If Christianity lives by the Bible and the Bible supported slavery...?

The Bible was written by men for men. The jews in the bible carried slaves and their god supported them in doing so. He even told them to conquer other lands to get more slaves.

Like I said, the bible is a patriarchal book written by patriarchal men. A just and fair god would never segregate based on gender or race.

The bible was just written to cover up or justify some of the wrongs mankind was allowed to do or did.

Slavery - in the ancient world, slavery was a very different thing to what it was during the time of the African-American slave trade. The Bible does not ever condone the wholesale subjugation of black people in the name of barbarism.

Women talking in congregation - check your context. When Christianity first began, they gave women the right to worship alongside men, something not allowed before. This act of liberalism meant that women could worship in the same place as men. But society at that time meant that women were not as educated as men. So when they were in church for the first time they were exposed to theological ideas never before heard of by them. So during sermons, the women would sometimes ask their husbands questions during sermon. Several reports of the church in Corinth say that the chatter was so loud it drowned out the voice of the preacher. So the law came down - keep silent, if you need to ask something do it when you're at home, because chances are your husband already knows the answer.

Women adherents - they actually outnumber men in congregations (statistically speaking). Their choice, because they understand the misogyny in the Bible was largely cultural, while the teachings of Christianity itself actually attempt to bring equality to women.

Gay Christians - some gay people turn to Christ and give up their homosexual lifestyle. It's not cool or popular to point that out, but there are some gay Christians who honestly want to live celibate lives because of their love for God. Then of course, there are the gays who still practice gay sex, and call themselves Christians. That doesn't make them Christian, though.

Hope these answers help. Probably you'll down-vote me for no other reason than you disagree, but I wonder why you would ask the question in the first place if you aren't looking for a Christian answer!

Bible was written hundreds of years before african american slavery. Its because its how things were back then, slavery was legal all over the world, all forms, so the bible simply encouraged slaves, there is a passage in the bible that says, to all slaves, "do your slave work in this life and I promise you eternal glory and happiness when its done." basically trying to give those poor people a reason to live, something to look forward to. You have to understand that hundreds and hundreds of years ago, all types of people were slaves, white slaves had white slaves, asians had asian slaves, and so on. It was all about power and oppression. Obviously things are different now. The bible also referred to its time. Things were horrible back then, so some of the messages were to help those people. Now days there is A LOT more freedom and equality.

Could you provide the verse(s) that "support" slavery in the Bible? Thanks. And if a man-made "christian" religion or "denomination" has female preachers and gay "christians"... then by God's own word, these people are obviously not Christians, and neither are their so called "churches" part of the church that Christ founded.

Good and accurate observations for the most part.

If you can't provide a verse/passage on slavery...slavery is a man-made condition. God gave men rules and conditions to treat their SERVANTS by and those they wrongly took as slaves.( ie Exodus 21) Many servants and bondspeople made themselves so by indebting themselves to others. One way of repaying this debt was through becoming the above. In the year of jubilee, God commanded that these people be set free from their debt, considering it to be paid. Many servants chose to remain with their masters because the latter were responsible for providing clothes, food and shelter for the servants and they often did so generously.

First of all, the Bible didn't support slavery, it tolerated it, and drew some lines around it to limit some of the worst abuses.

Second, in 1 Corinthians 11, the Apostle Paul describes women speaking to the congregation. (There are other passages as well, such as women who are prophetesses in the book of Acts, Deborah the judge in the book of Judges).

The Bible did not set out to fight misogyny, except as it came up. However it is very clear that women in the Bible are to be honoured and respected.

Gay Christians? I guess they will have to deal with that themselves. Some want to change themselves, and others want to change what the Bible says. In First Corinthians chapter 6, we read, in reference to a number of practices and lifestyles that the Bible condemns, "such as many of you were, but you have been washed, justified, etc."

The slavery that the bible does talk about has nothing to do with the unjust and cruel slavery that occurred to black people. ALL races are from God and acceptable to Him. (Acts 17:26;Acts 10:34,35)

As for female preachers (in a congregational setting i e "priest") and practicing homosexuality, that is unacceptable to God. (1 Cor 14:34;1 Cor 6:9)

Sincerely, E.

