If slavery was sanctioned in the Old Testament why is it considered wrong today?

Question

I think we all agree that slavery is wrong. When did it become wrong? It was allowed in the Old Testament and was a common practice in our "christian" country up until the civil war. I do not recall any words of Jesus condemning it. Why do we think its wrong today? By the way, I am NOT proprosing that slavery is right, I just want to hear what people have to say.

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No, it does not clear it up. So, owning captives is ok? Weren't the africans brought over for the plantations captives?

Answer 1

Because the bible contradicts itself, and decides to, in a sense, "change it's mind." Plus, why do people believe what the bible has to say when it was written forever ago? Someone should write a new bible that doesn't contradict itself and actually makes sense. (And yes, I know what the hell I'm talking about, and no, I didn't forget to take my meds because I don't have to take any. That should stop the petty insults right now.)

Answer 2

Check out www.theamazingchange.com it's about slavery both during the days of the William Wilberforce(1759-1833) and slavery today. And there is still slavery, we may think it ended about 200 years ago but guess what it didn't truly end. It is estimated that more than 27 million, and yes I said MILLION people are in slavery around the world today! At least 50% of these slaves are children!

Apparently not all of 'us' believe slavery to be wrong....

For the 'we' that do believe the institution of slavery to be wrong there are ways to make a difference and take action to end slavery.... 'we' have the responsibility to be modernday abolitionists and give the voiceless, a voice and give the unseen faces. We have the responsibility to tell their stories and to stand up for them.

God Bless!

Answer 3

slavery, while permitted in the bible, was clearly considered rather distasteful. most of the laws were there to give slaves some protection that they were not given in other nations - allowing them to have a day off work to rest (exodus 21:10), allowing them to be set free if their master even so much as knocks out their tooth (exodus 21:27), and even a commandment making it illegal to return runaway slaves - on the contrary, if a slave runs away and comes to you, the bible commands you to protect him and allow him to live with you as a free man, and you are forbidden to oppress him (deut 23:15-16). since the bible is clearly trying to wean people away from the institution of slavery, it really does not make sense that people would use the bible to justify slavery of people such as the africans. nevertheless, people will read into a text like the bible what they want to hear, not what its actually trying to tell you.

Answer 4

Slavery wasn't 'sanctioned', it was accepted because it was prevalent. But in fact, most Biblical slavery was pretty much the same thing as we have today, which we call 'wage slavery'. All the Bible does is to give guidelines to protect the human rights of slaves. And Jesus DID give instructions on that front.

Answer 5

This is one of those many times humanity has passed up the Bible evolution wise.
Only a fundamentalist (the literal word of the Bible is right every single time) would back slavery nowadays.
But the Bible was written when slavery was fine, so we get this odd contradiction that embarrasses the believers every time.
It will be interesting to see what gymnastics of illogic they will come up with to validate this one.

Answer 6

You have asked a very good question. Your question proves the fact that we cannot rely on the Bible as a sole infallible guide to Christian doctrine and practice. The Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura cannot be relied upon. We need the teaching authority of the church and apostolic tradition to reveal God's word for us.

Here is the teaching of the Catholic Church on slavery.

The seventh commandment forbids acts or enterprises that for any reason—selfish or ideological, commercial, or totalitarian—lead to the enslavement of human beings, to their being bought, sold and exchanged like merchandise, in disregard for their personal dignity. It is a sin against the dignity of persons and their fundamental rights to reduce them by violence to their productive value or to a source of profit. St. Paul directed a Christian master to treat his Christian slave "no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, . . . both in the flesh and in the Lord."194

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 7

We practice a form of slavery all the time and it is accepted.
Pro 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
The word servant is slave.. We are slaves to the bank, and they will take away a house if you don't pay. Try not paying your income tax??
People in older times sold themselves or their children to work as slaves to others when the family needed money and that was voluntary on their part..
People conquer others and take them as slaves to work, it happens but not so much as before.

Answer 8

In case you aren't aware...slavery is only "wrong" for the slaves! Slavery is hugely prevalent amoung Corporate America where CEO's and top eschelons make vast, sums of money, stock options and golden parachutes, while WE SLAVES make them the loot!!!

Jesus believed the rich rule the poor and expected them to be kind to their slaves. Us slaves were to obey our masters and in doing so, fulfill the will of God. Be thankful that some kind of job exists for you. You have to eat, and from where I come from, food ain't free! Maybe the former slaves want free food! Lots of people are on food stamps.

Slavery and slave is just a form of word. The "meaning" is attached to many, many, examples in our "modern" society!

Nothing new under the sun!

Answer 9

it was always wrong. In Hebrew and Greek, the word "slave" and the word "servant" cross over. A slave, except in terms of captives, was a person who sold their free will to be owned by a master, as to have shelter, food, and an "honest" day's work. It's like being a volunteer in a communist country.

does that clear things up?

Answer 10

“Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.” Think of that!—Matthew 20:20-28.

Do you know what a slave does?— He serves other people, not expecting others to serve him. He takes the lowest place, not the first place. He acts as the least important one, not the most important. And remember, Jesus said that the one who wants to be first should act like a slave toward others.

Now, what do you think that means for us?— Would a slave argue with his master over who is going to get the best seat? Or would he argue about who is going to eat first? What do you think?— Jesus explained that a slave always puts his master before himself.—Luke 17:7-10.

So rather than trying to be first, what should we do?— Yes, we should be like a slave to others. And that means putting others ahead of ourselves. It means considering that others are more important than we are.

so christians are slaves to others.