So we just took away slavery because its bad, even though it was Gods word, so what your saying is that Gods word was bad?
2006-10-13 04:57:49 · 15 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Slavery is meant to be a way of paying off debt, if you owed me money you would work for me to pay it off. This is how the Jews saw it, the master of a slave would be punished for harming a slave.
We are basically slaves to our debt now.
2006-10-13 05:02:53 · answer #1 · answered by Sean 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Biblical slavery did not involve running off to other nations and abducting people from their homes then chaining them up and torturing them.
Biblical slavery was indentured servitude. Someone with a debt owed to you, then they work for you until the debt is paid off.
That's why God proclaimed the Jubilee Year. Every 7 years all the indentured servants - that is the "slaves" - were set free.
The Jews at the time didn't care for it. So they let their indentured servants go then dragged them back. God got angry and gave them all over to the Babylonians so they could see what it felt like to be an indentured servant.
2006-10-13 05:02:59 · answer #2 · answered by Max Marie, OFS 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God's Word records the facts. He doesn't pull punches or candy coat ugliness. In case you missed it, the Bible also records murder, rape, pillage, lies, and a host of other behaviors, even by 'heroes' of the Bible. God doesn't condone slavery. In fact, he took the opportunity several times to set His people free!
Try a straight reading of the Bible for once, without trying to twist it around, and you might get some good out of it.
BTW, did you know that 19th Century Abolitionists based their anti-slavery arguments in the Bible? You of ALL people should appreciate THAT!
2006-10-13 05:14:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Slavery was a part of the culture. At no point did he say "go forth and multiply and make some of them slaves while your at it." Humans chose to make slaves of others.
When wars were carried out or raid (like those of the Romans) some people may have prefered to be taken as slaves rather then killed on the spot. At least they had a chance at life and chance of once again earning their freedom like Joseph did.
Slavery was often a way of paying off debts in some cases. It wasn't always a never ending life of toil and torture.
God laid out laws which were also designed to protect and look after the welfare of slaves too.
2006-10-13 05:04:47 · answer #4 · answered by Scarlet Element 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, slavery was allowed in Biblical times, but God did not approve of ‘man dominating man’ through abusive slavery. The slavery that existed in Israel was vastly different from the tyrannical forms of slavery that have existed throughout history.
God’s Law stated that kidnapping and selling a human was punishable by death. Furthermore, Jehovah God provided guidelines to protect slaves. For example, a slave who was maimed by his master would be set free. If a slave died because his master beat him, the master could be punished with death. Women captives could become slaves, or they could be taken as wives. But they were not to be used for mere sexual gratification. The gist of the Law must have led righthearted Israelites to treat slaves with respect and kindness, as if these were hired laborers.—Exodus 20:10; 21:12, 16, 26, 27; Leviticus 22:10, 11; Deuteronomy 21:10-14.
Some Jews voluntarily became slaves to their fellow Jews in order to repay debts. This practice protected people from starvation and actually allowed many to recover from poverty. Furthermore, at key junctures in the Jewish calendar, slaves were to be released if they so desired. (Exodus 21:2; Leviticus 25:10; Deuteronomy 15:12) Commenting on these laws regarding slaves, Jewish scholar Moses Mielziner stated that a “slave could never cease to be a man, he was looked upon as a person possessing certain natural human rights, with which the master even could not with impunity interfere.” What a stark contrast to the abusive systems of slavery that mar the annals of history!
Today, Christians may have servants (maids, butlers, etc,) but they are to be compensated and treated with kindness. Showing love and compassion for others is a requirement for Christians and this is to include those whom we employ.
2006-10-13 05:20:29 · answer #5 · answered by Micah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, actually slavery is PROHIBITED in the OT. Unfortunately, most folks don't (and didn't) understand that.
Step 1: Exodus 20:20 tells us that God has come to TEST the people. Exodus 16:4 tells us the purpose of this test is to see if the people will walk according to His Law.
Step 2: Exodus 21:20-21 and Leviticus 25:44-45, for example, speak of slavery;
Step 3: Yet, Leviticus 19:18b requires that: "you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."
Step 4: Leviticus 19:33 also requires: "And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." Consider also Exodus 22:21 “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Step 5: Deut. 27:26 "26 ‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.’
“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’”
Step 6: James 2:10 "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."
Step 7: Question: according to the above Scriptural sources, does one show love for one's neighbor, or for the "stranger," if he enslaves that person? What does this tell you about the passages you quote; is it lawful for anyone to perform it?
Jesus told us He came to fulfill and glorify the Law. He repeatedly rebuked the Pharisees for applying a strict, legalistic view of the law that cut out God's mercy. He also rebuked them for their mistaken belief they were qualified to carry out God's proscribed judgements, given in the law. This is the reason why they all walked away from the adultress and didn't stone her to death -- they had all violated one or another of the Laws, which disqualified them from punishing her.
The point is, you cannot violate one law in order to follow another. Anyone who seeks to do so fails the test.
Peace.
2006-10-13 05:07:41 · answer #6 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jibba,
salvery was recorded in the Bible and don't forget so was emancipation!
The fom of slavery that was recorded was not the form practiced in the American South which was "chattel slavery".
2006-10-13 05:16:51 · answer #7 · answered by ROBARRE 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
are you saying god wants people to be slaves?
in the bible the hebrews were slaves to the egyptians, but the hebrews were gods people, and he freed them... isn't this a sign that god doesn't exactly like slavery?
2006-10-13 05:09:50 · answer #8 · answered by nate_oddy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God gave guide lines as to how to treat slaves to protect them after a certian amount of years they had to be set free. he told the israelites to treat their slaves well and to remember that they had once been slaves in egypt.
2006-10-13 05:03:44 · answer #9 · answered by attb 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mr. T,
Well . . . we don't tend to put spikes through peoples heads while they are trying to recover from wounds and that's in the Bible, does that mean we should start it again?
2006-10-13 05:01:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