xjwsforChrist

HAGGELOS SAID

Hi, Tec: You're very welcome. I'm glad you liked it.

HellPuppy: You asked if "love" could be involved in a master/slave relationship. You migth read Deuteronomy 15:12-18. Love certainly was involved in this particular narrative by the slave toward the master; do you think it also could not be from the master to the slave? Here it reads:

12“In case there should be sold to you your brother, a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, and he has served you six years, then in the seventh year you should send him out from you as one set free. 13And in case you should send him out from you as one set free, you must not send him out empty handed. 14You should surely equip him with something from your flock and your threshing floor and your oil and winepress. Just as Jehovah your God has blessed you, you should give to him. 15And you must remember that you became a slave in the land of Egypt and Jehovah your God proceeded to redeem you. That is why I am commanding you this thing today.

16“And it must occur that in case he says to you, ‘I shall not go out from your company!’ because he does love you and your household, since it was well with him while with you,17you must also take an awl and put it through his ear and to the door, and he must become your slave to time indefinite. And to your slave girl you should also do this way. 18It should not be something hard in your eyes when you send him out from your company as one set free; because for double the value of a hired laborer he served you six years, and Jehovah your God has blessed you in everything that you would do.

More important, in a Chrisitian relationship between Christ and his disciples, is it not also a master/slave relationship? And does not the Christ "love" his disciples? Something to think about anyway.

GLADIATOR SAID



You are a breath of fresh air blowing across a hard hearted world. You project your kindness on to all that you meet, sharing what is within you and give the credit to Christ, as modest Christians do.

In my world people are what they are and take the credit or blame for their actions.

Shine on silver girl!

TEC SAID

Thank you so much, everyone. I worked all day, and now the hubbie requires some of my attention (odd that ), but I didn't want anyone to think that I have forgotten or abandoned this thread or the discussions ongoing within it

Will return... and please continue. Loving all your perspectives and additions.




Peace,
tammy

AGUEST SAID

Greetings and peace to ALL of you dear ones! Just a quick comment:

My Lord said, "Go RELEASING... and you will be RELEASED." He also said, "Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will truly BE free."

While both of these statements have a primary application with regard to things of the spirit, how can they overlook the things of the flesh? If a man is enslaved in the flesh, is he truly released? Can he truly be FREE? Sure, he can be released from the "burden" of his sins that might have weighed down his conscience. And he can be released in the spirit so as to transcend the flesh.

But if one has, say, said to another, "Your SINS have been forgiven; go your way in peace," and yet still holds that one in BODY... have they TRULY released him/her? Have they TRULY set that person free?

And if one IS enslaved in the body... while they may be able to transcend spiritually, are they TRULY free? Would they consider themselves so?

Christ left us a pattern to follow, dear ones. In that light, whom did HE enslave? To the contrary, did he not go RELEASING... in spirit AND body? Was not his cleansing of sins a release as to spirit AND body?

And did he not say to those who followed him, "I NO LONGER CALL YOU SLAVES, but FRIENDS"? Who can enslave another while still calling him friend?

We do ourselves a disservice when we try to "see" Christ through the letter of his words only... and not allow ourselves to see... so as to understand, get the sense of... GRASP... the SPIRIT of his words:

"Go... RELEASING."

A follower of Christ, one who "sells [his/her] belongings and [gives] to the poor,"... one who "picks up [his/her] torture pole and follows after [him],"... one who "keep[s their] eyes on the things in the heavens, not on the things of the earth"... has no need to enslave any other. Such one desires freedom for himself/herself... and his/her loved ones. In which case, such one does to OTHERS... the things such one wants done to them.

If one wishes to BE free... in ALL respects... one cannot enslave another. In ANY respect.

I hope this helps... and I bid you all the greatest of love and peace!

YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

SA