Bo Chancey

Everything that we are taught repels us from ever thinking that any form of slavery could ever be a good thing.  Even the history of our nation tells us that slavery is always bad…that slavery to no entity could ever produce anything good.  From pilgrims seeking religious freedom, to the decree of “no taxation without representation” at the Boston Tea Party, to the “Declaration of Independence”, to the establishment of a democratic form of government, to manifest destiny, to the South’s succession, to the abolition of slavery and the end of the Civil War, to “women’s suffrage”, to the civil rights movement, to the legalization of “gay marriage” our history declares a mantra of freedom at all costs.

As a people, we exude an aura of independence unlike anything the world has ever seen before.  This is the American way.  We are conditioned to believe that we are our own masters and that we should never subject ourselves to obeying the will of another.  We believe in rights…rights to life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.  These rights must be defended and protected against anything seeking to enslave us. 

It is extremely difficult to reconcile this line of thinking with how the scriptures call us to relate to God.  Scripture calls us to a life of “bond servants” or willing slaves.  Jesus is to be our “Lord” and our “Master”.  We must surrender our rights and willingly become God’s slaves.  That sounds GREAT doesn’t it?  No wonder we often leave that part out in our “gospel presentations”.  No wonder Lordship is the greatest issue facing the church in North America.

You see, we think that we are already free.  We equate political freedom with the ultimate freedom God longs to give us and we delude ourselves into thinking that we do not need Jesus.  Think about it…if Jesus came to set the captives free, but we don’t think that we are enslaved then what do we need Jesus for?

The truth however is that we are all slaves to something.  Apart from Christ we are slaves to sin.  We are controlled by the sin nature and compelled to obey its selfish desires.  It is our master and freedom is utterly elusive.  No matter how much we want to overcome sin and its devastating effects, we still remain powerless.

The good news is that Christ did come to set us free.  This ultimate freedom comes through uniting ourselves to a new master.  When we accept God’s offer to become Lord of our lives, we lay down our “rights” and subject ourselves to His will.  We accept His offer of salvation and eternal life and agree to His terms.  Jesus laid down His life for us.  On the cross He paid for us with His blood.  He has purchased us and the price He paid is sufficient.  If we accept Jesus as Savior, we also must accept Him as Lord.  We become slaves to Him and it is only within this slavery that true freedom can be found. 

Slaves of Christ are free to live righteous, abundant, fruitful lives. 

All of us are slaves to something…either sin or righteousness.  Being a slave to sin leads to death.  Being a slave to righteousness leads to life.  Jesus purchased us on the cross.  He owns us and we are no longer our own.  We are slaves to Christ.  This form of slavery is the greatest freedom a person can ever know, because it delivers us from the slavery of sin and death!