I think all of us would agree that slavery is wrong and evil. But the Bible upholds slavery. (For the New Testament verses, see http://www.religioustolerance.org/sla_bibl2.htm)
And if slavery is objectively wrong, it was never right. Therefore the Bible accepts and condones a sin. Not just any sin, but a sin of the kind that one keeps committing every day. A lifestyle sin.
Evangelicals and Catholics condemn homosexuality using Levitical Law, an off-hand comment in Romans, and Sodom & Gomorrah and through the “lifestyle sin” argument. But if we ignore Paul on slavery and do not condemn those who owned slaves in the past, like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, as having committed a hell-deserving lifestyle sin, on what grounds do we oppose both slavery and homosexuality?
What will it be – is slavery wrong and bad and therefore homosexuality also should be evaluated by reason and experience instead of scripture? Or is slavery right and good?
2007-12-07 03:36:25 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
primoa - Slavery was okay then but now it's evil because society changed? Why not accept society's acceptance of homosexuality, then?
2007-12-07 03:44:05 · update #1
Fireball - then slavery is not wrong and evil?
2007-12-07 03:44:33 · update #2
Oregon Flower: I like how you lob an insult of sorts, don't make an attempt at an answer, and then say God bless. Come on back and show me some of this Biblical firepower you claim to possess. Please.
2007-12-07 04:08:47 · update #3
Brian O: For the verses that uphold slavery, follow the link I provided. They also make a good argument - Jesus talks about the poor, the downtrodden, and slaves (as in the parable of the talents) but never once argues the practice is wrong, even cmoparing God to slave owner. The Bible is pretty clearly on the side of slavery as a human economic institution, it merely grants that slaves have the same spiruitual value as free people. It's awfully hard to get around this fact, I'm not exactly clear on how you are thinking the Bible is against or silent on slavery. Paul's admonishment "Slaves obey your master" is pretty cut and dry.
2007-12-07 04:11:29 · update #4
Slavery is not condemned in the Bible, as pointed out, Jesus even uses slave owners and slaves in parables. In Leviticus, there is a discussion about how much money you should get if you sell your daughters and wives into slavery. There are many "laws" and "lifestyle" issues that we don't follow anymore due to changes in society. I don't know of any Christians who still follow the Kosher laws, and many Jews don't follow them closely either. Societal views due change the interpretation of religious scripture... and I for one, don't see this as a bad thing. As society changes and grows, our interpretation needs to be able to change and grow too. Jesus asked us to love one another as he has loved us...nowhere does it say...except the homosexuals. Love your neighbor as yourself...that includes homosexuals.
2007-12-07 10:46:31 · answer #1 · answered by Bridget C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was wondering if I was the only one who saw this connection. What a breath of fresh air you are!
It is true, you cannot have it both ways. The logic of one does apply to the other. I will now sit back and enjoy the mental gymnastic Fundies will have to go through to justify this complete dissonance of cognition.
(You get extra points if they call you names!)
EDIT: C'mon Christians claiming that slavery was not condoned in the Bible! A little US history will reveal many arguments made by Slave owners siting the Bible as approving of the practice. Slaves were forced to attend church services where they were taught that Slavery was approved of by God. The Bible is what that practice was built on in the states and why it took so long to abolish.
2007-12-07 08:36:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't condemn people for being gay. I believe a sin is a sin is a sin and that we are all sinners. Yes it may be a sin to knowingly live a gay lifestyle, but it is also a sin to commit adultery, lie, cheat and steal, but we all do it everyday. It's like asking if you can be a thief and still be a Christian? It may say in the bible that you shouldn't be that way, but it says you shouldn't do a lot of things we do. It is not up to us to decide which sin acceptable.
2016-05-22 00:26:26 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slavery is absolutely wrong. America has denounced it and abolished it.
I don't know of one passage of scripture that condones or promotes the practice of owning another human as a slave. The Bible does record the fact that slavery existed and Paul even admonishes those who were slaves back in the 1st century to trust in the Lord and display christlike living before your master as a means to glorify the name of Christ and thereby impact the slave owner to consider Christ.
The early Americans, even our nations leaders who were slave owners do not represent God's standard of righteousness. For that matter, none of us christians do. Why is Christ and the Bible held in contempt because of hypocritical people who profess allegiance to Jesus Christ?
You are correct - slavery is absolutely wrong and that means it was, is and will always be wrong!
All sin is absolutely wrong, and because of our sin we need a savior who can pay the debt of sin required to justify us before a holy, perfect God.
Once we put our full trust in the Lord Jesus Christ He promises to begin and complete a work of transformation in our lives. We will not be able to continue indulging in our old sinful lifestyles because Christ changes our way of thinking and He changes our desires and gives us the power to resist sin. If there is no change in your life then there is no Christ in your life.
So, if you are a professing born again follower of Christ Jesus then the proof is in how you live not in the words you say!
Homosexuality is a sin because God says so, not what I or any other person says. Homosexuality is a sin that is just as damning as any other so if you surrender your will to Christ and put your trust fully in the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and for the ability to choose what is righteous then Christ will not leave you to struggle with your sin. He will provide a means of resistance and escape.
2007-12-07 03:59:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Fireball: Typical Christian answer, you use the word "Fact" there with religion. You must look up the premise of which the word "fact" is based, and religion can not nor ever can be used with the word fact, except possibly in that can that it is a fact that religion is based on fantasy. That would be a true statement using the word "fact".
Very great points you bring up, it will be interesting to see how Christians do answer, since they are not going to like this contradiction that you point out.
2007-12-07 03:45:10 · answer #5 · answered by freezedried001500 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Christians don't condemn homosexuality or men slavery,
GOD is the one that condemn it and everything that GOD condemn man should condemn as well.
2007-12-07 03:44:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Look,
Slavery was an accepted practice in Old Testament times......
Slaves were treated like family.
Homosexuality has been wrong throughout the ages.....and always will be
2007-12-07 03:41:34 · answer #7 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 4⤊ 6⤋
Honey, you CLEARLY don't know God's Word. If you did, you wouldn't be so full of error and ridiculous rants.
God bless!
2007-12-07 03:56:17 · answer #8 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
What does homosexuality have to do with slavery?
2007-12-07 03:42:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
please dont say condemn...we didnt even bring this up and we are only stating the facts...no we arent..
2007-12-07 03:40:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 7⤋