Opus 2025-215: Knee-Jerk

Emilio Zapata is attributed with saying “It is better to die on your feet and live on your knees”.  At least that’s what the T-shirts say.  He might be surprised that he said it.  Politically speaking, I think that is an important truth.  There is a place where we must take our stand and refused to bow before oppression and tyranny.

In other areas of our life, I’m not sure that doesn’t present more of a problem than a solution.  Of course, being me, I’m thinking in terms of theology and spiritual truth, rather than in business or the arts.  One of the problems that we have as Americans is that we have forgotten how to bow and take a knee.  Never mind the concept of flattening ourself face down on the ground, which was common in ancient times.  These are ways of expressing submission.  Submission is clearly understanding our lack of power, and the authority of the person we are bowing down to.

As Americans we don’t believe in Kings.  We don’t believe that the president puts his pants on any different than the rest of us.  We have this sense of equality.  That does a disservice when it comes to our attitude toward God.  When it comes to God, we need to focus a bit more on bowing down.  We need to be willing to go to our knees with bent head.  There’s a reason why the concept of a stiff neck appears in scripture.

Being on your knees puts you in a position of vulnerability.  It makes it hard to dodge and weave.  You can’t attack or retreat.  You are at the mercy of superior power.  Politically I’m not sure taking a knee is a good idea.  I don’t know how you would survive in business if you always lived on your knees and submission.  Artists would certainly not come up with any new work if they lived in submission to other people’s ideas.

In our spiritual lives however, it is necessary.  We must live in submission to the wisdom and authority of Almighty God.  It’s not just because He has the power to destroy.  It is because the power is exercised in righteousness and holiness.  He knows what is best for Himself, and for us.  He is willing to sacrifice Himself for us as Jesus showed on the cross.

Maybe it’s time for us to learn the benefits of living on our knees.

homo unius libri