Message by Larry Thacker Jr. from August 21, “Slaves of Christ”
The passage we examine in this episode brings up a red hot issue in today’s world.
In fact, I have looked at this several times with a desire to teach on it, but because of the context I shied away from approaching it. The part that I wanted to share from is Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Great quote, right? But look back one verse and you find, “Slaves, obey those who are your human masters in everything, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” See why I kept putting it off?
Don’t Christians teach that slavery is wrong? Pretty much everyone in the western world believes this now, but we all know it wasn’t always so, and we are arguing over whose version of history is right. If we are going to rely on the Bible as our standard and agree that slavery is wrong, what do we do with passages like this one? Does it have any relevance in today’s society?
