Thursday, April 14, 2011

The 150th anniversary of the Civil War- slavery is still alive and well!

This week has been a big deal at our house.  You see, my husband loves history and has a special interest in the Civil War and this past week was the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War.  He knows that war inside out...If I didn't know better I would think he fought in the civil war! The Civil War had a huge impact on America!  Slavery will remain an embarrassing blemish on America's record and it was the right decision to fight in order to bring an end to slavery.  Abraham Lincoln will forever be remembered for his leadership during those dark days.

The word  "slave" does not bring warm fuzzy feelings and understandably so.  But, in reality, slavery is only as horrible as its master.  This leads me to what I want to share with you today.

Slavery is mentioned throughout the Bible.  In fact, you will find it in the Old Testament as well as the New.  It will come from the mouth of Apostle Paul, and the other apostles and of Jesus Christ!  Now, while we are tempted to see slavery in only one way- which is the slavery we know of that birthed the Civil War- we must look at how the idea of slavery is used in the Bible.  If you are wondering if Jesus was for slavery as it was in the days of the Civil War, I will say this; God always acts in a way that is consistent with His character.  That answers that question for me.

Ok, let's look at a few verses in the Bible that speak of slavery.

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV) No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon.

Jesus uses the word "master" which is a word that is associated with slavery.

Romans 6:4-5 states: For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

I Corinthians 7:22- For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman.  Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave.  You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

Romans 7:14b I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.   Romans 7:25- So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

This is just a few of the verses.  Perhaps the 2 most powerful verses for me are the following comes following:

 John 8:34-36.
"Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

II Peter 2:19b- for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

All these verses teach us that all of us are slaves- slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.  Whatever, or whoever masters us tells us whose slave we are.

In my study of slavery and the Bible, I was caught by some verses I've read hundreds of times but the Holy Spirit taught me anew.  The Apostle Paul and other apostles often started their  letters describing themselves as a "bond servant" of Jesus Christ.  What does the word "bond servant" mean?  Is it just another word for "slave"?  In some ways, yes!  A bond servant has a master and they have to obey the master.  However, there is a huge difference in the relationship between the master and the slave.  Don't miss this!

Romans 1:1- Paul, a bond servant of Jesus Christ.....
Ephesians 6:5 we are encouraged to obey are earthly masters (bosses) not as men pleasers but as "bond servants" of Christ.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bond servants of Jesus Christ
Titus 1:1 Paul, a bond servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ
James 1:1 James, a bond servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
II Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond servant and apostle of Jesus Christ

Let's review:
1.) we are all slaves- slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness
2.) We cannot be a slave to both- Jesus says you're either with me or against me!
3.) We are a slave to whatever controls us.  It's not WHO we say we are with our tongue that reveals near as much as what we say with our ACTIONS and HABITS.
4.)We are called to be bond servants of Jesus Christ

What about this word "bond servant"?  Why did the Apostles so often start their letters off proudly saying they were bond servants of Jesus Christ?

After 7 years a slave was set free.  However, a bond servant was a slave, who is love, binds himself to his master for life.  He stayed because he wanted to.  The Apostles started their letters that way announcing their full submission to their Master, Jesus Christ!

Becoming a bond servant was a big deal.  It was bound by a covenant between the master and his bond servant.  The master would take care of the servant (shelter, food, clothing, everything!)
When the slave became a bond servant they would bore through his ear with an awl (we know it as getting our ears pierced!)  In the Old Testament times the Hebrew people symbolically linked the ear to obedience.
The bond servant would literally and figuratively become a part of his master's family.  It was basically an adoption.  The piercing of the ear meant that the bond servant had an open ear to the master's call and he served his master forever.

What were the benefits the bond servant gained?
The Master would take care of him, he just had to obey

What was the trade off for being a bond servant?
1)He gave up his freedom
2) He gave up his will for the will of his master\
3) He obeyed the master

Could it be that this is what the Apostle Paul was conveying to us in Galatians 4: 7 "So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you an heir.

When we accept Christ as our Savior we are sealed, just like when a slave would get his ear pierced when becoming a bond servant.  He has covenanted to take care of us in every way forever! He adopts us into the family! (Ephesians 1:5)  We are called to lay down our "freedoms" and our will to follow after Christ and obey Him, for He is our Master!

I know of no situation where the word bond servant is ever used in talking about sin.  Instead, we see the word "slave".  I don't know, but I kind of think that is deliberate.  A master covenants with his bond servant that he will provide for all his needs and adopt him into the family.  Satan, the author of sin, would never make such a true covenant with the one enslaved by sin.  He is a liar and the father of lies and he is not interested in our well being\-rather he is interested in destroying us. (Satan comes only to steal, kill and destroy! John 10:10)

Millions of folks today are slaves and they don't even realize it.  They are slaves to satan and his bag of tricks such as alcohol, drugs, sex, etc.  They don't even know that Jesus Christ did something that Abraham Lincoln could not do in all of his contribution to putting an end to slavery. Jesus Christ, the true Emancipator, went to the cross, and right before His last breath He cried out "It is Finished"!!   3 days  later He made a spectacle of the devil by triumphing over the grave and made a way for us to be freed from the bonds of slavery to sin and  satan! (Colossians 2:15)

Who is your Master?  Is it Jesus or is it Satan- ( those are the only two choices)  If you don't know Christ as your Savior and Master then go to my tab on how to have a personal relationship with Christ.

 I ask you:  Is your ear pierced?  Can you, can I say "I am a bond servant of Jesus Christ"?

We will never have a better Master than the Lord Jesus Christ!

To God be the glory!