Christianity is pro-slavery? Why does Paul's letter to the Ephesians tell the slave to return to his owner?

Question

Since Christianity is supposed to address and resolve social problems, why does it let this 800 pound gorilla called slavery sit in the room without a leash?

I see some thoughtful answers, but as far as not judging the word of god by todays standards. The Bible repeatedly says that god is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. It says he is eternal. If slavery is wrong today, then it was wrong then.
As far as indentured servitude, the bible actually instructs how to beat your slave to punish him/her. This is not indentured servitude.

Answer 1

Like all books, the Bible is a product of the times in which it was written.

This is why Christianity will never survive as a religion. Any religion based on an unchanging book, whose adherents refuse to acknowledge changes in scientific knowledge and society, is doomed. The number of Christians is shrinking every year, and this is why.

Answer 2

Because slavery was different then. When someone would owe a debt to another person, they would sell themselves into servitude to that person and work off their debt. It was not barbaric, it was merely the way they conducted business. If someone spent more than they had, or could not pay up, they would work for a certain time until their debt was fulfilled. That is why Paul also writes how masters should show decency toward their slaves and slaves should earnestly work for their masters. And you are wrong, the Bible was not meant to answer every social issue. The Bible is only a guidebook for redemption, it does not tell us how to reform every single law of the country to fit our own ideal.

Answer 3

Hello. I would say "NO" Christianity is NOT pro-slavery, though causasians have used the bible to support slavery and look at Afro-Americans as property. Even the folks who make the Dake's Annotated repented a number of years ago for stating things in their bible commentary along those lines. Paul sent the slave back to his master because it was the right thing to do (even though his master owed his life to Paul). He did not want to keep the slave out of compulsion. It was the right thing to do biblically (as in the old testament times.. the law), and the slave was not sent merely alone but with a letter from Paul to receive the slave as if it were Paul in the flesh. The scriptures seem pro-slavery because we are called to be in subjection to those over us as they are to be in subjection to God who is over all. The Catholic church seems to work more to do things in the social specter to bring about change. The truth is that the TRUE Church (Catholic and Protestant) should be speaking about the social wrongs and ills which are prevelant in our world. There is coming a day when the Church of God (not the denomination, by the way) will do very much to bring about change in these matters. Even our founding fathers had slaves I believe. Ultimately friend true freedom is found in Jesus Christ, and in those parts of the world with ungodly leadership they can yet be free (in their spirits). The Old Testament's picture of slaves loving their master and family to stay with them speaks of we are to be before God. He would be a slave forever by having his ear pierced at the door. Hopes this helps.

Answer 4

Usually people transform religion into something of their liking. In practical terms, there is no single religion per se, one that is followed blindly by all.
It is usually a social tool. You can interpret the Bible any way you want, giving it a contemporary or ancient context.
It is like a cafeteria buffet, where you pick and choose what you like or serves you better.
In a similar manner, Muslims use the Koran like a recipe book, cooking up anything that tastes good to them, even things that are more typical of animal behaviour.
Of course, you can also point out the things you don't like and display them.
So, at the end, it really doesn't matter if Paul endorsed slavery or not. It really doesn't make any difference to our present situation.

Answer 5

The Bible doesn't support slavery. It supports being responsible for your behavior. Becoming a Christian did not, and does not now, mean you do not have to honor the responsibilities you have. A slave is responsible to serve his/her master. In Paul's time slavery was a social norm. It would be ridiculous to assume he would not address the issue. If you read further you will discover Paul give directions to master too. You can not impose today's social norms on the people of past cultures.

Answer 6

Many people are disillusioned by the low moral standards we see in some characters in the Bible. Yet it would be unfair to take someone to court in the twentieth century for laws yet to be revealed in the twenty-first century. In the same way, we must be aware of the progressive development of morals in the Bible.

First of all, when the Bible reveals the moral failings of its great heroes, it is just telling us the unvarnished truth, unpalatable though it may be. It avoids the later Christian tendency to paint its saints with untouchable holiness.

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 7

It does. One book you may not be familiar with is Philemon, which tells masters how to deal with their "slaves." You should also be aware that not only were the Christians normally the slaves (at least for the first hundred or so years of Christianity), but that "slave" often meant what we'd translate "worker" or "employee."

This is all, of course, assuming you really want answers rather than to justify your own non-belief. I am not accusing you of this, but for many/most people that will be exactly the reason to bring up questions like this. I hope for better from you.

Answer 8

Did you see the Movie "Amazing Grace", about the Christian William Wilberforce, who led the fight in Great Britain to abolish the slave trade?

Answer 9

Slavery in those days was not like we think of slavery. People basically sold themselves into it to pay off a debt, they went to work for their "owner" until the debt was paid.

I bet the credit card debt of most people would be a heck of a lot lower if we had that rule now :)

Answer 10

Understand how life was in that part of the world 2000 years ago. Your comparing apples to oranges here.