(Colossians 3:17, ESV)
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Being a Christian is weird. Christianity is full of paradox and dichotomies exist throughout our theology. There is nothing else in the world to compare our faith to. Since Christianity isn’t a religion, other descriptions are given by Scripture to help us understand this radical world view that Jesus has presented. Some of these descriptions seem to be at war with each other.
For example: Son. (John 1:12, ESV)"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." There are many other passages that speak of God as a believer's "Father". In fact, this is what Jesus instructs us to call God. But on the other hand, (1 Corinthians 7:23, NIV)"You were bought at a price…" Slave. Over and over Paul calls himself a slave of Jesus. Bond-servant, to be exact. Which simply means slave by choice. How are we to reconcile Son and Slave? They certainly don't sound complimentary.
In ancient times, being a son was primarily about inheritance. The relationship with the father was one of sharing an inherent interest in the family business (affection was optional and based on the quality of both the father and the son). Since the son was to inherit the family assets, all his work as a son was actually an investment into his future. It was not like today, where a son strikes out on his own as soon as he is able. In fact, the son, even after marriage, would often continue to live on the property and most often within the same house. A new room would be built onto the home so that the son and his new wife would have their own space. All this makes sense of Jesus' promise that “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” Now, if God is our father, his children stand to inherit a great deal, right?
But then, we are also slaves. This means that somehow, though the entire universe is ours, nothing is ours, not even our own lives. This means that my body is not mine. My career is not mine. My marriage is not mine. My children are not mine. Slaves don’t own anything. We belong to Jesus and so does all we “touch”. Slavery: owned and owning nothing.
So how does this dichotomy work? The answer in the verse I quoted at the top. Here’s where the two concepts overlap: a son works for his father, a slave works for his master. Interestingly, like a slave, a son owns nothing either as long as the father is alive. (Perhaps this is why western culture has abandoned the family inheritance idea and made it purely monetary.) Slaves understand their position and obey as a matter of principle. Bond-servants are unique in that they have joyfully and willingly chosen this way of life as a matter of admiration and trust. Nevertheless, when a person chooses to be a bond-servant, they are at the whim and will of their master. This is how Christians feel about Jesus. At his whim and will due to a choice of admiration and trust. At the same time, we enjoy the work of our slavery as a son does. No, we will never “own” the universe we invest in, but we do get to enjoy it as if we do. It is freedom within the confines of the will of our father. We are not free to do as we please, unless, of course, pleasing God is what pleases us. In that case, all that is his is ours, or will be.
Example: work. When a Christian goes to work, they do not go as an employee. They go as a son/slave. They do not have a job, but rather, an assignment and a ministry. Nor do they receive a paycheck. Instead, they receive an entrustment. The funds are not compensation for work. One does not compensate a son or a slave. Instead, funds are released by the father into the hands of his son/slave as an entrustment to be invested into the family business…the salvation of souls. As a son/slave, the funds are never considered to be “his”. All the son/slave has within his control are considered to be his to use to expand the families holdings (the quantity and quality of souls). So, as Colossians 3:17 says, a Christian works for Jesus as a slave, but gives thanks to the Father as a son. It’s actually an awesome arrangement.
The choice Jesus is offering is this: you can give up your independence and, by his grace, become a son/slave of God or you can keep your independence and remain an enemy of God. There is nothing in between. As an independent, you get full control of whatever assets you can gain, but you lose your soul…forever. As a Christian, you lose all ownership, even over your own soul, but you gain God and the enjoyment of all that is his, including your soul.
Tough choice, eh?
P.S. By the way, Christians, if you are living as if you own stuff, you have an uncomfortable conversation with your Master and Father coming…just a head’s up.
