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Is the act of forcing one to perform manual labor a sinful act?
Is the act of forcing one to perform manual labor a sinful act?
you blew it
Then why does the Bible instruct people on how to maintain their slaves?
please list the passage, I am interested to read and find out.
However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. (Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it. "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given." (Luke 12:47-48 NLT)
I have no problem with any of those passages redzero.
Redzero: Very good point. I think what's important to consider is that slavery in biblical times was radically different from the slavery of the Americas and modern times. The slavery in the Bible was not based exclusively on race. People were not enslaved because of their nationality or the color of their skin. In Bible times, slavery was more a matter of social status. People sold themselves as slaves when they could not pay their debts or provide for their families. In New Testament times, sometimes doctors, lawyers, and even politicians were slaves of someone else. Some people actually chose to be slaves so as to have all their needs provided for by their masters.
The slavery of the past few centuries was often based exclusively on skin color. In the United States, most black people were considered slaves because of their nationality; many slave owners truly believed black people to be inferior human beings. In fact, the bible specifically condemns the practice of "man stealing"--kidnapping human beings and selling them into slavery. The penalty under Mosaic law for that was death.
So yes, the Bible does condone some forms of slavery. The key, though, is understanding that slavery back in biblical times was very different (not better, just different).
Really? So if I had a slave and beat him, that would be find in God's eyes?
I don't care if people were enslaved because of their race or not. This kind of treatment would not fly in America. The Bible is supposed to be the word of God, so God condones something that many first world countries would find de able.
When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)
Redzero, we have it here in america. It's welfare recipients who engage in voting democrat.Some people actually chose to be slaves so as to have all their needs provided for by their masters.
you're like the biggest idiot evah
We ain't talking about America of the 21st century, man. And many of those same first world countries had no problem with slavery back in the day--it was the nature of the time. This is the same Bible that contains a passage with Christ telling people to "render unto Caeser the things that are Caeser's" (i.e., pay your taxes), even though the ruler in question was unquestionably corrupt and godless. The Bible rarely calls for outright defiance of established laws. That's why God is the God he is (as Christians believe, anyway)--he gave man a free will, and the ability to conduct himself by those laws (good or bad).
Where's the love in that?
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Last edited by xXx; 08-20-2010 at 02:02 PM.
Well played, Ignignokt.
If God is supposed to be unchanging, it logically follows that his morals are unchanging, too. If slavery, indentured servitude, or whatever you want to call it was fine back then, it should be fine now.
@ I have no problem with those passages.
"The kingdom of GOd is not of this world". I believe that was in Luke and that was the word of jesus when he was speaking to the Pharisees about the arrival of his kingdom.
Bigzax, that's how you defend. Stop posting.
And yeah, saying your going to stop posting and then posting under troll names is the hallmark of a very weak man.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Last edited by xXx; 08-20-2010 at 02:00 PM.
We aren't talking about "love." Slavery in biblical times is analogous to a business arrangement of today. Being beaten as a slave was just part of the business arrangement. God didn't come up with these laws--that's on man.
He commands, though, to "be a good steward" of your property (i.e., take care of your ), so that wasn't a free pass to be a callous master.
Hi Manny. Hope you are well.
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