Since the beginning of time people have oppressed other people and whether it is because of the result of a war or because of financial reasons or just as an exhibition of power slavery has been part of that oppression. Today, in the world we live in, slavery is still actually fairly prevalent and people are keeping other people against their will and using them for whatever purpose they desire. In biblical times, slavery existed for many of the same reasons that we have slavery today, but there was an added factor that is not as overtly prevalent as it was then. Indentured servitude was very common as those that fell destitute could die from their affliction and many would choose to put themselves into a situation where they would give their life’s will to another in exchange for the primary needs of life. Sometimes it was temporary and sometimes it was permanent, sometimes it was voluntary and sometimes it was forced. An individual could choose to be put into slavery or a part of or the the entirety of a family could become the property of another.

As I think about slavery today I know that there are people keeping others against their will around the world, but I don’t see that type of slavery overtly in the environment that I live in. That being said, I think about all the people that have voluntarily subjected themselves to so many different types of oppression or that have a feeling that there is not a choice about their life situation. I wonder about the pressure that is put on us socially or even the mandatory requirements of government and I think about how much of a choice do we really have. I am an advocate of simplifying ones lifestyle to put the least amount of burden on ourselves so as to be able to keep choices and not loose flexibility as far as what is actually possible financially and socially, but it seems that there is more and more that is being put in the category of mandatory and I don’t really think that much of what we deem compulsory is actually in that category.

There is great pressure in our culture to attain a certain standard of life and those that do not achieve or strive to achieve are shunned. Those that are striving often put themselves basically in indentured servitude to a system that feeds itself. God tells us to seek ye first the kingdom and all other things will be added. I have tried to make this one of my life verses and as I have studied it and mediated on it this verse has developed great depth and application in my life. Within this context I see the application as God calls us to worship him and give him all our allegiance and that He will take care of all the details of life. I believe that God calls us to primarily focus on our relationship with Him and then He will guide us through the path of life. That being said, I think that God will lead us away from being of the world.

The world wants us to be in it and of it. I believe that this qualifies as slavery. The world view and the world system wants us to comply and it will try to create ways to keep us in the preferred world view and away from what God wants for our lives. Then there is the influence on the culture and the shaping of the mores that guide us. I look at this as a form of indentured servitude. Is there a way to stay out of the mainstream culture? I believe the answer to that question is yes, but it is difficult and you have to not be influenced by what the culture says is important. Buying into the system will put a burden on your life to live the way that is expected. Many, unfortunately, cannot resist the call to normalcy. We even see it in the church as the culture effects the way the church functions and the beliefs that it has.

The apostle Paul often called himself a servant or slave of Jesus Christ. I think that he understood the concept that I am talking about today. I do not think that it is a matter of being a servant or a slave, but whom do we serve. As humans, we are worshipers by nature. It is what we do and who we are. The only question that needs to be answered is to whom do bow the knee. Jesus stated that He is the one true king and that one day all will bow the knee. I think that he offers us freedom in this world if he choose to worship Him now. In the end, we will all worship whether we want to or not. Unfortunately, not all with will have the same destiny. Our allegiance to Jesus today actually gives us freedom from all the other cruel masters in this life and then freedom in the life eternally.