Slave
Read Romans 1:1-7.
Several months ago, I watched the new version of the mini-series "Roots." I remember watching the original one when I was a kid, and this new one seemed, to my memory, more violent and graphic. Part of that is probably the nature of cable television in the 2010's versus network broadcasting in the 1970's, and part of it is most likely a desire to more faithfully represent the times. There is no doubt that American slavery was a brutal, violent time. John Wesley called the American form of slavery "the vilest that ever saw the sun" (letter to William Wilberforce, February 24, 1791).
Of course, slavery was not new in America. It was routinely practiced throughout history. The Roman Empire was full of slaves; it is said that, if the slaves had the will, they could have overwhelmed their masters by sheer numbers alone. We find slavery in the Bible, of course. Luke, the author of the gospel, may have been a slave; "Luke" is a slave name. Onesimus is a slave that Paul sends back to Philemon, all the while asking for Onesimus' release. Roman slavery may have been different from its later American counterpart, but it was still the bondage of one human being to another. It meant someone (the slave) was not free to do was he or she pleased.
So why, then, does Paul choose that image to describe himself, especially when writing to the church at Rome? Our English Bibles often clean it up, but the word he used in Romans 1:1 is actually the word for "slave." Someone without freedom. Someone bound to another. Someone who does not make their own choices about their work, their leisure, their lives. And he's using that description when writing to a people who prided themselves on their freedom and their citizenship. Paul, in just a couple of short words, is already drawing a contrast between the usual way of life in Rome and the Gospel: when you believe in Jesus, he makes you a slave. You are no longer your own; you are his.
Slavery to Christ, however, does not bring punishment or torture. It is not a brutal life. Jesus himself said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Never doubt, though, that our lives, when we follow him, are his, and not our own. In fact, in a letter to the Corinthians, Paul (talking about how we use our bodies) says this: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
What does it mean to you to be a slave to Jesus? How does that impact the way you live today, the choices you make today, the hopes and dreams you have today?
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| Chains of St. Paul - St. Paul Outside the Walls Church, Rome |
Several months ago, I watched the new version of the mini-series "Roots." I remember watching the original one when I was a kid, and this new one seemed, to my memory, more violent and graphic. Part of that is probably the nature of cable television in the 2010's versus network broadcasting in the 1970's, and part of it is most likely a desire to more faithfully represent the times. There is no doubt that American slavery was a brutal, violent time. John Wesley called the American form of slavery "the vilest that ever saw the sun" (letter to William Wilberforce, February 24, 1791).
Of course, slavery was not new in America. It was routinely practiced throughout history. The Roman Empire was full of slaves; it is said that, if the slaves had the will, they could have overwhelmed their masters by sheer numbers alone. We find slavery in the Bible, of course. Luke, the author of the gospel, may have been a slave; "Luke" is a slave name. Onesimus is a slave that Paul sends back to Philemon, all the while asking for Onesimus' release. Roman slavery may have been different from its later American counterpart, but it was still the bondage of one human being to another. It meant someone (the slave) was not free to do was he or she pleased.
So why, then, does Paul choose that image to describe himself, especially when writing to the church at Rome? Our English Bibles often clean it up, but the word he used in Romans 1:1 is actually the word for "slave." Someone without freedom. Someone bound to another. Someone who does not make their own choices about their work, their leisure, their lives. And he's using that description when writing to a people who prided themselves on their freedom and their citizenship. Paul, in just a couple of short words, is already drawing a contrast between the usual way of life in Rome and the Gospel: when you believe in Jesus, he makes you a slave. You are no longer your own; you are his.
Slavery to Christ, however, does not bring punishment or torture. It is not a brutal life. Jesus himself said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Never doubt, though, that our lives, when we follow him, are his, and not our own. In fact, in a letter to the Corinthians, Paul (talking about how we use our bodies) says this: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
What does it mean to you to be a slave to Jesus? How does that impact the way you live today, the choices you make today, the hopes and dreams you have today?
My heart is His and He directs my path.
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