sinai. God says Moses, come up to the mountain, I want to talk to you. Notice how many times Moses goes up and down this mountain in this short passage.
Speaker 1:This guy is a cardio king, by the way, just keep an eye on it. He goes up to the mountain and God says listen, I want to make a covenant with my people. And he says to them he doesn't say. He says I want my people to submit to me as God, as ruler of their lives. And notice how he doesn't say I want them to submit to me because of my force, because of my power. There's no abuse here. There's no manipulation, there's no oppression going on here.
Speaker 1:Read closely what does he say. He says remember that I am the one who freed you from Egypt, freed you out of slavery, carried you on eagle's wings to this place. What he's saying is remember how I have shown you my love for you, remember how I have saved you and freed you, and this is why I want you to obey to me. This is why I want you to submit to me, not because of force, not because of oppression or because of things. If you don't, do you're going to get in trouble, so do it. It's because I love you and I want to continue to show my love to you. Not only that the covenant that he wants to make with these group of people is to make them heavenly priests, to make them people who not only know and love the law of God which the law is love but they're going to be a group of people that go and show the world, god's love. This is what he wants to do with these people. And he says Moses, this is the word that I want you to bring down to my people, this new covenant, and even the covenant that he's going to bring down eventually, we'll get to that.
Speaker 1:The Ten Commandments, these are not rules to follow by an oppressive, abusive, manipulative god. These are rules and guidelines of a way to live in freedom, because they've never lived that way. For over 400 years there were slaves in egypt, and now they're going to be a free people. For over 400 years in Egypt, they watched the Egyptians worship false idols and false gods, and now they have the freedom to worship their God. And so God says this new covenant between me and you, it's going to be again a way for me to show love to you, so that you may show that love to the world. That's the message that Moses is to deliver to his people.
Speaker 1:Okay, so Moses brings, climbs down that huge mountain and he says all right, everyone, listen up, I have a word from God, and in Exodus 19, 7 through 8, it says this so Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord commanded him to speak. Excuse me. The people all responded together we will do everything the Lord has said. So Moses brought their answers back to the Lord. So up the mountain he goes again. So the people hear this word from God and the word is remember how I have loved you. And they are compelled by that love of God that they say amen. They say let's do this, they're like let's go, I'm on board. This sounds great. God has shown us his love time and time and time again, and now he wants to continue to do that with us. I'm in, let's do this. And so the people resoundingly say okay, I'm in.
Speaker 1:So, old man, moses goes back up the mountain again to deliver this word and he goes back to the mountain and he says they're in God, they're in, they're excited, they remember how you have shown us your love and they just want more of that. They're ready to submit to you Because they know the freedom that's in that submission. And this is the part of the story that we're pretty familiar with. Moses goes back up to the mountain and God gives him in Exodus 20, he gives him the Ten Commandments. But it's not just that From Exodus 20 all the way through chapter 31, moses is on the mountaintop. Now, when I was a kid and I watched Charlton Heston be Moses, he went up there, got the commandments and came right back down. Right, that's not it. Moses was up there for 40 days, 40 days receiving the Ten Commandments.
Speaker 1:But not just that. Remember, these people have no idea how to live away from slavery. So, over those 11 chapters, away from slavery. So, over those 11 chapters, god tells Moses in great detail of how his people should live, down to what the priests should wear, what they should eat, because this is how they will show their love to God, because their relationship is a relationship of love. So Moses is on this mountaintop for 40 days, getting all of the guidelines of this is how God's people will live in this new promised land that you're going to, giving them a blueprint of, one that they haven't had for 400 plus years.
Speaker 1:And, as we know, it doesn't go so well at the bottom of the mountain. During those 40 days, stuff starts to change and they're starting to fear and doubt. Is Moses coming back? Does God really love us? Has he abandoned us once again? Do we feel abandoned once again by God? What's happening? We sent Moses up 40 days ago with a yes, we're in and we have nothing. And the fear and the doubt, maybe even some selfish ambition, climbs into the hearts of these people and they start building their fake God and they have forgotten about the love that God has shown them. They have forgotten the freedom that God has brought them away from Egypt, the power of God in splitting the Red Sea, of God, providing them for them in the desert with manna and water from the rock, providing them for them in the desert with manna and water from the rock. And that resounding yes from everyone has started to subside a little bit, has started to say maybe we were wrong and so they build.
