Tune: LIVING
In my History of American Music class, the chapter on Negro Spirituals is always one of my favorites because it sets us up for so many other chapters (blues, jazz, Motown… even rap!); but it is also one that I dread because we have to discuss the truth about slavery: that African Americans were actually owned by their masters, with all the horrible ramifications which too often accompanied that ownership.
This hymnline from the refrain of “Living for Jesus” turns that concept upside down; it says that we believers “own no other master” than Christ himself. We choose to allow Christ to be our never-cruel master. We don’t “own” him by the usual definition of the word (to have or hold as property or to have power or mastery over). Instead we are using the second definition from MERRIAM-WEBSTER: to acknowledge to be true, valid, or as claimed. We believe Jesus to be who he claimed to be, that he was truthful, and that he is the valid One to rule on the throne of our lives.
Some of you will find this interesting: one of the synonyms for “own” is “enjoy”! That could be a whole other hymnline discussion.
Who’s your Daddy? Who’s your Father? Who’s your Savior? We need to acknowledge who owns us and whom we own – believe to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God… to quote Peter’s confession.
Own Jesus as Master. Move off the throne and give Christ “his own rightful place” (to quote another hymn!) Then we can sing this hymnline with conviction.
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