Servility: The Other Faces of Sin as Domination

Dec-2011

Tewodros Shibru

People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.

Eric Hoffer
 Servility: The Other Faces of Sin as Domination

Content

1. Introduction

2. How different literature understood servility sin in its dual form

3. Scriptural understanding of servility and dominion as sin

4. Contemporary situation regarding servility and dominion

5. Conclusion and Recommendation

6. Bibliography

1. Introduction

Many a time in our life our view are overshadowed with culturally dominant views and often we

get blinded to the obvious things in front of us. Sometimes, the things we miss are due to the

subtlety of the matter in which it appears disguised to be something different. Among the major

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 Servility: The Other Faces of Sin as Domination

things, which take this kind of, form is servility which is not commonly considered sin in our

society. However, this sin could attract and make its victim many people. The dictators are few;

the servile are multitude. The recently motto we are the 99% signified the economic situation

many our world. Nonetheless, we often only blame and accuse the domination made by the

dictators, abusers and the technocrats and missed the whole multitudes of people who are equally

victims of the same kind of sin.

The initiation to write this paper on this topic came due to my long-time contemplation on the

seemingly paradoxical text of 1 Cor 7:17-24 which deals with the idea of being slave and free at

the same time. Although servility seems to be related to slaves and condition of slavery, the Bible

teaches us not to be slaves of men either willingly or under duress. The author of Faith Seeking

Understanding Daniel L. Migliore discussion about sin in its dual form such as domination and

servility initiate me further to study in conjunction with the fascinating idea St. Paul thought in all

the church.

To be Servile is to be too eager to serve and please someone else in a way that shows a lack of
respect for self. Similar concept or definitions that describe servility are a person who tries to get
an advantage from other people by being extremely pleasant to them in a way which is not sincere
or to try hard to please to get an advantage such as promotion.

The thesis of this paper is to demonstrate that the sin of servility is as evil as totalitarian

dictatorship. In writing this paper my aim is to better articulate the commonly undermined

character as sin so that people may be sensitive to its and choose a virtues character of honesty and

boldness instead.

2. How different literature understood sin in its dual form

It is Daniel L. Migliore in his book Faith Seeking Understanding, who primarily discuss the

issues of sin in its dual form. In this book, Migliore discussed the dual form of sin as domination

and servility. These two perspectives of sin relate with sin in relation to God and the interpretation

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 Servility: The Other Faces of Sin as Domination

of sin in relationship of humans being. Migliore emphasized, when dealing with description of sin

in relationship of human beings to each other to note the duality of forms in sin. The major and

common form in the duality, which is recognized and is familiar to all people in all culture, is the

description of sin as domination and mastery over other. These familiar sins include Technocratic

spirit, the spirit of racial superiority and the spirit of boundless will to power. It is obvious to

recognize these evils and condemn them or even fight them.1

Nonetheless, Migliore discuss another form of sin that manifest itself in less obvious forms such

as powerlessness, unquestioning passivity, self-dissipation, diffuseness, triviality, lethargy and

fear of initiative. This less obvious form of sin mostly is not even understood as sin. There are

even occasions that people might even consider them as moral or even virtues characters such as

humbleness, meekness, gentleness or timidity. However, Migliore asserts that any distorted

interpretation of sin . lock victims into their victimization by undermining their will to break

free.2 According to this author, both the victim and the victimizer are prey of sin and need

liberation. Nelson Mandela is known to have said the need to liberate both the victim and the

victimizer. In the same way, the dominator must repent and the victim must be liberated from

paralyzing self-blame and destructive dependency. The two forms of sins are complimentary in

which one exists on the existence of the other. Migliore express this fact, as mere passivity is the

breeding ground of totalitarianism and inhumanity just like outrageous pride. The two form of

sin affect any body and nobody is an exception. Inordinate love of self and secret hatred of self

both make vulnerable all groups of people irrespective of gender, class, race, etc.

