The slaves of the 1600s and 1700s sometimes escaped and were called maroons. Marooned is a word we use about people left out away from a main group of people and who are left alone and needing to fend for themselves. The maroon slaves, escaped slaves, had to hide deep in forests lest they be made to pay for escaping in grievous ways. They had to band together in groups if possible, finding a group and joining it, or having to survive on their own. The gospel frees us if we are persuaded of it. The masses are slave to superstitions,feelings of fear about what happens if powerful spirits invisible to them are not kept happy, with sensitivity about omens and spooky happenings, causing compulsions and adherence passed-down traditions. Mostly it is a mix of knowledge and ignorance, knowledge only coming from dodgy sources such as practitioners of deeam interpretation, healings, potions, drugs, medicines, foul sounding curses and invocations. Into this comes Jesus Christ bringing truth. Persuasion from his teachings and miracles leads to knowledge of truth and efficacious healings and cleansing from sin, resulting in freedom from the superstitions and ignorance. Yet being freed can mean being marooned. Just as it did with literal slavery. Those who do not escape and those who hold in bondage and control are angered by escapes. They hunt and persecute to discourage others from escaping and to try to sacre escapees into returning, only to punish them if they do. Find a group but be sure they are genuine escapees. Ask God and His Son for the Holy Spirit to help with life of marooned freedom.