Speaker 1:The golden calf Looks a little bit, maybe, like that, we have no idea, but that's Google's image. Here's the thing about this image. We know it's a golden calf, but why why a golden calf? Why why not some other kind of human looking god or whatever? Remember they were in slavery in egypt for over 400 years and in egypt there were three bold gods that were worshipped. One in particular was the god Apis, and this was the god of fertility and eternity. Fertility and eternity, which means that we will continue to live and we will live forever. For 400 years they lived in a place where they worshipped this God, this fake God, and the way they did this was the Egyptians would pick a bull, a big, strong bull, and they'd say this is Apis, and for 25 years that bull would be worshipped like a god. 25 years that bull would be worshipped like a god, until after 25 years, they would slaughter that bull and pick out a new bull. So maybe it's good for 25 years, but the end doesn't look so hot for this bull. And remember, they have witnessed this For 400 years. They have seen the Egyptian people worship this false god. But egypt was doing pretty good, weren't they? They were the empire of the world, and this is what the israelites knew. This is why they built the calf.
Speaker 1:Because here's the little thing about submission is that when we try to pull away from the things of this world that keep pulling us back, we seem to go back to what we know. When fear and doubt, and maybe selfish desires, impatience, starts to creep its way in our minds and our hearts. What we know is over here, and you know, what we know over here wasn't great. We were in slavery for 400 years, we were abused for 400 years, but we at least know it, and we go back to the things that lead to broken relationships. We go back to the things that lead to broken relationships. We go back to the things that lead to a broken life because it's familiar and that's what the Israelites were doing. They were going back to what they knew and they were allowing that to be what they submitted to.
Speaker 1:Well, after those 40 days, we know, moses comes down the mountain and he smashes the tablets, and that could be the end of the story and that could be the end of our story, but it's not, because, like in the beginning, our God is a God of love. And so, a few chapters later, moses receives the Ten Commandments again. And poor Moses man, remember it's 11 chapters of not just commandments but how to live, and God goes over them all in great detail, once again for Moses. So, even though the people rebelled and even though the people went back and submitted to something that they were used to that led to brokenness, even though they knew what God had done for them out of love, and even though they resoundedly said, yes, we want this, even though they fell and went back to a life of slavery, of what it felt like, a life that did not lead to freedom. Even though all of that, god still gave them the law. God still gave them the covenant of love, as we find out in the book of that. God still gave them the law. God still gave them the covenant of love, as we find out in the book of Joshua. He led his people to the promised land. After 40 years of wandering, they got to go home.
Speaker 1:And here's the thing about that 40 years. Sometimes we view that as a punishment. You made the golden calf. You went back to that submission of what led you to slavery and oppression for all those years. Here's 40 years of wandering in the desert. And then I'll let you in.
Speaker 1:I think we're reading it wrong. When Moses came down and saw, just after 40 days, what had happened. And, by the way, when we read that and we're like man, just after 40 days, after what God has done for you, 40 days, how many times have we left on a Sunday morning, been inspired by the word of God and said, yes, I'm going to make this change, yes, and then we get out in our car and we're like what was that message? Again, can't even make five minutes to my car 40 days is pretty good. Can't even make five minutes to my car. 40 days is pretty good.
Speaker 1:And these 40 years of wandering in the desert I think God knew that they weren't ready for this gift of freedom quite yet. There was still some changing and transformation that needed to happen to prepare them to be God's people. Where they were going, there were other gods, there were other people who worshiped fake gods, and they could last 40 days. How were they going to make the oppression and all these people coming in and saying you're worshiping the wrong god, this is the god of this place? Maybe they weren't ready and Moses wasn't going to go with them. Their leader, their extremely cardioactive leader, could not go with him. So God used that time to raise up joshua, someone who'll lead him into that land.
