The "S" Word Slavery. Are You Free?

Dear Bondservants of God,

Yes, the “S” word, Slavery. Can we even talk about it in our “woke” society, especially in the USA? Why not?

Is there still slavery and slave trade in the world? Yes, there are. The most significant slavery going on every day is slavery to sin. The rich and the poor are not free but under the bondage of sin. The Greek word translated to slave “literally means to be owned by someone for a lifetime.”

“You were slaves of sin…But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:20-23.

Are you free from the slavery of sin through Jesus Christ? "So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free."

Of course, there are other forms of old and modern slavery like the one experienced by millions of Africans in the Americas and the Western world. There is also thriving sex slavery of our time all over the world, even in the USA. Super Bowl  week is the highest sex trafficking week in USA. 

God created all in His image. Humans designed slavery for their selfish gain and exploitation. No one has the right to own or sell another human being. We are all equal.

As we continue our study of 1 Peter, Apostle Peter addressed enslaved people using Jesus as an example of endurance; he had already appealed to all people to submit to authorities. We cannot run from the scripture but deal with it in the proper context. Let’s hear Peter speak to the suffering Pilgrims:

“Servants [Slaves], be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 

²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

²² “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

 ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:18-24.

People read the above scripture and say, ‘you see, the bible justifies and promotes slavery.’ That is very wrong and not what the bible teaches about slavery. We are in a fallen world; people, not God, came up with the idea of enslaving others for selfish gain. Slavery is the reality of our world and does not make any form of it right, especially the cruel and harsh treatment of enslaved people.

We must acknowledge that most of the Church in the past got it wrong on slavery. Many used the bible to justify owning and trading/ selling slaves. Later, when some saw the light, the same bible was used to argue for the abolishment of slavery.

Apostle Peter is encouraging those “caught” in slavery to endure until they win their freedom. At the time of Peter’s writing, many were unwilling slaves, but some sold themselves into slavery to survive. You can say employees of our time are willing slaves (servants) to make a living. All in slavery need endurance. Are you facing a tough time and people at work? Please endure and continue to do right.

There will be sufferings in slavery/servanthood but let it be for doing good, not evil. Jesus is the perfect example. He did no evil but was punished and killed for our sins on the cross. Like Jesus, let us commit ourselves “to Him who judges righteously.”  

Please note “who Himself [Jesus] bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”  

This Scripture is very significant. We must live in the righteousness and for the righteousness of Christ. Jesus owns us. We must also proclaim and receive our spiritual and physical healings of sickness in Christ. 1 Peter 2:22-23 is the basis of praying for ourselves and others for physical healing. Be healed today from whatever disease that is attacking you in Jesus' name. Amen.

So, what about slavery? Are you free from the bondage of sin? Confess, repent and trust the Jesus who died for you and me.

Be a slave abolitionist. Tell people about Christ who will set them free from the bondage of sin. Support ministries that help free young girls/boys, men, and women from sex trafficking and other forms of modern slavery.

Lord, I thank you for setting free me. I belong to you forever. Use me to help set others free. Amen.

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