Greek] δουλεύω (douleuō), [Latin] servire, [Latin] deservire, [French] etre esclave: to serve, to be a slave, to be subjected, to be in bondage, to sin; 27 scriptural passages
MLK equates abortion with slavery
Background information:
Ancient civilizations: This term means to be a slave, to serve, to be subject to, and to make oneself a slave. The Greeks, Romans, and others have historically had a morally conflicted and ambiguous relationship with slavery. Although servants (slaves) were deemed foreigners (barbarians), some were afforded some rights, freedoms, and opportunities.
Plato’s Phaedrus 238e: “He who is ruled by desire and is a slave to pleasure will inevitably desire to make his beloved as pleasing to himself as possible.”
Old Testament: This term means to serve, to be subjected to, to labor, to worship (serve God), to minister, and to contribute to. This term denotes a relationship of dependence or service of a lowly servant to a powerful master. This relationship may be forced, restrictive, or sometimes voluntary. In the Old Testament, man is the servant/slave to God, the majestic authority.
New Testament: This term means to serve (minister) to others, to serve the Lord, and to be enslaved. Jesus teaches that one cannot serve two masters, both God and mammon. Caring for others (family, students and friends) becomes a form of service (being a servant). God states one must use their freedom to serve one another through love. God cautions one to not be enslaved by sin. Through baptism and Christ’s resurrection, one can escape the grip of sin. Paul calls one to be like a slave in being devoted to Christ. Who serves Christ will become pleasing to God.
Scripture:
“Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.’” Jn.8:34
Jesus responds to the Jews’ (descendants of Abraham) false claim that they were never enslaved. Historically, the Jews were enslaved almost continuously.
“I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews.”
Paul essentially becomes a slave in his humble service for the Lord.
“For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather serve one another through love.” Gal.5:13
God calls us to use our freedom to selflessly serve others.
Etymology: The Latin verb servire means to serve, to be a slave, and to be subject to. The Latin noun servus means slave. The Latin verb deservire means to merit, be worthy of, and serve well. This meaning evolved to mean to be entitled to because of good service. The French verb esclave is derived from the Medieval Latin sclavus. Many Slavs were sold into slavery by conquering people.
Harriet Tubman: “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”
Abraham Lincoln: “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.”
Abraham Lincoln: “If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.”
Aiden Wilson Tozer: “We must of necessity be servant to someone, either to God or to sin.
St. Augustine: “The will is truly free, when it is not the slave of vices and sins.”
Margaret Sanger: “No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or not be a mother.
Margaret Sanger: “We don’t want the word to get out that we want to exterminate the Negro population.”
Margaret Sanger: “A free race cannot be born of slave mothers.”
Conclusion:
Serve, deserve, deserving, slave
The Greeks felt that slavery was a perversion of one’s dignity, yet often advocated for slavery. Plato already understood that desire (sin) can be enticing and pleasing.
In the Old Testament, scripture states that the following people were called servant/slaves: Saul’s couriers (1Sam.18:5), David (1Kgs.19:4), Joab (2Kgs.14:19), Moses (Jos.14:7), Abraham (Psa.104:42), Isaac (Dan.3:35), and Jacob (Isa.48:20). This sets the stage for Jesus and Paul being humble servants.
Many of us are constantly struggling with the issue of serving two masters: God vs. (fill in the blank for your “god”).
Paul proudly proclaims that he is a slave (servant) for Christ.
God will be pleased when you serve Christ.
This reminds me of the famous question form the old Baltimore Catechism: Why did God make you? The “Reader’s Digest” answer version is “To know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him.”
Many of us often may live under the modern-day illusion of freedom (to do whatever or anything we want). One can potentially become trapped (like a slave to sin). The sin rules us.
Update: MLK prophetically ties abortion to slavery. His words says it all. What more needs to be said!
Planned Parenthood felt that they had to remove the name and association with Margaret Sanger, their organization’s founder who held racist views toward blacks.
For many years, failed Democratic party economic policies have held back the African Americans in the inner cities. (Ex. Baltimore, Detroit, Philadelphia, New Orleans, etc.)
The social media tech firms seek to deny freedom under the suppression and content moderation.
We live in an age now where many believe that there is nothing wrong with abortion.
We must not forget all those Russian citizens (prisoners of circumstances) who will have to bear the brunt of these Russian sanctions.
We also must be mindful of the many worried parents who are desperately looking for infant formula for their child.
We need to continue to get the word out about the evils and pains of abortion.
Now we must begin to serve others in changing hearts and minds about abortions.
The scandal is that slavery was once considered settled law in the United States. (This is a reminder that settled law is not necessarily good law.)
If this post was perhaps uncomfortable or unsettling, then this post has served its purpose. We must strive to serve and change the hearts and minds of those who perhaps felt they had no choice or have been hurt (controlled by regrets) by their decisions. Compassion and understanding would serve them well. Prayers are also needed for their conversion. Recent events and circumstances have often caused some of us to alter our approach to the issues we face. Sometimes offering another perspective may help to change one’s heart and mind. It is often very difficult to turn back to more simple times when words and their meanings have turned upside down in these modern times. Perhaps we may come back to a point where words really mean what they say. That would also serve us well.
Next post: changing and turning around