Slavery & Work
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The Message of Ephesians
The Message of Ephesians
1. God the Father Loved us so much that he gives us an underserved wealth through the sacrifice of Jesus that is empowered by the Holy spirit living in us.
2. Because of Jesus, those who believe we have overcome Death and the curse.
16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
We have believed the TRUTH of Jesus and recieved the FREEDOM he offers us. We are able to WORSHIP Him without fear. We can approach God knowing that we have a RECONCILED RELATIONSHIP with Him.
In todays’ Society
The Message Chapter 10
19–21 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.
22–25 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
90% of Murders
God has given each of us a STORY to Live and a STORY to tell.
88% of robberies
Because we have been RECONCILED to God through Jesus’s sacrifice for us we now can live out our STORY in the FREEDOM we have found in Jesus. Telling others the STORY of Jesus and the FREEDOM they too can have which they have observed in our lives.
75% of all people arrested are men.
As Christians we are
We are wall breakers
Relationship restorers
Hope takers
breathers of life into others
Servants of the helpless, the needy, the poor in spirit
We are confident in life be it in the halls of a hospital or in the court of kings because we are given unrestricted access to the king of king and Lord of Lords.
The Weaker Population
The Weaker Population
Slavery In The Culture
Slavery In The Culture
There were a lot of them
60 Million slaves estimated in roman culture
60 Million slaves estimated in roman culture
All kinds of people were slaves:
and included not only domestic servants and manual labourers but educated people as well, like doctors, teachers and administrators. Slaves could be inherited or purchased, or acquired in settlement of a bad debt, and prisoners of war commonly became slaves. Nobody queried or challenged the arrangement. ‘The institution of slavery was a fact of Mediterranean economic life so completely accepted as a part of the labour structure of the time that one cannot correctly speak of the slave “problem” in antiquity.
They were Property
For all his intellect and culture Aristotle could not contemplate any friendship between slave and slave-owner, for, he said
‘A slave is a living tool, just as a tool is an inanimate slave’, - Aristotle [Nichomachian Ethics, viii]
Nichomachian Ethics, viii.11.6, and Politics 1.2,4.
1 Nichomachian Ethics, viii.11.6, and Politics 1.2,4.
although he could at least concede that ‘a slave is a kind of possession with a soul’.
[1] Stott, J. R. W. (1979). God’s new society: the message of Ephesians (p. 251). Doners Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Judged according to Roman Law which means that they could be disposed of or treasured like the property they were.
However, that was not in the best interest of the owners to mistreat them and with the advent of Christianity Slavery was much better among those who believed then those who did not.
That is why they
The Weaker Population
The Weaker Population
Emphasized and defended.
Today men are in Crisis: We live in a culture that has left men without clear definition or direction in life.
Men are in Crisis: We live in a culture that has left men without clear definition or direction in life.
In todays’ Society
90% of Murders
88% of robberies
75% of all people arrested are men.
This was common in Pauls day as well. therefore he dealt with it in giving instruction as to how the Christian should handle the most vulnerable in our society. Those in our homes.
Treatment of Women
Treatment of Children
And Treatment of Slaves...
Let me take a moment and look at slavery in the culture of the time.
Slavery In The Culture
Slavery In The Culture
1. There were a lot of them.
60 Million slaves estimated in roman culture
2. All kinds of people were slaves:
and included not only domestic servants and manual labourers but educated people as well, like doctors, teachers and administrators. Slaves could be inherited or purchased, or acquired in settlement of a bad debt, and prisoners of war commonly became slaves. Nobody queried or challenged the arrangement.
3. They were Property
For all his intellect and culture Aristotle could not contemplate any friendship between slave and slave-owner, for, he said
‘A slave is a living tool, just as a tool is an inanimate slave’, - Aristotle [Nichomachian Ethics, viii]
although he could at least concede that ‘a slave is a kind of possession with a soul’.
Judged according to Roman Law which means that they could be disposed of or treasured like the property they were.
However, that was not in the best interest of the owners to mistreat them and with the advent of Christianity Slavery was much better among those who believed then those who did not.
4. It was a normal part of the working economy.
‘The institution of slavery was a fact of Mediterranean economic life so completely accepted as a part of the labour structure of the time that one cannot correctly speak of the slave “problem” in antiquity.
5. Christianity begins to lay a foundation which enables people to eventually move away from Slavery.
This is evidenced in the way Paul encourages Philemon to deal with his returning slave Onesimus.
8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I fathered him while I was in chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you as a part of myself. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home. 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. 6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. 8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I fathered him while I was in chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you as a part of myself. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently,
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dear friend and coworker,
philemon 8-16
Philemon 1-15
philemon
DON’T DEVIATE GREG!!!
Paul is clearly of the mind of an abolitionist however, he is sending this slave home to live among this believer who is his owner. its the culture of the day
So with this in mind Paul Writes
The Federal Government was never, in its essence, anything but an anti-slavery government. -Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
So with this in mind Paul Writes
5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
ephesians
Slaves should:…
It set the stage for eventual freedom in our Country and in civilized cultures.
Slaves should:
Slaves should:
The Federal Government was never, in its essence, anything but an anti-slavery government. -Frederick Douglass
Slaves should:
Okay, given the fact that we are not dealing with or living in a slave holding society any longer we need to tweak this in such a way that makes since in our understanding. on its face it does not seem to be applicable to us but it is.
MAKING IT MODERN
Instead of Slaves and masters we have come to see it as employees and bosses or employers. Which at times can feel like slavery. So lets look at it in that light and...
An Employee Should:
An Employee Should:
Before I move into a few points look at vs 5,6,7 and note that each verse puts Jesus at the center. 5: as to Christ, 6: slaves of Christ, and 7: as to the LORD.
all this is founded on the idea that you are now focused on something other than your MASTER.... um Employer for your wellbeing. So live like it.
1. Be respectful and faithful to your employer.
1. Be respectful and faithful to your employer.
eph
5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.
5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.
fear and trembling
2. Be Faithful to your employer.
2. Be Faithful to your employer.
3. Be diligent in your work.
3. Be diligent in your work.
6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.
6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.
its not about eye service. Know that your current master, Jesus sees everything and is watching you.
6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.
4. Be cheerful while you work.
4. Be cheerful while you work.
7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,
eph
there is that “as to the Lord” if you are living in the freedom of your story then you will know that Jesus is worth worship. and you will be joyful in the knowledge of that freedom I discussed with you earlier. Therefore live. free.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW
8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.
what you know enables the attitude. this brings me back to the importance of getting into your walk with jesus seriously.
An Employer should:
An Employer should:
9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him. 10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.
9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
1. Give respect to get respect
1. Give respect to get respect
Treat your slaves the same way,
2. Build up your employees
2. Build up your employees
without threatening them.
3. Always be mindful of your status too.
3. Always be mindful of your status too.
Because you know, both their master and yours....
everyone is the servant of God. And he does not see a difference in the employee or the employer. He sees that we have various roles and that is all.
