Today's piece from 1 Peter deals with slaves. I often have trouble making sense of this. I cannot promise I will. 2:18-
Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beating for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls
This may take a few days to unpack. So here we go. Yes, there were slaves in those days. And yes, many lived within households where the 'masters' were followers of Jesus. And, yes, these 'slaves' would also be Christians. I cannot explain why followers of Jesus would continue to have slaves. And yet, that is a 21st century perspective. So how do we see some sense of transformation into new life in the middle of an ancient system that was not as we would like. Well, for one, it could be we do not let this say that slavery is good - for any time - for any place. Then we have to look again at what is the character that is being held up for those who would be reading this letter - way back then (or even now). I might go with the fact that all are to walk in the way of Jesus. No matter what position we hold in life and no matter what position has been laid upon us, we have been graced with a life that has the power to transform (sanctify) the world.WE live as the righteous - the beloved - the holy ones - no matter what is our status. It will not go unnoticed. This is especially the case when it is noticed that we live not like the imprisoned or enslaved but as ones somehow free. That freedom to be shaped by the Christ whose love is unbounded may result in being one who suffers. And yet, as we are told, Jesus walked within the freedom of God's Reign even though he stuck out and took hits for his action.
Connection: No matter what our 'position' is, we live as the Christ of God in the midst of all things. That means we change all characters - all positions - all expectations. Here, even the 'masters' must be called into a new being that will also result in abuse and ridicule. The new being is what leaves the image of grace in the room after the violent ones have had their way.
In the middle of what is so common, O God, transform us into your beloved children so the world around us will see your loving Reign alive and present for all to experience. Amen.
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