James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, (James 1:1 ESV)
Slavery
I do not argue often with professional translators. What knowledge I have gained in Biblical Languages is usually just enough to follow their arguments about particular word choices, and not nearly enough to pretend fluency.
But James did not, as most translations say, claim to be a servant of God.
He claimed to be a slave.
Culturally and historically, the idea of slavery makes most of us uncomfortable. But we, like James, can rejoice in our slavery to God. I would not rejoice in slavery anywhere else… but slavery to God is unique because He is absolutely good, unconditionally loving, and holds us so very close.
Slaves absolutely depend on their masters. Slaves are completely under the authority of their masters. Slaves trust their masters. Slaves listen to their masters. Slaves know they can not exist without masters.
Because of Adam’s world-breaking sin, humanity is in slavery to sin. Because of Christ’s death and life, and God’s exchange, we are God’s slaves.
And it is a necessary, comforting, exciting thing.
We are peculiar, we relish our slavery.