Slave

[Menotu]

I've seen some on here mention they are 'a slave to Christ'.
Does this mean exactly what it says?
Is it symbolic?
Is it even healthy?
Or should every Christina consider themselves, a 'slave to Christ' in the most strict standards?

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 40 by Zzyzx]

God commands me to love God and to love others as they love themselves.

That's the commands.

I'm trying.

[Zzyzx]

.

I'm sorry but marriage was once defined as a man and a woman and that changed.

Yes, some are aware that the older definition no longer applies. Others attempt to cling to times past. Their ideas are obsolete.

Dictionary definitions are descriptions at a slice in time.

Yes, and we are debating in THIS time slice. If one claims they are a slave today the definitions from this time slice apply – not definitions from some other time (or a made up definition)

Please stop with that.

Are you asking that I stop using today's definitions in today's debates?

Everyone on the train this morning knows I am correct.

That train wrecked.

God commands me to love God and to love others as they love themselves.

It might be prudent to read the commandment and get it right.

Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Notice the difference? It is significant.

[Tcg]

It's healthy.

This is nothing but an unsupported assertion.

We are all slaves to something or someone.

This is nothing but an unsupported assertion.

Slavery is a natural condition.

This is nothing but an unsupported assertion.

What then we should do is try to be conscious of what we are slaves to and what we want to be a slave to?

This conclusion in drawn based on nothing more than the three unsupported conclusions highlighted above.

What we should do is seek freedom from conclusions asserted absent verifiable evidence.


Tcg

[Red Wolf]

....that's a Dog's life.

Why would you compare "paradise under Gods rule" to the life of a dog ?

Living under the control of another is like living like a dog. Live free.....

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 43 by Tcg]

Evidence to support we are slaves:

Biology - bodily functions
Alarm clocks
Bosses
Jobs
Schedules
Debts
Governments
Laws

Satisfied?

[Menotu]

....that's a Dog's life.

Why would you compare "paradise under Gods rule" to the life of a dog ?

Living under the control of another is like living like a dog. Live free.....

Dog live to please and love unconditionally. That's not what people do.
I treat my dog better than God treated his people.

[benchwarmer]

[Replying to post 43 by Tcg]

Evidence to support we are slaves:

Biology - bodily functions
Alarm clocks
Bosses
Jobs
Schedules
Debts
Governments
Laws

Satisfied?

No, not satisfied.

I might give you bodily functions, but:

We can turn alarm clocks off.
We can quit jobs and remove ourselves from their bosses.
We can change/ignore/make schedules.
We can choose to enter debt and pay it off.
We can move countries (potentially to one with no government, but anarchy seems worse in most cases).
We can ignore laws, make new laws, get laws changed, etc.

Most of these things certainly bring consequences, but we are not 'slaves' in the classic sense to these things. A slave, in the biblical sense, is a piece of property of their master.

[Zzyzx]

.

Evidence to support we are slaves:

The definition of slave (again);

Slave: a person held in servitude as the chattel of another: one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence www.merriam-webster.com

Slave: a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another; a bond servant. a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person: www.dictionary.com

Biology - bodily functions

Living things have 'bodily functions' – earthworms, sharks, eagles, insects are (by your example) SLAVES. Thus the term has no meaning.

Alarm clocks

If a person sets an alarm clock to awaken them to go fishing, have they become a slave?

Bosses

Many have no boss. I have not for many decades – and am also single.

Jobs

Many have no job – by choice or otherwise. Again, I have not for decades

Schedules

If a person does what they decide without conforming to a schedule, are they or are they not a slave?

Debts

Many are debt-free. I am and several people I know personally are debt-free. I pay no interest and have a blank credit report (don't borrow money)

Governments
Laws

The presence of governments and laws do not constitute slavery (by definition – see above). Perhaps by YOUR personal definition – but not a rational definition.

The absence of government and laws is known as anarchy (Google if unfamiliar). Somalia is an example.

US State Department -- “Do not travel to Somalia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, and piracy. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as kidnapping and murder, is common throughout Somalia, including Puntland and Somaliland. ... Terrorists continue to plot kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks in Somalia. Oct 28, 2019� travel.state.gov

Satisfied?

Yup, where can I sign up to become a Christian Slave? People must be knocking down the door to get in.

Thanks for providing all this information for readers and inspiring them to become slaves. All help discrediting Christianity / worship of 'gods' is greatly appreciated.

[tam]

Peace to you,


I was going to refrain from responding on this thread, but it seems there may be some misunderstandings on what this means (at least to me).

I've seen some on here mention they are 'a slave to Christ'.

Yes. What others do is up to them; no judgment (I mean that truly).

Does this mean exactly what it says?

I am not sure what it means to others; but to me, it means belonging to someone (to Christ, who purchased me with His own blood), serving Him (and His Father) and their will, rather than my own will. ("your will be done") My Lord did the same thing when He came to do His Father's will, and in His prayer when He asked that the cup be taken from Him if possible, and if not possible, then "your will be done."


Both the purchasing (Christ gave His life, his blood) and the serving is done out of love.


Not out of force; not out of obligation; out of love.

Is it symbolic?

No, but people tend to think of the african slave trade kind of slavery, perhaps, where people were sold and purchased against their will; with no freedom and no choice. That is more along the lines of what Adam did (when he sold the world and his offspring to death; hence the world and the life in the world is subject to death).

That is not the situation here.

Is it even healthy?

Yes, it is for me. Plus it seems only natural to me that this should be part of the training we receive if we are in Christ, putting the will of God first, especially if we are chosen to be kings and priests for a thousand years, with Christ, in His Kingdom. We should know how to serve (God and His Son first - it is their Kingdom after all), because that is what God and His Son do.

Or should every Christina consider themselves, a 'slave to Christ' in the most strict standards?

That is not for me to say one way or the other; and my choice has no bearing on what is between another person and Christ. That is between the person and their Lord and has nothing to do with me.


**


(For those who have suggested it is unbiblical, remember that Christ also took the form of a slave and He came to SERVE. I am certainly not better than my Master, and I can only follow Him and His example (though I certainly fall short). But He came and served His Father's will and not His own will. He made Himself the least, even though He is the Son of God and the heir to all of God's Kingdom.)




Hope that helps, and again, peace to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[Tcg]

[Replying to post 43 by Tcg]

Evidence to support we are slaves:

< My responses are in italic >

Biology - bodily functions > People can and some do choose to stop their body from functioning

Alarm clocks > Alarm clocks sound at the time they are programmed. Even then, they can be ignored

Bosses > Employment is voluntary

Jobs > Employment is voluntary

Schedules > People create schedules and are free to change/ignore them

Debts > No one is required to be in debt

Governments > No one is required to obey any government

Laws > People ignore them all the time

Satisfied?

Not even close.


Tcg