Chains that Bind

1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to."

I take these verses to mean a few things. One of which is that we can serve and obey God in our own capacities and another is that we can do so wherever we are placed in this life or whatever cards we have been dealt with. "Keeping God's commands is what that counts". Indeed whether we are rich or poor, educated or not, or whatever trade or industry we are in, we can serve and worship God in whatever station or stage or station in life we are in.

On another note, I read in commentaries that the passages 'to remain' and 'retain' refers to the general rule that becoming a Christian does not free any man from obligations already binding upon him. One commentary notes that "evidently there was at Corinth, even at this early date, some impression that becoming a Christian wiped out all prior debts, contracts, even marriages and all other obligations existing prior to conversion.".

These verses also bring me to think about the criticism that Christianity condones slavery. Most criticism from outside of Christianity can be safely presumed misinformed especially when reading the bible due to the veiling of revelation by the Holy Spirit. But nevertheless, let's be gracious and generous in praying for understanding and having answers to what we believe in. What many fail to understand is that slavery in biblical times was very different from the slavery that was practiced in the past few centuries in many parts of the world. The slavery in the Bible was not based exclusively on race. People were not enslaved because of their nationality or the color of their skin. In Bible times, slavery was more a matter of social status. People sold themselves as slaves when they could not pay their debts or provide for their families. Evidently too in this passage the apostle Paul confirms that in those times one who is a slave (under contract) can choose to gain freedom (as they can). Wesley writes this to mean "not to anxiously seek liberty, but to embrace the opportunity, nevertheless." In Christ, most importantly of all, we are freed from the most oppressive of all slavery, which is to sin.

John 8:33-36

"They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

~05.11.2013