Chains are a vivid symbol for believers. The Pauline epistles reference chains in several ways, figuratively, as an expression of our slavery to Christ, and as a stark picture of the Apostle's imprisonment. Both circumstances are instructive regarding how Christ's church should speak to the times.
Several years ago we studied use of the term "doulos" in Scripture. It is a biblical term often confused with "diakonos", both often translated "servant" in the various versions. Most of the recently translated versions render "doulos" as "bond slave". It's a picture of a person in chains, a believer bought for a price, a Christian who obeys his Master, and seeks to please Him. The greats of redemptive history called themselves, or were referred to by others as, "duloi". As a result of our study I have several links of chain on my key ring. It is a constant reminder of being in chains to Christ. As His "bond slave" I am bound to Him and must obey Him. This is a element of my call, chains or not.
Silencing the messenger is believed to be an effective way of hindering the message. So, the Pharisees tried to silence Christ's disciples, the Sanhedrin arrested Peter and John and commanded them to stop speaking in Christ's name, and the Jewish leaders and Romans put the Apostle Paul in chains. His arrest, confinement, beatings, and imprisonment were all strategies to silence him and his message. The chains were more than metaphorical images in his mission. He planted house churches, wrote many of the epistles, preached in synagogues and markets, and appeared before government tribunals while in chains. The shackles were a norm for his ministry. He knew his words would be a stumbling block because they were gospel truth. In his mind, chains just went with speaking to the times.
So, he prayed about them, and how Christ could speak through him in spite of the chains. To the church plant in Ephesus he wrote, "Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should" (Ephesians 6:19-20).
So, let's quibble. It's a valid point that Paul was asking for boldness in preaching the gospel. Obviously he was talking about evangelistic proclamation, asking for boldness is announcing salvation by grace through faith. Yet, there was always a political or social element in the gospel message. Emperor worshipers were no doubt highly offended by references to King Jesus or the Messiah of the Savior of the world. Just as clearly, gospel truth was about freedom, social and racial equality, pushing aside the norms of a highly stratified culture, challenging moral and ethical standards, establishing family accountability. and so many other issues of the day. Underneath is a picture of a man in chains praying for boldness that might being more chains, more persecution, more suffering.
Here it is. Our concept of servant-hood is primarily "diakonos", symbolized by the towel of service. Chains and shackles are foreign and offensive, perhaps worse than the other words that make us wince---blood, nails, judgment, the wrath of God, hell, pain--- even "bond-slave". So, the threat of chains may weaken our prayers for bold words, or the presence of restraints may silence us entirely.
Last year I was in Central Asia with a group from our church to begin the process of building a house church. One evening I prayed with the pastor of that new work and his wife. "How can I pray for you?", I asked. His answer was simple, direct, and fast. He said, "Pray that we do not become comfortable like the American church". Ouch!
So, he lives in world where chains are possible every day. He knows his government could silence him any day through threats, court order, arrest, or confiscation of his personal property. But, he doesn't fear the chains. Why?
He's already wearing them. He's chained to his Master, Jesus the Lord. So, the chains of his government or culture don't intimidate him.
"For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ".
Galatians 1:10
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