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Reading the words of the old Spiritual, Soon-a Will Be Done, I was struck by its simplicity. Such is the case with most of the Spirituals crafted by Christian slaves in the oppressive heat of their experience. The simplicity of the slave Spiritual was a direct product of two amazing facts: 1) the Gospel of Jesus Christ itself is simple and 2) our Christian slave forefathers were a simple folk. How far removed from them we are today! This Black History Month, we need to reflect on that reality, the reasons for it, the consequences and the way back if we will.
Historically, nearly every black activist (including formerly myself) has been put out about the fact slaves received their introduction to the Gospel and Christianity from those that enslaved them. They also get bitterly beside themselves when they understand in accord with that truth, most of the slaves that became Christians submitted without visible protest to their plight just as those that enslaved them had hoped. In their unregenerate thinking, they fail to realize that whatever slave masters may have meant for evil, God meant it for good (Genesis 50:15-20; Acts 3:12-21)!
Truly, the message of Jesus Christ, His atoning death for sin on the cross, burial, resurrection and offer of sin forgiveness through faith in His name was (and still is) simple, liberating and powerful beyond human ability to express (1 Peter 1:3-9)! People with no hope, help or deliverer were suddenly handed all three in Christ by the ones that enslaved them! O the irony; O the surpassing riches of wisdom of the Almighty God! Thus, though they were slaves, those that accepted the Gospel were instantly set free inwardly which for God, is the priority need of all mankind (Isaiah 61:1-2a; Luke 4:14-21; John 8:31-36; Galatians 5:1).
After slave masters presented the Gospel to their slaves, they followed up with instructions for them to accept their condition of servitude to honor God´s will. They rightly cited passages such as Ephesians 6:5-8 where the apostle Paul writes that bondservants (slaves) are to reverentially obey their masters in the flesh and serve as if they served and sought for a reward from the Lord. This instruction was honored by many as it should have been since it was God´s Word.
However, many of those same slave masters failed to complete Paul´s instruction directed at them to serve their slave brethren without threatening (and surely violence) knowing they had a Master in heaven to answer to that shows no favoritism (Ephesians 6:9). And that is not all. They also failed to accurately communicate God in the Bible does not initiate, but permits fallen humanity´s practice of enslaving one another (a practice our forefathers knew in the land of their nativity as well). As an example, God permitted Egypt to brutally enslave His people, the Jews (Exodus 1).
Again, God brings good out of what is intended for evil in accord with His purposes and permitted Israel´s enslavement as part of their preparation to be His unique, covenant people (Exodus 2:23-25, 3:7-9). Subsequent to 400 years of Egyptian bondage, Israel was permitted by God to suffer oppressions and captivities as punishment for sin and to forge godly attributes in the faithful to His glory (Judges 2:11-19; 2 Chronicles 36:15-21; Daniel 1, 3, 6). Even His only Begotten He permitted to be oppressed, barbarously treated and put to death on the cross only to bring Him back from the dead with salvation and glory in His train (Isaiah 53; Acts 2:22-36; Hebrews 5:5-9)!
As He has done with Israel and His own Son, so He has done among us Gentiles who would and have come to Christ in many ways from many lands! Certainly, no man thinks of himself higher or better than the Son of God does he? No, but Christians are instructed to have His mind of humility in ourselves (Philippians 2:5-8). Therefore, incredibly humbled by their capture, transatlantic journey and enslavement in a New World, West African sinners, a simple folk, at first reluctantly, but then many gradually accepted the Gospel and the biblical instructions to submit to their masters.
Their famous child-like submission was of the wisdom God´s Word imparts to the simple (Psalm 19:7, 119:130) and is evidence of genuine conversion that leads to greatness in the eyes of Him for whom it matters most (Matthew 18:1-5). The preservation of four million strong at emancipation is of the grace and mercy that causes God to preserve the simple (Psalm 116:5-6). While it is foolish to believe every word of sinful man, the simple hearts of Christian slaves put their faith in the promises of God leading to the songs that serve today as their testimonies to needy sons and a desperate nation in rebellion against Him.
Nearly four generations out from slavery, the lessons of a simple faith and people have been all but lost on the many of their descendants because they have sold their heritage for the expedience of the world´s now. In this regard, they are not unlike the Bible´s Esau who for a bowl of red soup sold his birthright. Later, when he realized his mistake, no amount of tears could change his situation (Genesis 25:29-34, 27:30-40; Hebrews 12:12-17).
Men of every tongue and nation are instructed in the experience of America´s Christian slaves. Should not their sons be too who are outwardly free but many inwardly slaves of sin and destroyed? Truly, the Day draws near when all who have rejected the simple Gospel and instructions of God´s Word will deeply mourn for their lost opportunity at the return of Christ for His simple ones (Matthew 24:29-51).
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