"Freedom or slaverywhats the distinguishing mark of Christianity? In a generation fixated on freedom, fulfillment, and autonomy, the vote has been cast early and often for freedom. But the Bible is abundantly clearslavery is the heart of what it means to be a true Christian. Its time to reassert this unpopular notion: true Christians are slaves of Christ.
Jesus is Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3) is the distinguishing article of Christianity and marks the essential confession of faith (Romans 10:9). Jesus proclaimed it to His disciples, His enemies, and His casual inquirers alikeand He refused to tone down its implications.
The expression Lord (kurios) speaks of ownership, while Master/Lord (despotes) denotes an unquestionable right to command (John 13:13; Jude 4). Both words describe a master with absolute dominion over someone else. That explains Jesus incredulity at the practice of those who paid homage to Him with their lips but not with their lives: Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46).
Doulos frequently describes what it means to be a true Christian: He who was called while free, is Christs slave [doulos]. You were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 7:22-23). It describes the lowest, abject bond slave; his service is not a matter of choice.
Not only is slave a word loaded with negative connotations, but our generation is also fixated on the concepts of freedom, fulfillment, and autonomy. Saving faith and Christian discipleship have been reduced to the cliché a personal relationship with Jesus. Its hard to imagine a more disastrous twisting of what it means to be a Christian. Many people (including Judas and Satan) had some kind of personal relationship with Jesus during His earthly ministry without submitting to Him as Lord. But His only true friends were those who did what He said (John 15:14).
Slavery to Christ is not a minor or secondary feature of true discipleship. It is exactly how Jesus Himself defined the personal relationship He must have with every true follower (John 12:26; 15:20). In fact, the fundamental aspects of slavery are the very features of redemption. We are chosen (Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:2; 2:9); bought (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23); owned (Romans 14:7-9; 1 Corinthians 6:19); subject to His will and control (Acts 5:29; Philippians 2:5-8); called to account (Romans 14:12); evaluated (2 Corinthians 5:10); and either chastened or rewarded by Him (1 Corinthians 3:14; Hebrews 12:5-11). Those are all essential components of slavery.
Jesus introduced the NT slave metaphor. He frequently drew a direct connection between slavery and discipleship (Matthew 10:24-25). His words reflect what every true disciple should hope to hear at the end of life: Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master (Matthew 25:21).
Jesus always described true discipleship in such terms, with no effort to adjust the message to make it sound appealing to worldly-minded sinners. He never muted what it would cost to follow Him. Would-be disciples who tried to dictate different terms were always turned away (Luke 9:59-62).
So understood correctly, the gospel is an invitation to slavery. On the one hand, the gospel is a proclamation of freedom to sins captives and liberty to people who are broken by the bondage of sins power over them. On the other hand, it is a summons to a whole different kind of slavery: Having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18; cf. 1 Peter 2:16).
There is no legitimate way to adjust the message in order to make it sound appealing to people who admire Jesus but arent prepared to serve Him. Jesus didnt seek admirers; He was calling followersnot casual followers, but slaves. Remove that spirit of submission, and the most profound kind of admiration for Christ is a spiritual fraud that has nothing to do with true faith."
John Macarthur
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Jeff
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