The Faith to Be God’s Servants, Not “Christian” Oppressors

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

There is a difference between God’s servants and those who shout Christianity but move against those around them. Let’s understand the responsibility of a servant of God.

Introduction

Christian servanthood is the focus of today’s message.  Through our commission (Matt. 28:19-20), Christians are to be God’s servants– serving God in a service of serving (helping) all of those around us.  Yet, in this moment of rebuke, God is angry at how the “Christian” religion moves against its neighbors, rather than serving its neighbors.  As you will see today, the goal of the Christian faith is to do unto others as God has done unto us.

Christian Responsibility

As shown by Christ in John 13:1-17, servanthood is at the center of the Christian faith.  In this passage of scripture, after the supper of the Feast of the Passover before His arrest, Jesus taught one final lesson to the eleven disciples.  Jesus rose from supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel and wrapped it around His waist, poured water in a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet.

Peter was baffled by these actions and said to Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet!”  Peter did not believe that was a task that the Most High ought to be doing.  Yet, it is in that mindset that the lesson is being taught.

Jesus first told Peter that he must be washed to have part (be in fellowship) with Him.  Then, in my key verse, Jesus told the disciples, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”

In this example, Christ taught the disciples the importance of humility.  Christ, being higher than them, lowered Himself to serve the lowly disciples.  So, He teaches one not to be conceited, thinking oneself to be above another.  As Paul shared in Romans 15:1, those who are strong in the faith ought to help with the scruples of those who are weaker (or are of less) faith.

In this example, Christ also taught the Christian responsibility.  Christians are to do unto others as Christ has done for us.  Christ lowered Himself to serve and to save us by showing us the way to the kingdom.  Christ did not have to do that, but that is the grace God has shown to us.

So, Christians ought to do as Christ because we aren’t greater than Him to be doing otherwise.  Jesus said to the disciples, “A servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:16-17).

Servanthood is not about glorifying oneself.  Christ glorified the Father; therefore, we ought to also glorify the Lord in the life we live as God’s servants.  

“Christianity” Failing Its Responsibility 

Yet, there is a brand of “Christianity” present in this land that fails its responsibility as laid out by Christ.  Rather than being servants of God and their neighbors, they choose to act as masters, overlords, and oppressors.  

This brand of “Christianity” is not brand new; it has long been in this land.  There was a time when some claimed to be “Christians”, went to church, read their Bibles, and returned home as slavemasters.  There was a time when some claimed to be Christians, went to church service, and then happily lived by the division of Jim Crow laws.

Today, that brand of “Christianity” still goes to church, reads the BIble, and thinks themselves justified to force others to bend to their “Christian” laws.  I have spent a great deal of my life studying scripture, and I tell you, nowhere in scripture will find that God calls for Christian masters, overlords, and oppressors.

One must turn away from those who, by their actions, move as Christian dictators!  One must turn away from those who use the word of God as a weapon to inflict pain and suffering.  Christ did not inflict hurt, harm, and suffering upon anyone!

Servanthood, Not Religion

In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus taught the disciples a powerful parable that explained the kind of servant God desires.

Before teaching the parable, Peter had asked Jesus a very important question, which is relevant to today’s message.  In Matthew 18:21, Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Forgiveness, you should understand, is a core principle of our faith because forgiveness is of the grace and mercy God has shown to us.  Many of us know that forgiveness is important, yet it is incredibly hard for many of us to forgive.

The reason why forgiveness is so hard for many of us is because it is hard to forget the crimes one has committed against us!  It hurts when someone has wronged us, and it can be difficult to let go of that hurt and pain!  It can be difficult for us to let go of the mental and emotional anguish that someone has caused us.  

Not only is it hard to let it go, but it also becomes tiring to give those who have hurt, harmed, used, and abused repeated chances only to be hurt and let down again.  I imagine Peter asked this question from this train of thought.  You see, Peter felt that he could meet the requirement of faith by performing a certain number of “good faith” acts.  

There are many who feel this same way today about their “Christianity”.  Many believe that going to church service each Sunday makes them a good Christian.  Many believe that going to bible study makes them a good Christian.  Many believe that reading the Bible and giving to charity help them to be a good Christian who will go to heaven.  

However, Jesus answered Peter, saying, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matt. 18:22).”  Forgiving someone 490 times a day seems rather outlandish, doesn’t it?  However, I don’t believe Jesus was being outlandish in His answer.

Jesus was teaching Peter that it’s outlandish to think that there is a set number of times something should be done if you desire to move in sincere faith.  It is also outlandish to think that just going to church, reading the Bible, giving to charity, and saying you believe in God make you a Christian.  

Doing these things to meet a ‘requirement’ is not faith, nor is it a service to God.  Doing these things just to meet a requirement is mechanical religion.  Jesus’ answer to Peter was to teach him that faith does what is sincere, without resentment (annoyance/ill will).  Jesus’ answer to Peter was to teach that faith will do what is just– what is good and fair at all times.  

The message should be clear to all of us who say that we are Christians, servants of God.  The servant of God ought not grow tired in doing what is good (Gal. 6:9).

Jesus Teaches Compassion

With this in mind, Jesus set forth teaching a very familiar parable to show the kind of servant we ought to strive to be.

