Contemplative Bible Reading

Romans 6:18 (New Living Translation)

Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

I don’t like the use of “slavery” in Romans. In America, we often hear “slavery” and immediately stop thinking about what God is telling us and start thinking of American history, the Civil War, and all sorts of other things.

The Message paraphrase states this about like so…

All your lives you’ve let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you’ve started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!

Let’s take this apart. Slave to sin means that sin is my master. There is, however, more. I CHOSE sin to be my master. Sin didn’t sneak up on me in the woods, konk me in the head, and take me captive. Hence, “slavery” doesn’t work in our culture.

I like The Message, “I’ve let sin tell me what to do.” I CHOSE to listen to sin. I CHOSE it as my master.

I have CHOSEN to follow God and have God be my master. That CHOICE lets me live openly (not sneaking about) and freely (I am not suffering horrible for my choices).