Speaker 1:Even the 40 years of wandering is an act of love by god. You see, their story didn't end there and our story doesn't end there because when I ask you the question of what is molding and shaping you, and maybe something stuck in your heart or a name or a thing immediately popped up. Our story doesn't end there Because, even if we are people who live for ourselves, who maybe can be a little self-centered and let our desires take control. And even if we are people who allow the things of this world to mold and shape us and oppress us, and even if we are people who continue to take on everything and say we can do it, I don't need help, I don't need God, I'm strong enough, I'm big enough, I can do it on my own.
Speaker 1:Even though we are these three, or maybe something else, even though we are sinners, christ still died for you, even though we allow the world to mold us and shape us, even though we allow our hearts, our selfish hearts, to mold us and shape us. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, christ died for us. Even though we don't deserve the promised land, he lets us go, even though we don't deserve the forgiveness he gives it. This is why we can submit to God. This is why the how is going to be a bit trickier sometimes. How do we do this? We do this by engaging in these rhythms. And what we're talking about? Fasting, serving, silence, solitude, these rhythms that draw us closer to the heart of God, so much that we start to experience and understand how much God loves us, that the power of God's love compels us to submit to him. Compel Sometimes in scripture the word compel is translated as controls us. That's about as ugly as the word of submission sometimes, but it compels us, this compelling feeling. What is it like to be compelled to do something?
Speaker 1:I was at the gym last week and on the treadmill. I like to, like most 40-year-old men, I like to watch Disney movies while I'm on the treadmill and I'm working my way through the whole cannon. It's great. And on this day I watched the movie Up. So if you've never seen Up, it's a fantastic movie. But the opening minute or two just is heart-wrenching. It's this older couple that you see, how they meet and live a life together, and then I'm not going to spoil it for you, but it's heart-wrenching. And I'm on the treadmill for the first minute, right, so I'm not huffing and puffing. And I'm on them and my wife's right next to me and after about this minute, minute and a half goes by, she looks over and she's like pull out your headphones, pull my headphones. She's like are you crying? I said no, it's a sweat. I'm working out. Man, the sweat got in my eye. She's like you're crying. It's like no, I'm not crying. I did not want to cry on the treadmill at planet fitness.
Speaker 1:As a 40 year old man, I didn't want to do that, but the story of this relationship between these two animated characters forced my body into this reaction. It compelled my body to do this. This is where we want to go, with the love of God in our lives. We want to know it, we want to feel it, we want to live it. So it compels us to do nothing but live for him, that it compels us nothing but to submit to him and live in the freedom that is the love of God, and we do that by these daily practices.
Speaker 1:It's not always easy and I'll leave you with this story. And I'll leave you with this story. Like I said, my little guy, ezi he's pretty creative and way more creative than me and he got this Lego kit for Christmas and I saw this this literally just happened this morning over my cup of coffee. We got him this for Christmas because he loves Legos and I'm like this is gonna be great man. Me and Ezi are gonna sit down over the next few weeks and put this thing together. He got this Christmas morning and he loved it Absolutely loved it.
Speaker 1:We cracked it open that morning, started working on it and we soon found out, five months later, that this little project ain't going to be easy. That's how far we are. Can't you tell it's a car? Five months and this is what we got. Five months and this represents and I'm not kidding hours, hours of sitting with young Ezzy going over the plans, putting the pieces together. Would it be easier if I did it myself? Yep, would it be easier if I said, ezzy, go play, I'll take care of it? If I said, ezzy, just sit there and watch daddy do it? It would be a lot easier.
Speaker 1:But that doesn't build a relationship. What builds a relationship with my son is me taking the hours to get this far, the patience that it takes to get this far. Sometimes, when we talk about submitting to God and we look at what's influencing us and molding and shaping us, you might get frustrated and say I'm only this far. But that's okay. Some of you may have taken that relationship months ago and put it on the shelf, said it's too hard, it's way more easier to live in this world, and so today, maybe for you it's time to go over there and pick that thing back up and remember the freedom that comes in submitting to God, a God who loves you, a God who frees you, and start rebuilding that relationship. So, people of Central, what is molding and shaping you this morning? Is there something stopping you from picking it back up and starting to know the heart of God again? Amen.
