A billboard was recently unveiled in California criticizing the
Bible because Colossians. 3:22 says “Slaves, obey your earthy masters in
everything.” Apparently, the Atheist group wants to take a sound bite from the
Bible and imply that the Bible condones slavery. Anytime one needs to
understand what a sound bite says, it is necessary to look at the context. In
this case, there are two contexts. One is the situation at the time of the text
and second is the context surrounding the text. Let’s look at the first
one.
When Colossians was written, Rome ruled. Christians represented a
minority and one without capability to change the laws of the empire. The empire
not only condoned slavery, it gave the slave owner almost free rein to do
whatever he wanted to the slave. So, in those conditions what would you have
told the slaves? Would you tell them to disobey their masters? If so, and the
slaves listened to you what would have been the consequences for them? Probably
a severe beating. Maybe if they continued to disobey a beating severe enough to
end their life of slavery through death.
Jesus, though Paul, gave the slaves a better way. He gave them
hope. He told them they were just as valuable in Jesus’ eyes as a free man. Read
Galatians 3:28 as it says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male
nor female, for you are all one is Christ Jesus.” Now read the rest of the
passage after Colossians3:22. He instructed them to obey their master because of
their reverence for the Lord, not for men. He said, “Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that
you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord you
are serving.”
You see, the slave was promised hope and mental freedom. That by
far is the best kind. Fortunately we don’t have physical slavery in the U.S. of
A. However, we can make ourselves economic slaves by becoming so attached to
things that we lose our freedom. We must stay with our jobs because we can’t
stand to lose our car, house, family, etc. Even in those situations, we can
still have hope and mental freedom through Christ.
Bible because Colossians. 3:22 says “Slaves, obey your earthy masters in
everything.” Apparently, the Atheist group wants to take a sound bite from the
Bible and imply that the Bible condones slavery. Anytime one needs to
understand what a sound bite says, it is necessary to look at the context. In
this case, there are two contexts. One is the situation at the time of the text
and second is the context surrounding the text. Let’s look at the first
one.
When Colossians was written, Rome ruled. Christians represented a
minority and one without capability to change the laws of the empire. The empire
not only condoned slavery, it gave the slave owner almost free rein to do
whatever he wanted to the slave. So, in those conditions what would you have
told the slaves? Would you tell them to disobey their masters? If so, and the
slaves listened to you what would have been the consequences for them? Probably
a severe beating. Maybe if they continued to disobey a beating severe enough to
end their life of slavery through death.
Jesus, though Paul, gave the slaves a better way. He gave them
hope. He told them they were just as valuable in Jesus’ eyes as a free man. Read
Galatians 3:28 as it says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male
nor female, for you are all one is Christ Jesus.” Now read the rest of the
passage after Colossians3:22. He instructed them to obey their master because of
their reverence for the Lord, not for men. He said, “Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that
you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord you
are serving.”
You see, the slave was promised hope and mental freedom. That by
far is the best kind. Fortunately we don’t have physical slavery in the U.S. of
A. However, we can make ourselves economic slaves by becoming so attached to
things that we lose our freedom. We must stay with our jobs because we can’t
stand to lose our car, house, family, etc. Even in those situations, we can
still have hope and mental freedom through Christ.