Your objections to slavery (and my responses)

Slavery is objectionable. I get that.

I don’t want to imply slavery is a perfect, all-inclusive way of describing the Christian’s relationship with God. Sounds small to me. And if you don’t think of yourself as a slave, this might not change your mind – and I’m not necessarily here to do that.

What I’d like to do is open you to a different perspective, a perspective that often goes overlooked. To help flesh that out, here are my responses to eight common objections to slavery and how it relates to Christian life.

Objections:

1. Slaves have no choice
2. Slaves are blind followers
3. Slavery implies cruelty
4. Slavery has a bad reputation
5. Slaves earn their livelihood
6. Slavery doesn’t apply to Christians
7. Slaves aren’t invested
8. God doesn’t call us slaves

[Note: This is a long read for a post (1,700+ words), so you might consider breaking it into sections, skimming it, or giving up on it altogether. Just a warning.]

Objection 1: Slaves have no choice

“Slaves have no freedom – they’re taken against their will.”

Yes, they do have choice – they can disobey. Of course their master would probably take away their food rations or whip them or lock their thumbs in stocks, but they can choose that outcome.

Yes, I realize this is a snarky answer. It’s a crucial distinction, though, because we usually assume away those lousy options. Slaves always have a choice, but the consequences of disobedience are too terrible to consider.

That’s right on with the gospel. You and I can do what we want, but we won’t like the consequences. It’s not like God wants to punish us – in fact, He’s trying not to. But He’ll always let us choose, even if it squashes our souls.

A more sophisticated question might ask if forcing anyone to make such a decision is right. But that doesn’t conflict with Christianity because we already accept that everyone must make a decision to either obey or disobey God.

Our options are open, just like a slave’s – but just like the slave, we don’t want to consider the disobedient side.

Objection 2: Slaves are blind followers

“Slaves don’t know what they’re doing – they follow because they have to.”

If you get past the part about slaves always having a choice, this one stops making sense as well.

Slaves are aware of their choice to obey. They know or at least have a good idea of the consequences of not following. I’d guess slaves follow even closer than those who have nothing at risk. They might not always understand the overall plan of the master, but they certainly know the details of what they’re supposed to do.

As Christians who’ve heard the gospel message, we’re in the same position. We’re not blind followers. You and I know where sin leads – but we also know where Christ leads. We might not understand everything, but we pay close attention.

Objection 3: Slavery implies cruelty

“When we think of slavery, we think of cruelty, poor conditions, and excessive labor.”

As difficult as it is to swallow, what’s so bad about cruelty?

This objection starts with false assumptions. We assume cruelty, poor conditions, and excessive labor are morally wrong. But in slavery, why’s it wrong? If the master owns the slave, then the master can do whatever he wants with his property.

You and I object because we don’t go far enough in understanding that slaves are property (and as a result, have no rights of their own), and we are God’s property.

The common secular argument against slavery usually cites some intrinsic human value or right.

I don’t believe in human rights, and I don’t believe in intrinsic human value. Just like anything else, humans are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. The only value we have is the value God places on us and pays for us.

And God did pay for us, even after creating us, so we belong to Him. We might object to humans owning other humans, but that doesn’t apply to God. God does own humans. Since we’re God’s property, He can do what He wants with us.

Thankfully for us, God loves and wants what’s best for us, but He has every right to do anything He wants. There’s nothing wrong with a craftsman using his chisel however he wants, even if it means destroying it.

This knowledge is what leads you and I to such intense thankfulness… because we recognize that God really could lock our thumbs in the stocks, or worse, but instead He blesses us.

Objection 4: Slavery has a bad reputation

“I understand what you’re saying, Marshall, but is this the best image to present for Christianity, considering the reputation?”

Christianity has a bad reputation too, but that’s no reason to gloss over it, right?

Would I introduce slavery to someone who’s on the fence about Christ? Well, perhaps not. Perhaps it’s too intense at first (but so is starting with Jesus dying and coming back to life).

