In four of Paul's letters, he opens the first chapter calling himself a servant of Christ. Not to mention how many numerous times he gives himself the same title throughout the books. But the word for servant isn't the best translation. In Greek, Paul uses the word duolos which translates to slave. I understand our hesitation to use the world "slave" as it brings up some unsettling memories in our nation's history, but today, on this day celebrating freedom, I want to talk about slavery.
I think I love this topic because it seems completely paradoxical in the Christian faith. When most people talk about Christ, they talk about the freedom he offers. Paul, our very own self-proclaimed slave, does the same when speaking to the Galatians when he claims: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery" (5:1). Yet Paul says to the Romans: "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (6:18). So what are we to make of this? A slave, who counts it a joy to be a slave, encouraging other slaves to not be burdened by the yoke of slavery. And who said Christianity was boring? Let me try to break it down in the best way that I understand it.
You see, Paul understood something very important about human nature. Paul understood that no matter what, people are slaves to something. Look around you. How many people are slaves to their job? To their addictions? To their spouses? To money? To themselves? As humans, we allow desires, motivations, and struggles to be our masters. At first it may be with a good heart or with good reason. But eventually it always turns into a master-slave relationship. Paul recognized this defect in our human nature and basically said we have one of two choices: we can be slaves to Christ and righteousness, or we can be slaves to all else which falls under the blanket of sin.
I won't lie, being a slave to sin usually feels better in the moment than being a slave to righteousness. Then the moment fades and if you still have a conscience, shame replaces it. What felt great in the moment suddenly has led to death. But then, Christianity never was about living for the moment. Christianity is about living for eternity and I promise you, the pay off is much better though sometimes it seems too far off to bother with. Check out how Paul sums it all up to the Romans.
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. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 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. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:19-23).So break away from the slavery of sin and become a slave to Christ. A beautiful thing about slavery in the time of Paul is that slaves all were specially trained for specific duties within the household. There was no blanket training, it was specific and with a purpose to further improve the household. Let Christ train you for the duties he has prepared for you. And then live and work with his training to further his kingdom of righteousness. No matter what, you will choose to become a slave to something. Even a non-choice is choice enough to self. So be proactive and offer your life and services to Christ and become his slave. After all, he is the only Master who offers true freedom. And that alone is worthy of a firework show.
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