Migliore critically examine traditional theology of sin which gives one-sided emphasis on sin. This

has necessitated the rethinking of the doctrine of sin today that has been reinforcing passivity in

1Daniel L. Migliore, Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introducation to Christian Theology ( Michigan: William B. EERDMANS
Publishing Company, 2004) 152
2 Migliore, Faith, 152

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the face of injustice. The human freedom and maturity intended by God are destroyed both where

one lords it over and where one fails to resist being lorded over

The reason in which both the victim and the victimizer fall prey of these two forms of sin is due

to the fallen nature of humanity.3 We were supposed to live a life of relationship with God and

with other creatures. However, sin appear in humanity as a denial of our essential relatedness to

those who are genuinely other. We may deny our dependency on God and reject our need for

other those strange to us- i.e. the victims, the poor and the left-over persons. Nonetheless, the

author continues to argue, being created in the image of God means human find their identity in

coexistence with each other and with all other creatures. We exercise our freedom not in complete

isolation but in continue interaction with other. We must learn to trust others even before we take

a single step on our own. Being truly human and living in community are inseparable. Jesus is

depicted as the human-being-for-other, as someone who lives in the utmost solidarity with other

men and women, especially with those who are defined by social and religious convention as

outside community with God and Gods chosen people. 4 Jesus lived his human life for others

especially for sinners, strangers, the poor, the disadvantaged, the oppressed, etc. Jesus paved a new

humanity that has total trust in God and solidarity with all people. Jesus brings to himself the poor

and the outcast bringing us into the new realm of justice and companionship with the others from

whom we have long been alienated.5

In her book The Art of Ministry: Feminist-Womanist Approaches author Christie Cozad Neuger

wrote that many feminist theologians have attacked pride based anthropologists (such as

Niebuhrs). A representation of sin as self-assertion, self-centeredness and pride speak out of and

to experience of powerful men. Women are better indicated for such things as lack of self, self-

3 Migliore, Faith, 150

4 Migliore, Faith, 144-145
5 Migliore, Faith, 160-162

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abneration, and irresponsibility what Susan Nelson Dunfee refers as the sin of hiding. While sin

as pride is generalized, self-abneration is rendered a virtue and is harmfully reinforced. 6

In his discussion of whether servile fear is good or bad, Saint Thomas Aquinas is said to have that

servile fear is not good. 7 He argued that if the use of a thing is evil, the thing itself is evil. In

addition, he reasoned that no good grows from a sinful root. Now servile fear grows from a sinful

root, A man who does something through servile fear loves not justice, and fears nothing but the

punishment.

In his book True Words of Brave Men Kingsley Charles discussed about freedom and slavery in

the chapter Slave or Free. He noted that the martyrs of the old did not say that, when they

endured the prison and the scourge, the sword and the fire and choose rather to die in torment

unspeakable than deny the Lord Jesus who bought them with his blood, rather than do what they

knew to be wrong. They were not afraid of torture and death; but of doing wrong, they were

unspeakably afraid. They were truly free from their own love of ease and cowardice and selfishness

and all true that let a man down and makes a slave of him.8

In contrast to the above authors, our society encourages servility in many occasions. One

prominent author who described our society vivid use of servility as a common way of dishonest

gain is Robert Greene. His book encouraged servility arrogantly as a subtle way of gaining

promotion and staying in power in any form of institution be it a small company or top job of at

the government. In its Machiavellian style approach, Robert Greene in his book The 48 Laws of

Power (1998) overtly encourage servility. The very first law among The 48 Laws of Power start

with a resounding servility law which says Never Outshine the Master which is to mean one who

6 Christie Cozad Neuger , The Art of Ministry: Feminist-Womanist Approches (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996)
P.69
7 http://christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa_theologica/whether_servile_fear_is_good.htm

8 Kingsley Charles, True Words of Brave Men (2008) p.73

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want to survive and take up the ladder of promotion must always make those above him or her feel

comfortably superior. One other law among these forty-eight blatantly encourage the reader to

Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim which recognize that one sincere

and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Therefore, the author continues to

encourage sins such as servility or dominion to use honesty in bring down the guard of even the

most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive

and manipulate them at will. A timely gift a Trojan horse will serve the same purpose.9

3. Scriptural understanding of servility and dominion as sin

In this section, I primarily discuss on the text of 1Cor. 7: 17-24 in which I based my thesis. The

text read as:

Were you a slave when called? Never mind.

