Dealing with the Servant/Master Passage in Colossians

 Over the past several weeks I have been teaching through the unique relationships that Christians are called to within the Greco-Roman household.  In those days, these homes operated under codes, which are more/less rules for relationships that had been adopted by the culture.  Each household had a master.  This would be the male leader of the home.  His wife was to be subject to him but with a certain level of freedom.  Children were also under the rulership of the the master while enjoying privilege.  And slaves were also under the rulership of the master without any privilege.  The master was free to exercise his authority in any way that seemed best to him.  Often this was a harsh dictatorship kind of rule.  He would leverage his authority in ways that were harsh in order to benefit his own desires or interests.  Paul's main purpose was how to please the Lord in this cultural reality of household codes.  While the basic authority structure of a God-designed home is affirmed in that husbands have been given authority over their wives and children, Paul focuses his time on what matters most... How do I engage in my God-designed role in a way that pleases the Lord?  Without recapping too much, there is a parallel passage in the book of Ephesians (Eph. 5:22-6:9) that helps us understand this more than Colossians.  These relationships, when exercised God's way, foster a healthy and thriving environment for all within the house to grow.  I likened it to a greenhouse in last week's message.  God's way is for all to exercise their role in a humble way toward the other person(s), as Ephesians 5:21 reminds us, "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."  

While the basic relationships in a household can be a touchy subject today, Paul is clear these relationship roles reflect Christ and the church and are pleasing to the Lord.  Many advocate for a more autonomous approach to the husband/wife relationship, and it seems that our society is also advocating a more autonomous relationship between parents and children.  These are not God's design and will hurt society.  Just look around at the deterioration of our society.  However, I would also say that many have been pushed in that direction because of the abuse of authority or a total neglect of authority entrusted to men.  Though all of this can be a point of contention with many in our world, what is undoubtedly shocking is the final relationship that Paul talks about... slave/master relationship.  One might ask the question, "Why didn't Paul condemn slavery or encourage slaves to resist and flee?"  The answer to that question has many sides.  Let me attempt to reason why Paul didn't do this.

1.  Unlike the other relationships, Paul never advocates that it was a part of God's design for households.  What he does do is give slaves hope as they look to the Lord, and he reminds human masters that they have a Master who will repay wrongdoing without partiality.  This is important because people can wrongly assume Paul affirms slavery in passages like this.

2.  To encourage slaves to resist or even flee would made it exponentially more difficult for the slave in that cultural context.  It would be incredibly irresponsible.  First, where would they go?  They can't just go and get a job.  They have no home and no means of making money.  Second, if they resist, they would just be beat and punished, which would not go well with them.  Third, it would be very unlikely to successfully flee, which would result in harsh consequences.

3.  Paul still has great respect for authority structures even if they are culturally constructed.  In a letter written to the slave owner and Christian brother, Philemon, Paul appeals to him to release Onesimus, who is a runaway slave, so that he can serve with Paul, not as a servant, but as a brother in Christ.  Paul even says that he could use his authority over Philemon to demand this, but rather he sends Onesimus back to Philemon and leaves the choice up to him whether to free him or not.  It was better for Philemon to do the right thing out of a right heart than out of compulsion.  Paul even offers to pay for anything that Onesimus would owe Philemon.  So these authority structures are still respected though they might not be something Paul encourages.

So what does Paul do?  He encourages slaves to obey their master in everything, and do it sincerely as if working for the Lord.  I want you to notice how Paul relentlessly points the slave to the Lord.  The Lord becomes the reason for obedience and the motivation for obedience.

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 

-Colossians 3:22-25

So the reason they work hard for their master is because their integrity moves them to a place where they see themselves as working for the Lord of their earthly master.  But we also see three motivations:

1.  Their lot in life as a slave is not the end of their story.  They will receive an inheritance from God as a reward.

2.  They are ultimately serving Christ, who is a good master.

3.  God will be just and right all the wrongs presumably coming from the hands their earthly masters.

At this point, Paul says to Christian earthly masters to treat their servants justly and fairly because they are accountable to their Master in heaven.  

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 

-Colossians 4:1

So Paul's focus is not on destroying the Greco-Roman household structure, but rather how to operate in a Christian way with in that construct.  While he makes it clear that the structure of authority between a husband and wife, as well as parents and children, are God-designed, he makes no such claim in the case of slaves and masters.  However, they way that masters were told to treat their slaves was radical in that day.  The were to be treated justly and fairly.  Ephesians tells us that masters were to "stop your threatening".  They were not to be harsh, but treat slaves as if they had dignity... like a person not property.  Though Paul doesn't call for the abolition of slavery, he certainly paved the way for it emphasizing the dignity of those who were slaves... people not property.  

What does this have to do with us?

The closest relationship that we have to this relationship is that of an employee and employer.  There are principles that are relevant to us.

1.  Focus on working with integrity because you are ultimately serving Christ.  Don't cheat your employer by working only when they are watching you.  Work hard as unto the Lord.  He will reward your integrity.

2.  Be humble and place yourself under the authority of your boss or employer.  Learning to work under authority is an important practice for a healthy society and a healthy you.  It honors the Lord.

3.  Use your authority over others in a fair and just way.  Don't be a jerk.  Don't be harsh.  Don't leverage your authority for your own gain.  Don't take credit for someone else's work.  Be fair and just.  

I hope this helps as you process Colossians 3:22-4:1 and bring some meaningful application to it.