Spirit-Filled Slavery (Part 2)

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free." Eph 6:5-8 (ESV)

This is our second look at this troubling but very helpful passage. I use the word “troubling” because Paul does not take the stand that we, as 21st century people, would expect of him. You may feel like I do about this; I want Paul to repudiate slavery in decisive and straightforward denunciations. Slavery is a terrible thing and it should be exposed and ended immediately. Less we think that this was something that only happened in America’s 19th century southern states, in reality slavery covered hundreds of years of US history both in the north and the south. Yet we have the tendency to relegate this to the distant past. The truth is that there are many people held in slavery today.

National Geographic magazine says,
"There are more slaves today than were seized from Africa in four centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The modern commerce in humans rivals illegal drug trafficking in its global reach—and in the destruction of lives." (National Geographic, September 2003)

This is, as I’ve said before, an intolerable situation and Christians should actively oppose it. Yet the troubling thing is that the New Testament never condemns slavery. That doesn’t mean that it condones it but the New Testament is interested in a subject that supersedes this terrible social condition. Slavery is used as a metaphor in Scripture to describe the relationship that exists between believers and Christ (v. 6). We are slaves to Christ who desire to do the will of our perfect and loving Master. Yes, social slavery is terrible but slavery to Christ is the very best condition to be in.

There is another issue at work here as well. Paul does not speak out strongly against slavery because 1st Century Christians were often in the lower socioeconomic classes. These believers needed to know that their often menial positions and difficult living conditions did not exclude them from living a full and meaningful life in Christ. So, as I wrote last time, Paul’s concern was not so much changing society from the outside but changing people on the inside. If true heart and character change occurs through Christ then God will use those changed people to turn the direction of a nation. That is God’s plan and it is far more effective than the modern conservative Christian approach of activism. Today we spend much more time discussing the failures of our government and society than we do evangelism and discipleship. We have it all backwards!

When commentators expound upon this passage they will regularly apply it to employer and employee relationships. While that is not the focus of the passage, it does make sense to apply this teaching in that way. Remember the setting, for the most part these early Christians lived in the lowest social classes and did the most menial work. Rather than instructing these believers to rise up, overthrow their masters, employers, and government, he told them to live for Christ in their circumstances.

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free."

This applies to every one of us today. As a general way of life, we must respect those in authority over us, including our employers. This should be done with sincerity and earnestness. We are to do our work recognizing it as a way to worship Christ by a lifestyle that clearly demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit to change our lives. Is that the way you treat your employer and consider your work? Remember, we worship together as a gathering of believers, but we also worship Christ daily though the way that we glorify Him by our lifestyle. Approach your work as worship, no matter how meaningful the task or how difficult your employer might be. If you can’t worship in your work, you need to work where you can worship! A Spirit-filled employee has the power to influence customers, fellow workers, and supervisors for the cause of Christ. Think of your work as if you were on a mission field in a far off pagan country. Serve prayerfully, work diligently, and give sacrificially. And don’t forget the promise that is made to those who live this way. Your good deeds will be returned to you in ways that only God can make happen!
Are you ready? Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!


2 Peter 3:18
Dennis Newkirk

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