A Message for Employees

We are continuing our series through Paul’s letter to Titus. Last week we examined Paul’s admonition to Titus concerning the older and younger men and women. Today, our text contains one of the more troubling passages of Scripture in the Bible. Paul is addressing himself to Christian slaves, and he is telling them to be obedient to their masters. Many people who oppose Christianity point to this passage, and others like it, to prove that Christianity approved, condoned, and propagated the evil institution of slavery.

Few things reveal the depth and breadth of the total depravity of mankind like the institution of slavery. Treating those made in the image of God as a commodity to be bought and sold is a terrible sin. This barbaric social structure reared its ugly head almost from the beginning of human history and has continued its cruel exploitation and abuse right on to the present. Ripping children from parents as if they were nothing more than a litter of puppies, separating husbands and wives because it was economically prosperous with no regard for the heartache and devastation it inflicted, the institution of slavery is a blight on the human race and demonstrates just how wicked the human heart can be.

In the first century one out of three persons in Rome and one in five elsewhere was a slave. Unlike the slavery that arose in the Americas, slavery in the ancient world was racially indiscriminate, cutting across racial, social, and national lines. Slaves had no rights, and yet the state of slaves varied in the ancient world. Some were forced to work in the fields and mines in gangs, while others were highly skilled workers and trusted administrators. It has been noted that frequently slaves were better off than free laborers. Still, if a slave attacked his master, every slave in the household was killed, and until the time of Christian emperors, the penalty for rebellion was crucifixion. To be sure, this was quite the deterrent to any type of slave rebellion.

The historical context shows that slavery in Paul’s day was not as oppressive as later forms of slavery. Many prominent people in the ancient world were slaves, including teachers, writers, politicians, artisans, and philosophers. Some slaves were better off financially than many who were born free or had purchased their freedom. Also, slaves often anticipated their freedom after 10 to 20 years of service to their masters, and some even chose to stay with their masters.

One would have thought that with the spread of Christianity, slavery would have met its demise. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Thankfully, however, one must also acknowledge that Christians led the way in bringing to an end this horrible institution. Men like William Wilberforce, Granville Sharp, John Wesley, and Charles Finney led the charge. Quakers and Moravians, Methodists, and other Christians voiced their opposition against great odds and were heard by God. Do not miss the point: only where there was a Christian impulse did slavery come to an end. To this day slavery continues its reign of terror in many parts of the world where the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ has not yet taken hold. Where the gospel has found fertile soil, the institution of slavery has vanished into the midnight of darkness.
One may rightly ask, “Why didn’t Paul come right out and condemn slavery? Why didn’t he tell the slaves to resist their masters instead of telling them to be obedient and well pleasing to them?” Those are good questions that deserve a reasoned, Biblical answer.
•The power structure of the day was prohibitive to any type of slave rebellion.
•Paul knows that the only true way for slavery to end in the Roman world would be through a change of the heart in the people; thus, his ministry and teaching undermines the institution of slavery.
oPaul tells slaves that if they have the opportunity, they should be free (1 Corinthians 7:21-24).
oPaul reminds Philemon that his slave Onesimus is no longer simply a slave, but a brother in the Lord (Philemon 16).
oPaul preaches the Gospel which is revolutionary in that it is the great equalizer: Neither bond nor free, neither Jew nor Gentile, neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28).
•The fact that Paul is actually addressing slaves is proof that he sees them as people and not property!
•The very nature of the Gospel undermines slavery, and inevitably leads to its demise.
The Bible is very practical in that today we can apply to our lives instruction concerning slaves given so long ago. Paul’s instructions for slaves in the first century can be applied down through the ages for everyone who is employed. Paul’s letter to Titus also includes A MESSAGE TO EMPLOYEES! Paul put into action a strategy of servant evangelism whereby everyone in a position of service, everyone under authority, sees before them a fertile and open field for evangelism. Moving to our text, Paul lays before us six powerful principles that are instructive to employees today.
This is a pastoral message. God’s people should be the best employees on the face of the earth. In everything we do we should do for the glory of God for we represent Christ. As we examine Paul’s admonition to servants, let us apply these principles to our own lives that the name of Christ not be sullied.