18Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. 19For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
Liberation theology of the 1960s and 1970s rejected certain interpretations of this passage as endorsing colonial slavery. Today we continue to be confronted by racial and ethnic discrimination. But governmental enforcement of equal rights, though helpful, will not solve the root problem of sin.
Most human societies have embraced some form of slavery. Ancient Rome seems to have perfected the institution. Conquered people groups would be brought back to Rome and sold, with prices varying according to their skills, intellect, or attractiveness. Fathers, in desperate financial need, could legally sell their children into slavery. Slaves could be found as manual laborers and as doctors and educators. The common denominator was that they were all owned, with masters who had full legal control over their lives. In pre-colonial America, native tribes sometimes enslaved their conquered foes. Why kill off all your enemies when you can take full economic advantage of “free” human labor? Slavery has not been the sole problem of recent western world; it seem endemic to the human race – to enslave or control others!
Peter’s focus was not to change human laws (although it must be noted Christians in Peter’s day generally had no legal avenues or mass protest options that today’s believers have). The apostles’ approach (see also Paul’s letter to Philemon and Eph. 6:5–9) was to transform the “institution” of slavery by instructing Christians on how to live out their faith under that way of life.
By extension, we all live in difficult circumstances that restrict our freedom, whether it be an unsatisfying marriage, a dead-end work situation that we hate, or laws that affect us negatively. These limit our freedom, even though not as absolutely as outright slavery.
This does not mean we must resign ourselves to slavery or human-enforced limits to our earthly freedom. Paul writes: “Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that” (1 Cor. 7:20–21). We are not forbidden from bettering our situation if we can do so righteously. However, living patiently in good conscience in the midst of limiting situations brings us favor with God.
Lord, this is a tough one for me. Help me live well within my limitations.
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