Then again, perhaps I would. I do here. Part of the challenge in explaining anything to an unsaved person is keeping it simple and practical. I think slavery fits both those, and I don’t think it’s necessarily  something to shy away from explaining, even to someone without much Christian background.

If slavery’s that much of a turn off, so is believing that Jesus is Lord (they go together).

Objection 5: Slaves earn their livelihood

“A slave earns his right to life by the work he performs, but we don’t have to earn salvation.”

That’s only partly accurate (the salvation part is entirely accurate). Sure, a slave might receive better treatment for obeying, but I don’t think it’s direct compensation.

Slaves don’t earn wages. Slaves don’t strike bargains. I have a hard time thinking of slaves as receiving compensation for their labor. Isn’t that what separates slaves from servants or the surfs of the Middle Ages?

Instead of compensation, slaves are treated better or worse depending on how much their master likes them, but that speaks more to the master’s character than to the slave’s work.

I find that comparison much closer to how God chooses to bless us, based on His character, not our labor.

Objection 6: Slavery doesn’t apply to Christians

“Galatians 4:7 says, “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

This is certainly one of the trickiest objections. I struggled (and still struggle) with it too. Of course, I can only agree what what the Bible says in that passage.

At the same time (same book even), we read…

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” -Galatians 1:10

And the word “bondservant” here is the same word as in Galatians 4:7 where it’s translated as “slave.” In fact, as you know, it’s not just in Galatians:

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ…” -Romans 1:1

“Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ…” -Philippians 1:1

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ…” -Colossians 4:12

“James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” -James 1:1

And on and on.

So going off the Scripture, it seems to me that slave and child both apply at the same time depending on the specific perspectives. And I love that. I love that we’re children and disciples and friends and slaves of Jesus Christ.

Objection 7: Slaves aren’t invested

“A slave does not have a vested interest in his master’s business while a son does in his Father’s business.”

Without a closer relationship, how can you and I care about the work God calls us to do? Aren’t we just doing it out of duty instead of out of a desire to further glorify God?

This comes back to our motives. Why are we serving God? Why are we choosing to submit to Him?

The only way slaves can be invested in their master’s projects is if they care for their master. And that’s the beauty of God’s work through our lives. He isn’t a tyrant. He isn’t a domineering slave driver. He’s a caring master who wants what’s best for us.

Perhaps the father/child metaphor does work better here. But somehow realizing how feeble I am as a slave makes God’s blessings that much sweeter and drives me to love Him back.

Remember: we’re only thankful for what we know we don’t deserve.

Objection 8: God doesn’t call us slaves

“The word ‘slave’ is debasing, while Christ called us friends and made it possible for us to be sons and daughters of God.”

This is almost the same as Objection 6. But the question here is, if God doesn’t call us slaves, should we?

Consider this: a king or president or anyone in authority might ask us to call him “Jon” instead of “Lord High Jon the Majestic,” and we’d feel honored. But does that negate the authority?

I think the same applies to God. God, in His love for us, doesn’t order us around the way we would imagine a slave driver to order around his slaves. But that doesn’t necessarily abolish the master/slave relationship.

As I said in the comments before, I don’t think it’s either/or – I think it’s both (or all). I bring up the slave side because it’s the perspective that’s ignored, even though the Bible and the disciples and Jesus support it as well.

“And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” -Mark 10:44

Serving Suggestions:

(1) What do you think? Did these hit on some of your biggest doubts about slavery?

(2) Update me. What else would you like me to explore about slavery? If you add suggestions in the comments, I might bump them up into the post here. I’m still trying to wrap my head around slavery as much as anyone, so I’d love to get your response.

This post is part of “The bondC guide to slavery” series. Click here to read the rest.

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[Thanks to Patricia, Bernard, and Stuart who commented on the other post and those who emailed me suggestions on this. I’m always interested in your thoughts and how I can make this site better. Thank you for helping.]