Slave by Choice

On Mondays we have base worship here, which is pretty much like church service...worship, a teaching, some announcements etc.  This morning, one of the leaders shared that he had been living as if God were more like his business partner than G-d.  This is so true of American Christianity today.  God is our friend, and our guide, and our help, our salvation...our, our, our...

My dad said wisely, not verbatim, "it doesn't mater what the cause or religion, eventually it becomes about the organization, not God or the cause".  I thought he was just a cynic.  I have seen this over and over again though.  How can we build "our" church to reach more people?  How can we get more property to continue "our" cause? Those are good things, they have their place. 

He asked us to commune with Him again.  No list of things we need, no quick "help me" prayers, just be with Him, just to hang.  So, we moved all the chairs and some stood and some sat and some knelt. 

I admit, I was preoccupied, Selah was not supervised but with a friend, I was resentful that others didn't go back to check on her and see my need to commune, yada yada.  Distractions.  I had maybe a minute where I really got quiet, nothing else mattered and the so oft repeated lyrics came to mind "bought with a price".  What did that mean? 

In a flash I remembered reading how many slaves were treated like family and chose to continue to be with their master even after their freedom was granted (I am talking Biblical times).  They chose to have their ear nailed to a post to show their faithfulness. 

I am doing a study of the book of James, Jacob, or Ya'akov and he refers to himself as a slave to Messiah Yeshua, Jesus.  I started to think, what does that mean.  What would it mean to really be His slave?  Purchased? 

I recalled the story of Joseph, and I admit the movie...how would I speak if I were purchased with a price by someone?  How would I think? How would I dress?  Eat? What people would I keep company with?  Who would I serve in my masters name?  How would I serve them? What honor would I give to those I was serving in my masters name?

I have alot to think about regarding this.  It would look ALOT different than this idea of business partner, or friend...

Selah
continuation...

As I have prayed more and thought about what this would mean in my life, what changes would I make, I started thinking about those who are still slaves; the women who have to throw away their girl babies simply because they are girls.  The women whose genitals are marred so they are unable to enjoy sexuality, the children who are trafficked into temple prostitution as children, only to be tossed aside when puberty hits as "tainted".  There are so many other forms, but this is the slavery I am passionate about, th reason why I came to ywam and to Oregon. 

I cannot imagine having to discard my child, or being sent by my parents, meant to keep me safe and now sending me away to prostitution or forced to work.  I cannot relate.  I have so many freedoms, so many luxuries.  Even now I am listening to the birds chirp and the breeze blowing through the trees and the whisper it speaks in my ear.  Free.  I am watching children play in the creek with their mud boots on looking for crawdads and giggling...free.  I'm listening to a group of teens work on teamwork and learning not to think of themselves first (ropes course)...free.  I see the EARS (environment and research stewardship) people toiling the soil, feeding the chicken...free. 

I have never seen real poverty (we will on our 3 month outreach), or witnessed abuse.  Yet my heart hearts and yearns to respond.