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Slavery undoubtedly has an dark aura surrounding it, and it appears instantly, the moment you are asked to consider it. Check your gut right now—did the word itself make you feel warm inside? Not likely! Does it paint a pretty picture on the canvas of your mind? Of course not; it’s ugly! In your brain were pictures of chains, and whips, and bars, and oppressive hard labor. You are certainly drawn to envision the modern sex-slave market that has permeated the globe. You are staring into countless hopeless empty eyes as if death is looking back at you. The victims you imagine are hungry, frail, sick, oppressed, and seem as if they are being digested from the inside. They are disposable beings who appear to have died already, forced to wait impatiently for their beating hearts to catch up to what already occurred in their souls long ago. You have an abundance of these images from world history and current events floating around in your conscience. These historic and present instances of slavery are evil and oppressive. These brands of bondage are frightening, disturbing, and disgusting; they epitomize the exact opposite of what you believe is freedom.
But what if, for a moment, we redefine freedom. Let’s say freedom is having no options. True freedom is when God is the only choice. Then slavery includes all people living in such a way in which they feel at liberty to make choices on their own, contrary to the will of God. Now slavery is extremely far reaching; it envelopes a much more diverse population; it gathers to itself everyday people living life in an ordinary way in an ordinary world, subjects of a kingdom which breeds confusion, as options abound. Two types of slavery emerge, one in physical chains, the other in bondage to their own sinful desires.
But wait; there’s more! A third type of slave is one who has been brought into bondage to the Lord, a bondservant of God. Slavery under these conditions is anything but oppressive. Rather than chains and confusion, it offers life-giving clarity. The Holy Scriptures enlighten us with this additional perspective on slavery. Sure it is slavery nonetheless, but this is a choice about the type of slavery. And if we circle back to understanding true freedom, then you should not see this as a choice at all! There exists a type of slavery to disobedience, lawlessness, uncleanness and death—a slave of sin. And, there is a form of slavery that embodies obedience, righteousness, holiness and life—a bondservant of God.
It’s time to draw a mandatory line in the sand—choose your form of slavery. And if you are truly free you will see only one option. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves?”
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