But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.

For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord.

Likewise, he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price;

Do not become slaves of men.

So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God. (RSV)

This text clearly is paradoxical in its nature. Partly it seems to encourage slavery. In fact, slavery

is a distortion of a creation ordinance regarding work.10 The timing of this text writing was a time

where slavery is official way of governance of the Roman Empire. The empire strictly enforce

slavery and a ran away slave is punished by the state and if held was to be returned to the slave

owner. It seems the New Testament primarily does not intend to change the system of governance

without changing the individual attitude. The New Testament rather first and foremost teaches

9 Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power (The United States: Viking Press, 1998).
10
Mark Dever, Twelve Challenges Churches Face, (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008) 76

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 Servility: The Other Faces of Sin as Domination

about the free man in a constitutional slavery system. A Christian who is slave is to live as a slave

but paradoxically is not to be a servile servant that does everything whatever the slave owner said.

The message of the New Testament is do not become slaves of men event to the Christian slaves

of first century churches.

The contradictory thing is we have today many who are voluntarily and of their free will that has

submitted themselves in servility to their superiors while living in a free and democratic society

after centuries of abandoning slavery.

However, the ancients fathers of faith were commended for refusing servility rather than

compromising their faith. Joseph would have all the reason to have an attitude of servility in his

situation. However, he was an honest, God fearing and hardworking slave. Though a slave, he was

not slave of the slave master. Moses, though a master himself, chose to be mistreated and loose

every privilege he has rather than enjoy the pleasure of sin. Kings who were commended for

their faith administered justices that equally require faith as those that were ready to be tortured

for their stand.

In the book of Daniel, we read how Daniel and his friends resolved not defile themselves with the

kings rich food, or wine. We read elsewhere also Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were

appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon were not willing to bow down and worship

King Nebuchadnezzars image of gold. These young men have every reason to adopt an attitude

of servility even before the loss of life in the fiery furnace came into question. Many things that

are simpler would have threaten them to obey the kings order such things as the loss of their

privilege and lose of their position as officials on the affairs of the provinces of Babylon.

The scripture clearly show us that an attitude of dominion and servility both share the same source

that keep both to go on. This source is the lack of faith and trust in both the Creator and fellow

human being. This can be better illustrated in the life of Jeroboam I (1King 11:26). Jeroboam who

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was very able and industrious man under Solomon rule received a prophetic message from the

prophet of God who told him that God will give the ten tribe to him. God promised him to build

an enduring house like that of David. At the start of his reign, Jeroboam said to himself if the

people continue to go up to offer sacrifices in Jerusalem, the heart of this people will turn again to

their master. He had no faith in the God who promised him to build an enduring house or on his

people who were willing to make him king over themselves. His dominion was based on fear and

mistrust. The same attitude thus requires others people surrounding him to be servile.

Another example we find it to be a prototype for those who are dictators and those servile people

that mostly surround them comes from the story of King Saul (a dictator) and Doeg (a servile

servant) (1Sam 21-22). Although chosen to be a king over Israel by God, King Saul was two

phrased that were sung by women Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

1Sam 18:7 made him envious of David that lead to long years of kind of civil war. We observe

Saul use self-pity and ethnicity as instrument of his dominion in his struggle for lack of faith on

God. His lack of faith on God who appointed him king and lack of trust on his loyal and honest

solder David. This kind of attitude repels the presence of honest but loyal people such as his own

son Jonathan and his arm bearer David. Rather he preferred to be surrounded by such servile people

such as Doeg. Doeg was servant of Saul and probably a mercenary form Edom (21:7)11. He was

also referred as chief of Sauls guard. However, this person falsely accused David with fabricated

story. This attitude of servility leads to injustice, annihilation of the priests of Noba and

manslaughter.

