As i have read.. Christains practiced slavery and bought and sold people and as Britishers said "we are the superior race"... So where does the Bible says that you can have slaves ?
2006-08-14 15:38:15 · 20 answers · asked by I Need Love 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good question.
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2006-08-14 15:43:09 · answer #1 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."
Ephesians 6:5-8
Actually, the bible spoke a lot about slaves. But if you took the time to read the passages, they are all about better treatment of them, and how, if you are a slave, to serve your master as well as you can, because that is what the Christian attitude should be.
By no means, however, did God really want people to have slaves. He helped Moses to get the slaves out of Egypt, which was one of the most defining stories in the bible. I think God just knew that we humans would have to grow on our own, and realize someday that it was not good to have slaves.
One other little thing I should mention, though, is that a lot of people voluntarily became slaves back then, as a source of income. Many people would agree to be a servant for so many years for a set price, or for a certain number of livestock. Many important men in the bible served a time as a slave, I think it was just another test of character.
2006-08-14 22:50:35 · answer #2 · answered by hopewriter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slaves as used back then were usually people that were defeated in battle or people that transgressed the laws of their mortal rulers.the rest were either behind on their taxes(could be set free when your debt was paid up) or were captured by slave raiding parties.
This was in practice in all countries.
The change did not occur until after the American civil war and still took a long time to come to an apparent stop.
You now become a slave of your not so free will when you are accepted for a job.
2006-08-14 22:52:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The biblical usage of "slave" isn't our modern understanding of slavery. People could sell themselves in to slavery in bilical times. It was a set length contract, which was better than being a simple worker. You were a part of the "master's" household, granted protection from the master. To be a slave meant to have a legal obligation to work, along with a legal right to be paid for your services. For a slave to run away or quit working was to violate a contract. The "masters" could trade the contract to another "master" if they chose. It was not slavery consisting of forced life-long service. It was actualy a pretty sweet job if you found a good master.
2006-08-14 22:50:01 · answer #4 · answered by Andy VK from Houston 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
heres one of many examples, Genesis 20:14 Abraham had slavces and he was a man after God's own heart.
However, the idea of slavery in the bible is nowheere near the idea of slavery we have today. Masters were not to beat, mistreat, or hate their slaves. They were to be treated with dignity and respect
2006-08-14 22:44:42 · answer #5 · answered by Chris K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slavery has changed to keep up with the times, but is not much different. In the old testement a slave was held to pay off a debt, now we work for others to pay our debts, a slave to todays system of things and to whom ever we owe a debt to.
2006-08-14 22:53:39 · answer #6 · answered by wdebiase 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't say "you can have slaves" it was the culture of the time period that encouraged slave ownership.
God views all of human race being equally precious in his sight therefore he would not approve of slavery.
Nonetheless, it was a practice and people needed guidelines on how to act with them.
2006-08-14 22:46:17 · answer #7 · answered by Archer Christifori 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible does not say you can have slaves....in fact, in Levitical Law (Law of Moses...Old Testament) there is scripture saying if you "steal" a man and then sell him, it is punishable by death.
Exodus 21:16
He that shall steal a man, and sell him, being convicted of guilt, shall be put to death
2006-08-14 22:47:03 · answer #8 · answered by Augustine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
slavery in the bible, is a type of identured slavery. after seven years, the "slave" had the option to be freed. Old testament.
2006-08-14 22:43:54 · answer #9 · answered by seer1213 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because it doesn't say that something in the bible is ok or not doesn't make it right. The bible says we should wait for sex till marriage... people do it out of wedlock all the time. Some Christians have sex out of wedlock... a sin is a sin... people need to fess up to their sins and ask for forgivness.
2006-08-14 22:44:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does so only in the Old Testament. The rules of the Old Testament became almost obsolete by the coming of Christ. In essence, Bible does not advice to have slaves; rather it advices to love one another as you love yourself.
2006-08-14 22:44:25 · answer #11 · answered by Helper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