Brief Preface: I use a version of the New Living Translation intended for youth. I was only educated to my freshman year of high school, which took place in the public school system of a largely underfunded district, and one that I didn’t spend much time attending anyhow. I mean to say: I accept that my interpretations and understandings may not be in sync with the widely accepted understandings and interpretations, so please pardon me for those errors.
I was reading from my notes an excerpt from Ephesians. If my notes and I are correct, it was Ephesians 6:5-9. My notes look something like this:
5: What slaves are being referred to here? Who are they under the control of, and why?
6: Does this verse answer my question in #5? Does this mean that all followers of Jesus are slaves? Or is this referring to a particular group of people?
- Also: I don’t consider myself a slave to anything. I feel like what makes my faith genuine is that it’s not something I am forced or coerced to do, as it most certainly could and likely would be if I were a slave. If you have to force someone to do something, especially something they wouldn’t do on their own merit, it takes away the real, inherent value in what’s being done, doesn’t it?
7: In theory, if we’re on the right path and doing the work intended for us and following our path with God, doesn’t that mean that no matter who we are doing the work for, that we’re doing it for God?
- Also: Does this counter my argument in #6?
8: Doesn’t a statement like this create an invitation for people to follow the same path of thinking and misguided work that Cain followed? If you only do what you do for obligation or necessity, or worse, only for reward, doesn’t that make what you do lose any genuine effort you put in to it?
9: I don’t have any notes for 9, but my two year old just fell asleep on his pizza and I hope the mental image of a cute, tiny blonde weirdo asleep in pizza makes you smile like it makes me smile. Time for a quick bath and bedtime!
Love & Respect,
Faeryn