Another vivid example comes from the story of Naboth, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (1King

21). The story clearly depicts the domination of Jezebel and servility of King Ahab and the elders

and nobles that live in the town of Naboth. The elders and noble men were not any different from

11 Harp Collin Study Bible (NRSV): Society of Biblical Literature

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 Servility: The Other Faces of Sin as Domination

the scoundrels who testified against Naboth falsely. This was an assembly of elders, nobles and

officials that are prompt to do a murderous act with simple letter without even questioning. The

story implied that these elders seem in the habit of doing such things. It is these kinds of assemblies

and the people in them that are the breeding ground of injustice and crime that is taken as a

corporate culture at a national level. When people are in bondage of sin of dominion and servility,

then they are living in a world that is merged with fact and fiction, manipulating the legal system

in which case the legal system protect the servile while eliminate the people who stand free and

fair and are honest. Jezebel quoted from the Jewish torah (constitution) to execute Naboth, but the

same constitution has regulation and severs penalties for giving false testimony.

4. Current Situation regarding servility and dominion

Servility is everywhere in our community. One needs only to look the meeting of the house of

representative (the parliament-the highest administrative organ of our nation). This house is known

for clapping of hands and rubber-stamping to whatever the Prime Minster said without questioning

in the abysmal of passivity. There is not the slightest intention of dissent let alone opposite.

Servility is not only the character of individuals. It is now in our system. It is becoming the norm.

People with servile attitude are also murderous just like the outrageous dictator. The Ethiopian

Television is showing two soap operas (Gebena and Sew-leSew) for the last couple of months.

These two soap operas clearly depicted the lives of typical Ethiopian. Both have included

characters with servility. These characters are ready to kill or do anything without any hesitation

when ordered by their masters.

Many years ago, I used to work with a certain person who also used to be the vice chairperson of

elders at my congregation. He was generous enough to offer me a job in Addis Ababa while I was

looking for it badly. While I started to work with him, I was shocked the way he treated the General

Manager who was a foreigner. His literality kissed his hand every time he met him. Not only the

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general manager, but also every government officials wherever we go to do some business with

them. Later the general manager and this person were involved in some illegal business and the

general manger had to purchase material, which cost nearly two million Birr at that time under this

persons name. Later, things did not go as intended and the manger wanted the material to be sold

and wanted his money back. However, this person refused to return the money since the items

were purchase under his name. This always reminded me of the famous dictum of Erick Hoffman12

People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them. But practically I

understood the saying in rather reverse order People who lick the boot that kicks them usually bite

the hand that feeds them.

5. Conclusion and Recommendation

In general, the poor are not innocent for simple reason of being poor or the rich and (the powerful)

are not more sinner. The poor, victims, exploited, slaves, women, inferior, subordinates or

employees may fall prey of servility as much as the rich, victimizers, exploiters, slave owners, the

capitalist, men, superior, manager, employer may fall victim of sins of domination.

Our current circumstances should not be an excuse to commit the sin of servility or dominion

because they both base their foundation in an evil source-which is lack of trust in God and fellow

human being. Most assume that people who control the economic sector are likely to be

manipulative and exploitive in their character. The fact of the matter is that the rest of the people

who do not exercise power are also equally viable to commit sin of servility. We must follow the

virtue of honesty and firmness in our faith against the temptation that challenges us to be servile.

12American social philosopher and writer: Accessed his saying from

http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/quotes/famous/eric_hoffer/people_who_bite_the_hand_that_1556
on 09-Dec-2011

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Bibliography
Aquinas, Thomas. Christian Book Shelf.
http://christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa_theologica/whether_servile_fear_is_good.htm (accessed Dec 07,
2011).

Charles, Kingsley. True Words of Brave Men. 2008.

Dever, Mark. Twelve Challanges Churches Face. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008.

Greene, Robert. The 48 Laws of Power. The United States: Viking Press, 1998.

Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introducation to Christian Theology. Michigan: William B.
EERDMANS Publishing Company, 2004.

Neuger, Christie Cozad. The Art of Ministry: Feminist-Womanist Approches. Louisville: Westminster John Knox
Press, 1996.

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