Note 6 at 1 Cor. 7:21: These are some amazing statements about slavery. Paul is revealing an attitude towards slavery that would be totally unacceptable to most Christians today. He instructs Christians who are slaves not to let their situation bother them (see ref j, this page). He tells them to be content with their slavery. In other passages, Paul reaffirms this teaching (Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22; 1 Tim. 6:1-2; Tit. 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:18), and tells Christian slave owners how to treat their slaves (Eph. 6:9; Col. 4:1). He does not take a corrective stand against slavery even though he had enough influence to limit this practice among Christians.

The scriptures do reveal that it was never God's intention for men to own other men and women as property. This can be seen by the fact that the Lord expressly forbid slavery for His people (Lev. 25:42-46) and in Deuteronomy 28, He listed slavery as a curse, not a blessing. Yet all of the New Testament leaders, including Jesus, did not try to change the practice.

In the next verse, Paul gives the reason for his social passivity. Our freedom in Christ is so liberating that it doesn't really matter what our physical conditions are. Anyone who has freedom in Christ is free in deed (Jn. 8:32) regardless of his physical condition. Those who don't share Paul's view are simply more occupied with the temporal world than they are the spiritual world (2 Cor. 4:18).

If the Lord would have established a physical kingdom to ensure civil rights such as freedom from slavery, then that kingdom would have been subject to change (2 Cor. 4:18). By establishing a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men (Lk. 17:21), the Lord guaranteed real freedom to His followers that is not subject to the whims of men (Heb. 12:28). Millions of believers living under terrible oppression have discovered a peace in Jesus that passes understanding and physical circumstances. Our focus should be on the invisible spiritual kingdom instead of the temporal physical kingdoms of men.

This is not to say that working for freedom from oppression is wrong. True Christianity of the heart will always result in godly actions. Throughout history, many godly men have given their lives for social change. Yet it can be said that among New Testament characters, the focus of Christian leaders was not on the physical kingdoms of this world but on the spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men. As men's hearts are changed by the gospel, they in turn will change governments and social ills. Our sharing of the life-changing truths of the gospel are our greatest force for social change.

Note 7 at 1 Cor. 7:21: This phrase is a little hard to understand, but most scholars agree that Paul is saying if a slave has the opportunity to become free, take it (see ref. k, this page).