Submissiveness

Definitely a "“vice" in the eyes of many people!

We know from the Bible that "“submission"” is not automatically a bad thing. Submissiveness--—or having an attitude of submission--would have to be a good thing too! Oooooohhhhh! This concept is so hard for some people to accept! But who ever said submission is easy?

Submissiveness can be either good or bad, a virtue or a vice. As a virtue it means things like:

Submission to God

Deference, courtesy, respect for other people, and an open heart toward them (Rom. 12:10; Eph 5:21)

Humility, and a willingness to admit error and to learn (1 Peter 5:5; Pro. 9:8,9).

A willingness to do things another person's way or to yield.

Respect for and appropriate submission to persons who have authority over you or preference before you in any way--—parents (Ex. 20:2), elders (Lev. 19:32, 1 Peter 5:5), church leaders (Heb. 13:17), government (Rom 13:1,7; 1 Peter 2:13,14), your own husband (Col. 3:18), employers (Col. 3:22).

An attitude of asking, requesting, and suggesting, rather than ordering, demanding, and informing. It is particularly important to do this toward people we a subject to, but it is an important courtesy toward anyone, even people who are subject to us.

Submissiveness as a vice means things like:

Such excessive deference that it becomes annoying to other people.

Humility and meekness to the point of being annoying, or to the point that you can't even graciously accept complements or gifts, or to the point that you deny the truth (by declaring that you really are not so talented, etc.).

Submissiveness to the point that it becomes permissiveness, allowing people to do things either around you or to you that they should not do. Allowing people to persuade you to do something you should not do.

Allowing another person (or a group of people, or an organization, etc.) officially or unnoficially to take over your mind.

Being so submissive (or submissive in the wrong setting) that you fail to have and maintain appropriate boundaries.

Failure to have opinions (beliefs, values, etc.) or to ever express them.

Failure to stick up for your rights (or someone else's) when you should

Obeying men rather than God. Submitting to any human being more than you submit to God.

Obeying or following the lead of someone other than whom is in authority over you, i.e. children giving into peer pressure rather than obeying your parents, wives submitting to the will of friends rather than to the will of her husband, etc.

Being a pushover (like Aaron Ex. 32:1-2).