On What Side of Slavery Are We?
Brian R. Kenyon

Over the past several years, I have traveled to foreign countries on this side of the Atlantic where the population consisted mainly of those from African descent. In these places there exists a certain attitude toward Caucasian Americans. I have seen the locals in these areas harassing Caucasian Americans to give them money and even trying to pick their pockets. Yet, if the visitor is an African American, he is usually not bothered. Several years ago, after returning from a mission trip, I took some students in the school of preaching van to a Gospel meeting in a predominantly African American neighborhood. The night had already fallen, and I was not sure exactly where the building was located, though I knew I was in the general vicinity. I saw a young man walking down the street, and as I rolled down the window to ask him directions, he walked up with his hand out asking if I could spare some money. I was initially shocked and did not know how to answer him. He was dressed decently and did not seem to be in need. As he came to the window, he saw in the van students who were from African descent. In fact, I was the only Caucasian in the van. He immediately said, "Never mind," and walked away!

When I went to Ghana, West Africa, for the first time, I expected the local population to be even worse than what I experienced on this side of the Atlantic. After all, West Africa would seem to be in worse poverty. However, I was surprised to find out that the Ghanaians were not like those of African descent on this side of the Atlantic. They did not harass us for money and we soon became unafraid of being robbed. I was discussing my surprise at the Ghanaian disposition with an acquaintance. He responded with a truth that should have been obvious, but was not, until he said, "The reason why the Ghanaians have a different attitude toward you is that they were never slaves."

Wow! The attitude of some people of African descent toward Caucasian Americans depends on what side of slavery they came from. Some whose ancestors were brought from Africa to the new world as slaves think the Caucasian American some how owes them, while those who never left Africa do not have that attitude. This article is not about whether those of African descent on this side of the Atlantic are justified or not by holding that attitude. Certainly, there were tremendous sins against humanity in the African slave trade on both sides of the Atlantic, involving Caucasians and Africans. This article, however, is about something much more important-spiritual slavery!

All of Us Are Slaves!

Paul wrote, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom. 6:16). According to Paul, all of us are slaves, either of "sin unto death" or of "obedience unto righteousness." On what side of slavery are we? Paul further stated that there is only one way to become slaves of "obedience unto righteousness." He wrote, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:17-18). The "form of doctrine" they obeyed included being baptized for the remission of their sins, which is a form of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 6:3-5). On what side of slavery are we? If we have not been baptized, we are slaves of "sin unto death." However, even if we have been baptized, we can still go back to being slaves of sin if we allow sin to control our lives. On what side of slavery are we?

Our Lives, Temporal and Eternal, Reveal Which Side of Slavery We Are On

Knowing that all of us are slaves spiritually, it is important for us to examine our lives to see if they reveal the characteristics of slaves of "sin unto death" or of slaves of "obedience unto righteousness. Consider the difference between slaves of sin and slaves of obedience in the following three areas.

Attitude "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 5:8). Slaves of "sin unto death" have a mind set on the lusts of the flesh (cf. Col. 2:18). This attitude cannot please God. Slaves of "obedience unto righteousness" have the "mind of Christ" (Phil. 2:5). What is our attitude? On what side of slavery are we?

Lifestyle Slaves of "sin unto death" live exclusively for the desires of the flesh. "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind" (Eph. 2:2-3). Slaves of "obedience unto righteousness," however, "walk in the light, as he is in the light" (1 Jn. 1:7) because they have been "crucified with Christ" and the life they live is "by the faith of the Son of God" (Gal. 2:20). According to which goals do we live: "the course of this world" or the faith of God's Son? On what side of slavery are we?

Eternal Destiny "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Mt. 7:13-14). To enter the "strait gate and narrow way" requires a deliberate choice. To travel the broad way requires no effort at all. When we serve our own desires to the exclusion of God, we are headed for eternal ruin (cf. Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Tim. 6:9-10). However, when we are "risen with Christ," we will "seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God," and as a result, "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:1-4). Will our attitude, lifestyle, and goals in life result in an eternal destiny with God or with eternal destruction? Who are we now serving: God or self? On what side of slavery are we?