Socially, a slave has no choice but to obey his master/owner who legally owns him. Though social slavery is an abomination to God, SPIRITUAL SLAVERY IS COMMANDED BY HIM. Only those who submit to voluntary slavery and choose to remain bound to Him can qualify for eternal life. Concerning Biblical slavery, an explanation is in order. The “slavery” referred to in the Holy Scriptures was in reality a form of indentured servanthood which was used anciently as a method of paying a debt. If one could not pay a debt the debtor would indenture either himself or a member of his family to the lender until the debt had been paid. When the terms of the indenture had been met the “slave” was absolved of his debt. His debt having been paid through his labor, he was legally free.

Anciently, one entered into indentured servanthood either voluntarily or forcefully through the legal system. When one could not or would not pay his debt, the debtor could be sentenced to work for the lender for the length of time deemed necessary to pay off the debt. Some ex-servants preferred to remain in the service of their former masters after their “sentence” had been served (Deut. 15:7-17).

As would be expected, some slaves tried to escape from their masters. This was the equivalent of moving in the night to get out of paying the rent. Legal indenturehood was established and enforced by law. If caught, the runaway would be jailed until he could be returned to his legal owner. Recall that the Apostle Paul was imprisoned with a man named Onesimus who had escaped from Paul’s friend Philemon. In his letter to Philemon Paul noted that he would like to keep Onesimus with him to help in the ministry. However, without Philemon’s agreement, he could not do so. Onesimus, a legal “slave,” would be legally returned to his legal “owner” to serve out the remainder of his legal “sentence.” Note that Paul did not challenge that law. Neither did he tell Philemon that God would have him set Onesimus free. God did, however, require slave owners to treat their slaves well and the slaves to be subservient to their “owners” with humility. He also requires slave owners to release their slaves every seven years regardless of the time stipulation in the debtor’s “sentence.” This was called the “Year of Release” at which time all debtors were set free and the remainder of their debt dissolved.

Many ancestors of modern Americans came to the United States from foreign countries as indentured servants. Unable to afford ship passage, they entered into indentured servanthood agreements with people who were coming to the New World who would pay their passage fee. Having reached their destination the “slaves” worked for their benefactors until the terms of the agreement had been satisfied. They were then on their own.

People who risked an unknown fate by leaving their native lands and traveling thousands of miles on dangerous seas obviously had lived in some level of desperation that had driven them to take such a chance. There was another factor to consider: what will the servant be required to do in order to satisfy the terms of the indenture agreement?

To enslave oneself to the Creator of the universe also requires a certain level of desperation relative to the future, specifically where one is going to spend it. Then there are His commands which must be obeyed. Voluntary enslavement to the Almighty is not to be entered into lightly. There are many things to consider before making such a life and death decision. Jesus called this part of the conversion process “counting the cost” (Lk. 14:28). There is much more to conversion than what we are told. Becoming emotional when hearing a mournful song at the end of a sermon, being told that Jesus could return at any moment, “walking the aisle,” performing a prescribed ritual, repeating the “sinner’s prayer,” taking Jesus as one’s “personal Savior,” etc. play no part in the true conversion process, which the church mistakenly calls “the salvation experience.” Before the God seeker submits to spiritual slavery it is absolutely necessary that he come to an intelligent, thoroughly-thought-out understanding of what is at stake–life or death–and what God requires–His Rules of Engagement. One must understand that without total sanctification (spiritual separation from all unsanctified people, coupled with strict obedience to God’s Word), one will not receive salvation at the end of this age. To be welcomed into the Body of Christ one must come to grips with his spiritual condition, count the cost of enslavement, enter God’s strait gate and walk His narrow path (Mat. 7:13,14) with the understanding that salvation awaits only those who remain on that path until the end (Mat. 10:22). Contrary to popular opinion, sanctification is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, nor does it come about instantly. See The Salvation Process. L.J.