A fundamental and essential tenet of the hyper-authoritarian Discipleship/Shepherding system is a dogma which is best described by the term "absolute submission," in which followers are required to, in effect, surrender their personal will unto the many ascending echelons of leaders in the pyramiding chain of command, and to obey explicitly and comprehensively the dictates and whims of those many "leaders." Adherents are taught that they cannot simply hear from God themselves, but must "submit" virtually every matter of importance requiring a decision in their life unto their "leader." They are taught that God requires them to "be in submission," which extrapolates into total obedience and obeisance to the chain of human leaders of their group, and into those leaders making most or many of their decisions for them, whether overtly or by employing subtle manipulation that leads the member to the conclusion to which the leader wants them to arrive.

In these groups, it is quite common for members to be compelled to receive the approval (which is usually spoken of as a "confirmation") of their "leader" with regard to such mundane decisions as major and even minor purchases, going on a trip, visiting with relatives, matters concerning the care and nurturing of children, dating, marriage, relocation, and a host of routine decisions individuals and families must make as a normal course of life.

Absolute submission is an integral and essential element of the Discipleship/Shepherding theories and practices. However, it is manifest in varying degrees of covertness and overtness by different groups employing them. At one end of the spectrum are proponents and practitioners of these doctrines who hold to and implement an extreme and dogmatic version of absolute submission to the group's leadership, which is very manifest in the structure and modus operandi of the group, both publicly and behind the scenes. At the opposite end of the spectrum, are groups who employ a much more subtle and oblique form of absolute submission, which is deliberately kept out of the public services in order to give the impression of freedom and liberty. It is only manifest in the behind the scenes aspects, among those who have completed all the requisite indoctrination, initiation, and "proof of loyalty" "tests" prerequisite to them becoming a part of the "inner circle" of leaders and prominent "insiders."

In any case, however, absolute submission is by no means a benign and inconsequential premise, but is an extremely malevolent and destructive mechanism the sole goal of which is unauthorized and ungodly predomination and control. Invariably and inevitably, in the case of those who have accepted the premise of absolute submission as being meritorious, and have integrated it into the structure and operations of their ecclesiastical society, whether it is manifested privately or publicly, it becomes the basis for a demonic and extremely injurious form of "brainwashing" and psychological "conditioning" of the constituency. Multitudes of naive and unsuspecting individuals as well as whole families have been psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually damaged by these very powerful mechanisms of domination and control oriented indoctrination. Some have suffered such total spiritual shipwreck and disillusionment that recovery requires the supernatural intervention of God.