Left is Right and Right is Wrong

“Don’t you know that ‘Left is right and right is wrong.’?”

I’ve been getting that question a lot this week. I got my right ear pieced. Yes, I do know “right is wrong” and no, I am not coming out. Getting my right ear pierced is something that I’ve been thinking about doing for awhile. I finally did it. This is my explanation.

Originally, the only men who wore earrings were bond servants. In the Bible, in the Old Testament, when a person owned a slave, the slave was to serve him for six years and in the seventh year go free. But, when the seventh year came around it was not uncommon for a freed slave to voluntarily re-enter service to the master he loved. The master would take him to the doorpost and pierce his right ear with an awl and the slave would become his bond servant for life. Only a freed slave could become a bond servant and once he had entered that service, he could never be freed again, nor could he be sold into slavery to another master. (Exodus 21:2-7)

In the New Testament, early Christians called themselves bond servants of Christ. Bond service is a two way commitment. The freed slave chooses to commit his life to the service of his master and his master commits himself to the bond servant, never to release or sell him. (Galatians 1:10, Philippians 2:7, Colossians 1:7, 2 Timothy 2:24)

Jesus has committed Himself to us. With His own blood, He paid our debt and freed us from the slavery of sin. We are free to serve whomever we choose. I choose Jesus, the one who loves me and gave Himself for me. He has made a commitment to love me. I have made a commitment to serve only Him. So, I got my ear pierced as symbol to all that I am a servant by choice and can neither be bought or sold.

~ by Josiah on September 5, 2008.