Free or Slave?

Do you have an earthly master? And, if you do, are you a slave to it? Our men’s bible study went over a few verses in Colossians 3 tonight. To tell you the truth, these verses make me uncomfortable. Before I explain or state what I mean here are the verses:

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.  Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.”

Colossians 3:22-4:1 NIV1984

What gets my attention right away is the opener, “slaves.” Just a mere mention of that word “slavery” and our heads wag.  At least mine does. Mention slavery and I always see segments of “Roots” in my mind. “Roots”, a TV mini series, did a great job showing the brutality of slavery. One scene from nearly 40 years ago is still vivid. Kunta Kinte, the main character, has half of his foot chopped off to prevent him from running to freedom.

The bible is often accused of being in favor of slavery. It’s really not. And I’m too tired to explore the scriptures. I don’t want to look up a ton of references to prove my case. So look it up and do your own homework!

 Well maybe I’ll give just a couple verses. But that’s all!

Computers spoil us with the ease that it sifts through information. Well here they are.

^“ If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand him over to his master. Let him live among you wherever he likes and in whatever town he chooses. Do not oppress him.”

Deuteronomy 23:15-15 NIV1984

"Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so."

1 Corinthians 7:20-21 NIV1984

 One hundred and sixty four verses, in my NIV bible, mention slavery. Face it, it was and is part of our world. It’s wrong, but many things in our world are messed up. Boy wouldn't the list of our worlds’ woes go on and on forever. Slavery, in my opinion, is one of humanities great blunders and sin.

Most of the verses, sifted with technology, were mentioning Israel’s slavery under different captors and the like. God forced Egypt to set all of Israel free. That should tell us something. Rather than gloss over slavery's reality, the bible regulates the owners to treat a slave right, something unheard of in that day.

Here is an example. God commanded Israel to take a Sabbaths’ rest. In the same manner, those who had slaves were required to let the slaves rest too Exodus 23:12. I could go on and on, but I’m getting tired and I haven’t even really talked about what bugged me.

Paul in Ephesians and Colossians establishes how those in certain roles of life are to act. Here, he gives a general line of conduct to be upheld as our reference point. If one was a husband, wife, child, slave, or owner, each has and had their role or duty as a Christian. All is fine and dandy right?

I guess so, but…, why are workers compared to slaves and bosses to owners? I get it. The comparison has a common relationship with certain similarities. But, the biggest difference is, the worker gets to go to his own home at night (so once there, they can be a slave to their own families upkeep). The slave gets to, no has to stay on duty all the time.

I’m beginning to bore myself. I don’t even like that term, slave!

Yet, it wasn't always a bad deal. Sure you, as a slave would have a job to do. Yet, a wise master would find a way to maximize the slaves output. A wise master would find ways to make having that slave worthwhile. Special talents of a slave, could better the masters position. (Acts contains one such example of this. Starting in Acts 16:16)

So, why would a master abuse his property if he has to pay for the slave’s medical care? It would make sense to value such an investment. Yet, knowing human nature and history, many just abused their slaves.

Those who once were enslaved in western civilization, primarily Jews and Africans, less than a hundred years ago were thought of as less than human. I’m talking about the Holocaust and the Nazi idea’s that destroyed as many Jews as possible. Sure they weren't slaves at point. But their German captors dehumanized them and then proceeded to exterminate them like vermin.

I’m getting riled up just thinking about it! Our sin sick world is capable of any evil imaginable. It wasn't too much for Satan to press God’s people over and over again, in an attempt to destroy them. Satan has always hated anyone called a child of God. Israel becoming a nation of them just made them a huge target. That was too much! Satan wanted to annihilate any chance of that seed of the woman that would crush his head!

It didn't work, of course. 

Sorry, It’s late and thinking’s too hard. The bed is calling!

To wrap this up, the similarities of slaves and their owners to workers and their bosses is perhaps right? Paul, himself, was at times a hireling working for others as he made tents. Jobs did exist, even 2000 years ago.  Why didn't he just use the worker, boss model instead?

It’s easy, now that I think about it. The easy answer is that the Holy Spirit of God guided him in this direction instead. If we believe the word of God is real, then we know it is active and cuts into areas of our lives we would rather avoid.

I don’t like slavery, because Christ is our freedom. Yet, even with that, I've let sin drag part of me into slavery over and over. It simply sickens me to think of it. O the memory dredge!

Forget that.

There was a different type of slavery too. The bond slave: one who chooses to be a slave for life, or one who is ordered to be one for life. They were nailed with an awl to a door post. It marked them for life.

I easily wander and I know it. Yet, as Christ has paid my debt of sin forever and I am his forever. I’m marked as a child of God and it echoes in my head. Being marked, defines ownership. That’s why He goes after wayward sheep, they are His. He leaves the 99 to find just one. Get this mark on your life! Then you’ll always no He’s coming to get ya!

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 I wrote about being the one Christ sought after in an earlier post. It's called the Lamb. Here is a link:
The Lamb