In Matthew 18:23-27, Jesus explained that the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  One of his servants owed ten thousand talents (an extremely large amount of money).

The servant, however, was unable to pay back such an extremely large amount of money.  So, the master commanded that the servant be sold along with his wife, children, and all he possessed so that the debt could be paid off.  

Jesus then said that the servant fell to his knees, crying out, “Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.”  The master was ready to move, but he relented.  The master, Jesus said, was moved with compassion and released the servant, forgiving him of the debt he owed.

In this parable, we should understand that the king/master represents God.  The servant crying out for the master to have patience can be likened to asking God to have mercy.  How often have you been moved in your life to ask God to have mercy on you?  Has God ever turned down showing you mercy?

You see, the opening of this parable reminds us of the compassion of God.  God could’ve condemned the world in ancient times, yet He gave His only begotten Son.  You see, the world was lost in sin at that time, as idolatry ran rampant, and it did not know God’s grace.  God could condemn the world today for choosing to disregard His word, yet He gives the world a second chance.

When you cry out to God for help, He does not count if He has met His quota for how often He will help you.  When you cry out for God to have mercy on you, God does not count how many times He has already shown you mercy.  When God blesses us today, even though we still disobey Him, He doesn’t bless us begrudgingly (not wanting to do it).

God blesses us because that is His desire.  God shows us mercy because that is His desire.  God is love.  God is compassionate – He is understanding.  God is sincerely a God of second chances, and it pleases Him to be that way.  Again, God sets the pattern and example that a true Christian ought to imitate.

The model and pattern that God’s servants ought to imitate is that of compassion.  Once again, I remind you, we are to do unto others as God has done unto us.  God showed us compassion, so we ought to show others the same compassion.

Christ Teaches Against Merciless Oppressors

With that in mind, Jesus tells us what the servant does after he has received mercy from his master.

Actions of the merciless servant

In Matthew 18:28-30, Jesus tells us that the servant found a fellow servant.  Let us understand that his fellow servant, like him, likely had to pay back a debt he owed to the master.  At the same time, the fellow servant also owed the servant a little money.

So, the servant charged towards his fellow servant, and Jesus tells us that he took his fellow servant by the throat.  Then, the servant demanded his fellow servant, saying, “Pay me what you owe!”  Taking someone by the throat is certainly not a show of grace, is it?  Taking someone by the throat is hurtful, harmful, violent, and even life-threatening.

So, the fellow servant said to the servant, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.”  The fellow servant has asked what the servant had asked of his master.  So, the servant finds himself in the same position that his master was in.  The question he would have to answer is whether or not he would move as his master.

Jesus tells us that the servant would not show his fellow servant mercy.  He threw his fellow servant into prison till he paid back what he owed.  Do the actions of the servant sound just?

Hypocrisy abounds in the “Christianity” religion

There is a brand of “Christianity” that moves similarly to this merciless and unforgiving servant.  They demand and dictate to others to live in a certain manner without grace.  They condemn others as sinners, pushing them to the prison of hell instead of helping them escape it.

There is a brand of “Christianity” that moves to burden, to inflict hurt, and to harm.  Even more, there is a brand of “Christianity” that calls for the hurt and harm of others.  Moving in such a manner shows that such “Christianity” is full of hypocrisy.  

Many “Christians” have received the kind of grace that has given them a leg up for generations upon generations.  Yet, they now tell others, who are reaching out for a helping hand, to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.”

Many love to say that they are “for life,” but how can one be for life if they enjoy the suffering of others?  How can one say they are “for life” if they take pleasure in the ripping away of aid, and livelihoods are constantly being threatened?  

God is not pleased

Do not be mistaken– God is not pleased by those who claim to be a servant of His but lack compassion.  

Jesus taught that when the master of the servant had heard of his actions, he called for him.  The master said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you (Matt. 18:32-33)?

Jesus then said that the servant’s master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him (Matt. 18:34).  To be clear, God is not pleased with those who lack compassion!

The Great Responsibility

Let’s repeat, again, God’s servants ought to do unto others as He has done for them!  God’s servants live with a great responsibility with a responsibility that is unto salvation, not condemnation!

There are those who call Jesus a “radical” because He loved all people, including sinners.  Jesus was not a radical!  There should be nothing radical about loving all people.  Jesus was obedient to the Father, as we, the true Christians, ought to be.

What is radical is saying that you’re a “Christian” but hating someone because they are different.  It is radical to say you are a child of God and go to church, read scripture, and be filled with hate.  

It is radical to despise someone because of the color of their skin.  It is radical to despise someone because of their gender or their sexual identity.  It is radical to persecute someone because they are from a different part of town or a different land altogether.  Hatred is what is radical because God did not create us to hate in such a manner!

In 1 John 3:10, John wrote, “The children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”

One may call themselves a “Christian”, but if their work is hateful, it is a work that is not of God, but rather it is of the devil.  From such, you ought to turn and flee.

“Christianity” that harms must be called out for what it is – it is antichrist and the work of the devil.  If you confess to love the Lord, but lack compassion in your heart, today, I call for you to let go of the necks of those you are hindering and hurting.  If you truly love the Lord, God calls on you to offer the same helping hand you have received to another.

Christians ought not be a burden to others, but rather, we ought to help light burdens and bring about peace.