Romans 6:16-23 – Modern-day Slavery

Slavery is a topic that reminds us of bad events from our country's history. In times past, people were purchased and sold as property. They were often cruelly treated and were forced to serve their owner as permanent slaves. If you are in any doubt as to how bad it got, you should read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. He wrote that book in 1845 to help people understand the evils that accompanied slavery in America. What he reveals about slavery is terrible. Thankfully, that evil practice was finally abolished in 1865 when the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified.

However, you may be surprised to find that slavery is mentioned several times in the Bible. In the Old Testament, people could sell themselves and their families to pay a debt. This would usually take a number of years to pay off the debt. But after the debt was paid, they would have the option of remaining a slave by their own choice. It sounds inconceivable, but some people made the choice to remail slaves to their masters. Keep this in mind as we read today's passage in the Bible.