Slavery

Studying history is fascinating. We can learn a lot about humanity in general. And wouldn’t you think we’d learn from our mistakes instead of repeating them over and over? I enjoy studying American history, but not the Civil War period. It has to be one of the saddest blemishes on our nation’s calendar of events.

To my biased mind, all slavery is wrong. Thinking of others as less than ourselves is not OK, but we all do it at times, don’t we? Since the Bible tells us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to (Romans 12:3), wouldn’t you say that Christians ought to set an example in this area? And since the Word shows us how to love, even to the point of loving our enemies, shouldn’t we expect the Christian community to be the most loving people of all? But alas! Just when I think the Bible should come down hard on such a practice, it goes beyond the surface and gets to the heart of the matter. No matter our station in life, we are to love God and treat others with respect.

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him” (Ephesians 6:5-9, NIV).

In case you are wondering how I got to thinking about such a subject, I’ll clue you in. I’ve decided that instead of getting new books from the library I should read some of my old ones that sit on my shelves collecting dust. So right now I’m on The Robe, by Lloyd C. Douglas. It takes place in the first century during the decline of the Roman Empire, when slavery was rampant. Doesn’t it surprise you that God would have chosen to send His Son to earth during the time of this corrupt regime? When God’s chosen people were under the thumb of Rome? But God is good at that – surprising us.

Anyway, I find it fascinating that as Christianity was spreading across Asia and Europe, the New Testament writers had a first hand observation of slavery and used it to challenge new believers. Here’s what the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome: “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:16-18, NIV). Hmm… Whose slave are you?