Do you think Jesus was remiss for failing to denounce slavery?

Question

Of course, we all know now that slavery is highly immoral, so why did Jesus fail to speak out against it?

Answer 1

What have you done to stop slavery in the Sudan?
Mind your own business before you assume to be an expert on what others should be doing.

Answer 2

This is a very interesting question, I'm sure that there are many human failings that Jesus did not denounce. Not to make any excuses for failing to do so, one must remember that his active ministry was relatively short in duration as were his travels throughout the area.

There's a great deal to consider in both the Old and New Testament which gives one pause for thought. For example, God visited genocide upon the Earth, didn't He? Slavery was advocated, no ifs, ands or buts and one can hardly suggest that the practice comports with 'Love thy neighbor' as these simply cannot stand side by side.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/mor_dive2.htm

Whether Jesus was remss or not is difficult to judge since it seems to have been an accepted part of life at that time. We are still, to this very day, evolving in what we consider immoral compared to things that were acceptable just 50 years ago.

Answer 3

There are many sins that Jesus did not condemn include rape, extortion, kidnapping, computer hacking, identity theft, pollution the environment, accepting bribes, beating your wife, voter's fraud, police brutality, and thousands more. Maybe because condemning sins was not the purpose of his ministry. That had already been done through the entire scriptures up to that point.

He did not deal with how society was to be structures, nor what kinds of law a government should have. He dealt rather with the individual heart, and how they related first to God and then to each other.

So he was not remiss in failing to denounce slavery. It was outside of the area were he taught - which was about the salvation of each persons.

Answer 4

Slavery in those days was not quite what it later became. People owed money and sold themselves into slavery a lot of the time and according to Jewish law were freed after 7 years if they wanted to. Some chose it as the only way of survival. Only prisoners of war were brought into slavery unwillingly [ still better than death] but if I am not mistaken they too had to be freed at some point, and Jews would marry them if they were willing to convert. Not to say there weren't cruel masters but not like our own history of slavery. By the way slavery is still a big business throughout the world. What Christ was saying is that " **** happens" life is not fair and what ever place you may be in it is made bearable by living as though you were serving Christ alone. Living your life for an audience of one and looking forward to the life you will share with Him in Heaven, where you will be rewarded for all you did here. HOPE

Answer 5

Jesus didn't renounce a lot of things. If He were to preach a list of all of the wrongs in the world, it would have consumed the entire time of His ministry.

Also, it's worth checking into just what constituted "slavery" at that time. In the New Testament, the word "slavery" could mean a simple servant as well. That may not be true in all cases. But the New Testament _does_ teach that taking people against their will is wrong ("menstealing," 1 Tim. 1:10).

Answer 6

Slavery was an absolutely world wide practice at the time.One could be a slave from being conquered or as a lot of people did ,they sold themselves into a six year servitude to pay off debts.Or they would ,with no qualms whatsoever,sell the kids off into slavery.It wasn't really a question back then ,it was a matter of economics.Paul did say if one could free ones self,all the better.
What would be better for some,slavery(which was more like servitude ,not like the American Plantation type)or total starvation.There weren't any welfare programs back then.

Answer 7

Jesus said we are all bound as slaves - to sin. He came to pay the ransom for all sin and thereby we are free. He recognized that our spiritual bondage is a very serious matter. Now, anyone accepting this gift of salvation and truly understanding the depth of freedom offered should stand firmly against slavery of every kind. Anyone free by the grace of Jesus but still in a bondage situation here on earth will also have a changed outlook.

Answer 8

slavery in his day was close to being employed.
Many people it was said in Mexico would do better as slaves.
They cannot make enough money to pay for a place to live and food to eat and medical care. Which as slaves those things are provided.
Maybe the situation was similar in his day. Some black slaves looking back in memories, said, in some ways we had it better as slaves everything was provided.
Jobs were hard to come by and they worked long hours in the fields for very low wages. No one wants to be a slave?
Maybe God wanted to show us how important free will is.
God gave us free will why?
Because that is the only way man can be happy. Even if we have less materially.

Answer 9

He was striking at very root of slavery. Trying to change the minds of people in the correct direction. He said the truth will set you free. The influence of his teaching would wipe away slavery totally. But if he would have denounced it directly people in the Roman Empire would have hated him just so much worse. He said, love your neighbour as yourself, and that was indeed a stroke against slavery.

Answer 10

Not at all. Jesus did not spell it out for us, because it wasn't an issue at the time, but it can easily be inferred from the text that it's wrong. If nothing else, He gave us His church and the Holy Spririt to teach us about issues He didn't have time to spell out or didn't even exist at the time.