Are You a Slave, or a Servant?

Slavery is abhorrent; sadly its been a part of human history from almost the beginning. Long been used as weapon of war, an economic cudgel, a source of cheap labor, it often goes hand-in-hand with that other act of total domination, rape. Slaves generally had no rights, received no wages for their (usually) arduous labor-they were mostly considered the property of their masters. To escape from their "owners" usually resulted in severe punishment, often death. Only under exceptional circumstances could a salve ever expect to become a free person.   

Today the moral horror of slavery is so widely condemned that it is hard to realize that for thousands of years slavery was practiced around the world by people of virtually every race. Even the leading moral and religious thinkers in different societies accepted slavery as just a fact of life.

Slavery, in most its forms, ended in the 19th century as awareness of the inalienable rights of individuals grew, and the Western world slowly turned against the thought of owning people. The end of slavery in the USA came at a terrible cost; civil war, and the life of one combatant for every six slaves freed. The legacy of that conflict still deeply impacts America today. The riots and protest marches that we have witnessed across the world are a powerful reaction to that legacy, and the ongoing dreadful treatment of the descendants of those salves.  

The much loved hymn, Amazing Grace, was written by a former captain of a slave ship, and slave trader, John Newton.  

George Washington at Prayer, Valley Forge

What is a servant?

During the American Revolution a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them. Asked why by the rider, he retorted with great dignity, "Sir, I am a corporal!" The stranger apologized, dismounted, and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers. The job done, he turned to the corporal and said, "Mr. Corporal, next time you have a job like this and not enough men to do it, go to your commander-in-chief, and I will come and help you again." It was none other than George Washington.

We hear much today about "servant-leadership" and the story about George Washington is a good example, but this is not what the Bible means when it talks about "bond-servant"

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Peter 1:1 NKJV


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

Becoming a bond-servant of Christ does NOT mean doing "good works" (however necessary) around your fellowship or church building, helping the widows and orphans; we are all called to do that. Being a bond-servants requires much more! 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us that study is needed, and we must learn to CORRECTLY handle God's Word....Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV 

We must have our minds renewed: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV

Peter, Paul, James, Jude, John, and Moses. Bond-servants all. Between them, they wrote 27 of the 66 books of the Bible -- over one-third of it. Between the five books of Moses and all the New Testament epistles, everything we know about doctrine was written for us by bond-servants. God didn't choose just anyone to entrust with writing His Word down.  

Most people cringe at the word Bond-Servant, our modern democratic system of politics has successfully bred the idea of servant-hood out of all of us.  However, the Biblical description of a bond-servant is of a person who chooses to serve their Master till death. He or she will forever wear the mark of their Master. They accomplish all of the Master's will for their life because of a love called 'agape". There are no loose ends, no frustrations or indecision. Eternity for the bond-servant is marked with glorious rewards at the Mercy seat of the Master. (Read Exodus 21:1-6)