6 July 2005

Today we continue on in 1 Corinthians 7.

...let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision in nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. Let each of you remain in the condition you were called. (1 Cor. 7:17-20)
Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters. In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God. (1 Cor. 7:21-24)

This passage was used to justify keeping in place the institution of slavery and used to keep slaves in their place even as they entered into the following of Jesus. This is also one of the reason Howard Thurman in "Jesus and the Disinherited" turns to the gospels rather than Paul to hear the Good News. Thurman writes about his grandmother who would tell him the stories of Jesus and not Paul because Paul was used by the power of slavery to keep slaves in place. He goes on to say that Paul was not of the disinherited of the world. He was a Roman citizen and when push came to shove, Paul could play the "power/citizen" card to escape the immediate persecution at hand. The disinherited, the slave, the outsider...could never do this. I think this was simply a bad example for Paul to use. It shows how we must be able to see the historical context (slavery is fine and good and expected) and how we have been transforming our human culture to rid the world of slavery of any kind. His words can be offensive to the modern ears of most people, but he was really pressing the point of the devotion we are to have to the one who makes us whole -saves us -in a time when Paul was expecting Jesus to return again. For us today, we still expect Jesus to return today...but we would urge people to act as though it is already the case within our everyday life. Therefore, slaves, be bold and step out of your condition. Slave owners and those who try to control others, step out of your old life and see the freedom of all people and stop trying to place shackle of any kind on any of God's people. None of us are here simply waiting for the new life to begin...it has and is at hand. We are set free - now.

Connection: How easy it is pass out rules for others. How easy it is to not hear how real the liberating word of the Gospel is and to try to make it a "individual & personal" matter that does not have a living impact on the life of the world we live in at this time.

Lord of Freedom and New Life, we continue to wrestle with your gracious Word. Though we attempt to make it a word of comfort simply for ourselves, we need to remember how it is the Word that really breaks the bonds of suffering and slavery of all kinds so that all people can begin to live anew. Amen.