SLAVERY HAS EXISTED since relatively shortly after Adam and Eve were expulsed from the paradisiacal Garden of Eden. By the twelfth chapter of the Book of Genesis, mankind swelled in numbers that established early civilization. With human social and cultural development came despotic kingdoms, class divisions, and subjugation of outcasts. Slavery, in a biblical view, is a direct result of rejecting God as sovereign and choosing self-governance. Slavery remains with us today in many forms, from the genocidal policies of China in respect to the Uighur population, to global sex-trafficking and the drug cartel culture, to the more seemingly benign underbelly of capitalism, the credit card debt that has trapped so many.
The bible readily acknowledges the presence of slavery in human society as a fact of life. For many, this is abhorrent, a crack in the moral fiber of scripture. The Holy Writ, as indeed is true of all other ‘sacred text,’ has been profaned by its historical mis-use to subjugate ‘lower classes.’ This has produced tragic consequences in the fabric of culture stretching across all into recent times. As an example, the history of racial tensions is written in blood in America’s two and a half century experiment in democracy in the context of both native Indian and African American races. The earlier American church’s widespread hermeneutic in this role is now viewed as tragically flawed by today’s interpreters of scripture. But make no mistake. The bible’s factual recognition of slavery is not an endorsement of slavery; rather, it addresses how to survive, perhaps even thrive, when we find ourselves in such an impoverished and seemingly unchangeable condition.
Without ignoring the afore-mentioned more egregious forms of slavery, we turn to the bible for a theologically informed perspective that may hit us very hard personally. Is it possible that you and I are enslaved? Raise your hand if you are in credit card debt due to your violation of the tenth command. No? How about this: can I get a nod if you’re trapped in bitterness due to lack of forgiveness? Or maybe, patterns of rage, lust, hubris… the list is long, and blind denial of any or all of this is to remain enslaved. Our soul becomes entrapped as a result of our a) universal and personal inheritance of the DNA of sin, and b) our habitual practices guided by sin’s values.
The N.T. is replete with warnings of the power of sin. James warns, “each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15) Clearly, we become enslaved to sin by our own desires.
Is there any escape from this bondage? The writer of Hebrews, acknowledging the lives of the faithful who have gone before us, says “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” (Heb. 12:1b) But how do you and I do this when we are still enslaved?
Scripture points the way. Quoting Messianic O.T. prophecy, Jesus emphatically says “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me… to proclaim freedom for the prisoners… to set the oppressed free.” (Luke 4:18, c.f. Isa. 61:1) He adds, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34, 36)
Two apostles in particular, Peter and Paul, speak to this issue in practical application. Peter, having lived under Roman rule but now subject to the sovereignty of Christ, says “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, fear God, honor the emperor. Submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.” (1 Pet. 2:16-20) Perhaps, given a growing awareness of our own enslaved condition, his last statement ‘to bear up under the pain of unjust suffering’ grates against our desire for freedom. If so, good! This begins to reveal our journey of true emancipation.
Paul, reflecting on such suffering, says “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18) He doesn’t say, “Break through all these barriers to get free.” Instead he points to a difficult truth: God allows such circumstances in our lives that seem so unjust and maybe capricious on his part—be careful here—because it is ‘his will for us,’ and specifically, ‘in Christ Jesus.’ God’s will is that we become more Christ-like, and anywhere where sin rules over our life, he will allow suffering as a path to freedom. John enlightens us: “Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him.” (1 John 3:2)
So, are we slaves? Paul illuminates some great truths about this. “Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (Rom. 6:19-22)
Like all of humanity, we were once slaves to sin and its inevitable consequence. (c.f. Rom. 6:23). Our individual journey of emancipation is not to personal freedom, but freedom in Christ as not just as savior, but as Lord.
Q. If I am free of the delusion of freedom, and understand that everyone serves a master, who is truly my master? Am I ‘free indeed?’
Leave a Reply