THE LIBERTY OF THE ENSLAVED
In the introduction to his Philippian letter, Paul calls himself a slave of Christ. A slave is person with reduced liberties, dignities and opportunities. The entire existence of a slave is marked by humiliation. Here's a man displaying no self-consciousness or embarrassment, freely admitting to being a slave. Indeed, it is far from an admission. It's an announcement tinged with pride. What can explain this? Why does Paul not chafe under a bondage to Christ which has brought him privations and imprisonment?
The answer lies in the nature of his master. Paul loved Jesus and was glad to be in his service. It is not as if this was the contentment of brute ignorance; of someone never having known any other way. Paul had served other masters. The first half of his life he had spent as a champion of his nation and its religion. He followed the duties attaching to this role with unflagging zeal. His commitment was well recognized (see Philippians 3:3-6). As a defender of the law he rode high in the approval of his people.
Then he met Christ and everything changed. He switched loyalties. Instead of serving the religion of his fathers, he placed himself under the yoke of Christ, and never looked back. Immediately his former masters, the priests and teachers of the law turned against him in bitter hatred. The esteem and credit he had enjoyed among his peers evaporated. But he didn’t care. “Whatsoever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7,8).
In becoming Christ’s slave Paul lost everything, but he was not destitute, because what he had before, was nothing compared to Christ. Before, he had lived under the ruthless requirements and capricious judgments of men. As Christ’s bondman, he lived under the liberating judgment of God.
In the end it is what (who) you trust most that decides whether you live anxiously and fearfully, or joyfully and freely. Before meeting Jesus, Paul staked his life on matching popular expectations for good citizenry, and respected standards of religious obligation. To this day, these remain the benchmarks for acceptance in any society that knows not Christ. Once Jesus is master, the restless and dogged effort to meet the value requirements within a given community, are replaced with the joyous obedience of gratitude and love.
“For to me, to live is Christ . . .”(Philippians 2:21).
