Christians, how do you know slavery is wrong?

Good question.

The first answer someone gave was the catchall "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' Really? Is that an answer? So, if I'm a masochist and like being chained up and whipped, I can do that to anyone I like? Sweet. If I want oral sex from strangers, I can perform oral sex on strangers, really? Interesting Biblical morality there.

Do you must be a christian to realize that slavery is wrong ? I mean like c'mon now ... Slaves were treated worse than animals in those times , they had no freedom , no rights as humans ... NOTHING! + they were tortured and beaten 'til death if they did something their ' master ' didn't allow them to. Tell me do you have to be a christian to realize this is wrong ?! I don't think so ... I think it won't be normal to think that this thing is okay.And yes we get morals from the Bible but that doesn't mean we don't have our own understanding and empathy and humanity levels.

the bible does not endorse enforced slavery

god tells us it is wrong

Exodus 21:16

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

16 “Whoever steals someone to sell them as a slave or to keep them for their own slave must be killed.

Exodus 21:16

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

16 “Whoever steals someone to sell them as a slave or to keep them for their own slave must be killed.

the slavery the bible talks about is indentured servitude

you should actually read the bible instead of making things up

they served to pay off a debt they owed they did not have money to pay

they served up to 6 years or until the debt was paid before 6 years

the seventh year they were all set free and their debt was cancelled

Exodus 21:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

no the bible does not say you can beat your slave to death

again you can not read and are making things up

Exodus 21:20-21

King James Version (KJV)

20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.

verse 20 you can never beat your servant hrad enough that he dies

verse 21

if you beat him hard he can only miss up to two days of work if he misses more you were punished for being cruel

1 cor 7 clearly states that if a person can be made free from slavery, implied by peaceful means, to do so but if not, to not feel condemned for being a slave since we serve jesus in being free or being in servanthood, we are all to serve anyway!! ephes 6, col 3

The claim is often made that the God of the Bible approves of slavery, since rules governing slavery can be found in the both the Old and New Testament. Since virtually everyone agrees that forced, involuntary servitude is morally wrong, how can Christians justify the Bible's apparent support of slavery?

What the Old Testament says about slavery.First, we must recognize that the Bible does not say God supports slavery. In fact, the slavery described in the Old Testament was quite different from the kind of slavery we think of today - in which people are captured and sold as slaves. According to Old Testament law, anyone caught selling another person into slavery was to be executed:

"He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:16)

So, obviously, slavery during Old Testament times was not what we commonly recognize as slavery, such as that practiced in the 17th century Americas, when Africans were captured and forcibly brought to work on plantations. Unlike our modern government welfare programs, there was no safety-net for ancient Middle Easterners who could not provide a living for themselves. In ancient Israel, people who could not provide for themselves or their families sold them into slavery so they would not die of starvation or exposure. In this way, a person would receive food and housing in exchange for labor.

So, although there are rules about slavery in the Bible, those rules exist to protect the slave. Injuring or killing slaves was punishable - up to death of the offending party. Hebrews were commanded not to make their slave work on the Sabbath, slander a slave have sex with another man's slave, or return an escaped slave. A Hebrew was not to enslave his fellow countryman, even if he owed him money, but was to have him work as a hired worker, and he was to be released in the year of jubilee (which occurred every seven years). In fact, the slave owner was encouraged to "pamper his slave".

Since many of the early Christians were slaves to Romans, they were encouraged to become free if possible, but not worry about it if not possible. The Roman empire practiced involuntary slavery, so rules were established for Christians who were subject to this slavery or held slaves prior to becoming Christians. The rules established for slaves were similar to those established for other Christians with regard to being subject to governing authorities. Slaves were told to be obedient to their master and serve them sincerely, as if serving the Lord Himself. Paul instructed slaves to serve with honor, so that Christianity would not be looked down upon.

As with slaves, instructions were given to their masters as to how they were to treat their slaves. For example, they were not to be threatened, but treated with justice and fairness. The text goes on to explain that this was to be done because God is the Master of all people, and does not show partiality on the basis of social status or position.

There is an interesting letter in the New Testament (Philemon15-21) that gives some insight into the problems encountered in the early Christian church regarding the issue of slavery. Paul, the author of the letter, is writing from a Roman prison awaiting trial. He is writing to Philemon, who runs a local Christian church out of his house (since Christianity was highly persecuted at this point in time). Philemon, we find out, is the master of the slave Onesimus, who has escaped but has been converted to Christianity by Paul. In the letter, Paul indicates that he is sending Onesimus back to Philemon. However, Paul says that he has confidence that Philemon will "do what is proper" although Paul wants him to do it by his "own free will". Even so, Paul indicates that Onesimus would be a great aid in helping him spread the gospel. Paul ends the letter by saying that he has "confidence in your obedience" and indicates that he knows Philemon "will do even more than what I say." Although Paul did not directly order Philemon to release Onesimus from slavery, it would have been difficult to come away with any other conclusion from his letter.

God does not distinguish between slaves and freemen contrary to the claims of many skeptics, the New Testament proclaims that all people are equal in the eyes of God - even slaves:

I have more if you need it

Catholic Christian †

do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

"anyone who has read their Bible knows that it blatantly, explicitly advocated slavery. '

Er no

If someone takes advantage of someone else then it is wrong. Anything short of love is wrong.

Wow what a rediculous question..