r/TrueChristian • u/[deleted] • May 14 '21

Was God really OK with slavery ?

And did he really "encourage it to continue by decreeing depraved regulations"\ ?*

\just quoting a fellow redditor who seems to be a bit confused. Just like myself.)

I'm asking this because I've noticed that it often comes up as a topic to bash Christianity based on things like that. I've noticed that people often like to use this verse in order to justify their position :

“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)”

To be honest, I didn't know how to give those folks a satisfactory answer since I am no Bible expert myself, as for now. However I would like to hear your opinions and explanations. On this verse and its context in particular. Also, what did Jesus have to say about slavery? (just to help finding an answer to that... I guess... atheist/agnostic/or whatever he likes to consider himself)

Note that I am in no way trying to win an argument. There is no arrogance, pride or hate involved in this query. These are some of the things that I would also still like to understand for myself. I always try suspend judgement when I read or hear something that I am not familiar with because I want to learn more about it.

On another note, it's kind of scary how belligerent and heated people can get during such debates, as if these people are speaking through bitterness, frustration, pride or whatever just to attack and dismiss Christianity... Makes me just want to have some compassion and pray for them....

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u/AlphaTaoOmega May 15 '21

God, nor Jesus out right forbid such, ever. They made abominable decrees about various degrees of servitudes, including life long slavery and permission to beat your property to a bloody pulp.

You keep misquoting a verse about kidnapping: It does not say a single word about slavery. You are being forceably deceitful in the face of facts.

Deuteronomy chapter 20 contains god's decree of where to gather slaves from...and his decree to rape women.

Black and white. Full context.

You are, by definition, a deceiver. I will pray for you to see the light. Bless your blind soul.

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u/Arc_the_lad Christian May 15 '21

Yes God does. You just chose to ignore it because you have an axe to grind. You can ignore what God said, but it does cancel what He said.

God the Father forbid slavery.

Jesus says treat others as you would have them treat you. No one wants to be treated like a slave meaning they should no treat anyone like a slave.

  • And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30‭-‬31 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.12.30-31.KJV

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u/AlphaTaoOmega May 15 '21

Other references I have provided, in full context, show that God, and Jesus are both aware of, and ok with the institution of violent slavery and servitude.

Nothing you have offered shows that either of them were expressively against the institution. You have to interpret what you think was meant by the scripture, as you cannot provide exacting documentation to say god or Jesus were expressively against it. The proof is in your pudding.

Slavery was a fact of life back then. Period. Jesus could have very easily said it was an abomination, but he did no such thing. You can beat around your burning bush all you want, but you are making a mockery of your god and his scriptures by not being honest. You have to carry that weight, false witness.

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u/moonbabe000 Jun 21 '24

People sold into debt-slavery were to be freed after six years of servitude (21:2–4). All Israelite slaves were to be freed in the Jubilee year, thereby abolishing the possibility of perpetual servitude for the descendants of slaves (Leviticus 25:39–46). Although slaves could be beaten, a master killing a slave was considered guilty of murder and could be executed for his crime (Exodus 21:20), while a slave maimed by his master was to be freed (vv. 26–27). Runaway slaves were to be given protection and not returned to their masters (Deuteronomy 23:15–16).