So first I truly hope you do not believe that the only people in history who were slaves were black, as you insinuate here, because that level of misinformation is kind of scary. that said the bible does not endorse slavery, the Bible Calls for slaves to stay strong in the lord and know that the bondage on this earth is temporary. perhaps you should read Philemon, a letter from Paul to Philemon encouraging him to accept his runaway slave back as; not a slave; but a brother Christ. The bible is quite clear that, yes men are in fact called to be the spiritual leaders of the home and of the church, but the misconception that the Bible is misogynistic is just that a misconception. Christ actually calls men to "love your wives as I have loved you" Christ was often surrounded by women, Mary Magdalene being one of the most important. He protected the woman from being stoned to death declaring "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" I seem to remember this being Mary Magdalene, but honestly it has been a long day and I am a little hazy right now. As for gay Christians, Christ is quite clear, that as followers of Christ we are to simply love each other as he has loved us, and secondly that no sin is too great to be forgiven.

Ill disregard the slavery part because it's already been answered.^ Regarding the other topics (ie. "misogyny"), the bible considers us all corrupt. The view you are taking would make every Christian a hypocrite. We all commit sins listed in the Bible, but this doesn't mean we can't believe in it's validity. Also, you seem a little biased about the topic. What may seem as misogynistic to you may be natural order to other women.

Slavery was condoned in Israel as a means of working off debt. There were a number of humanitarian restrictions on how they were treated, and no one could be enslaved for more than 7 years. After that the slave holder had to consider the debt paid in full, set them free and provide a generous stake to help them get started again. Families who fell into slavery together had to be kept together.

Some slaves were so well treated by their masters that at the end of their time they requested to remain life long servants in their master’s household. These slaves were called bond-servants and were trusted and highly regarded members of the household. Exodus 21:2-11 and Leviticus 25:39-55 are good references.

The slavery practiced in the US and other countries during the 16-1800′s in no way approximated Biblical slavery and was a blemish on human history.

Paul was not forbidding women ever to speak at all, as many presume, or else why would he have admonished them to wear a head covering when praying and prophesying? (1 Corinthians 11:5-6)

The context of 1 Corinthians 14:34 is orderly worship, and the Greek word translated “speak” means to talk, question, argue, or chatter. These are disruptive actions of which some women in the church at Corinth were guilty. In support of this, in 1 Corinthians 14:35 Paul said that if ever they didn’t understand what that was going on, or had a contrary opinion about something being said, they should wait and discuss it with their husbands when they got home.

The definition for “speak” specifically did not prohibit singing, praying, prophesying or public speaking, which women, like men, have always been welcome to do in the church as long as it’s done in an orderly manner.

There are Christians who are homosexuals just like here are Christians who commit adultery, lie, cheat, gossip and the list goes on. No one has ever been able to completely stop sinning upon becoming a believer, no matter how hard we try. Even Paul said he couldn’t do it. But he said when he did sin God didn’t count it against him but against the sin nature that still lived within Him (Romans 7:18-20). Sins are violations of God’s law, but Paul said we have been given a righteousness from God apart from the Law. It comes through faith to all who believe (Romans 3:21-22). This righteousness allows God to see us as if we don’t sin at all. He sees us as if we’re a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) as righteous as He is (2 Cor. 5:21) That’s because by His one sacrifice for sin, Jesus has made us perfect forever (Hebr. 10:14). As soon as we confess our sins, He forgives us and purifies us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)

Paul said when we confess and believe we’re saved (Romans 10:9) and at that time we’re given the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14. The Holy Spirit advises us on proper Christian behavior. Out of gratitude for the free gift of salvation we should follow the Holy Spirit’s advice as best as we can. After the rapture we’ll be rewarded for doing so. Our salvation cannot be lost due to post salvation behavior. Jesus Himself promised this (John 10:27-30).

It's a mistake to view the institution allowed in the Bible as equivalent to the slavery of Africans in American history.

The slavery in the Bible is more like a form of indentured servitude. Such an arrangement would allow a poor man to survive.

While not ideal, in an era before government welfare programs, slavery would be preferable to death, especially when some forms were more equivalent to modern-day employment than what we think of as slavery.

The meaning of the word translated from Hebrew does not have the same meaning as what people generally think of as slavery, like that practiced in the U.S. before the civil war.

This is referring to a voluntary service as a way to pay back a debt or or money owed to others. If you stole something, you were required to pay double the value of what you took from the owner. Many used it as a way to repay somebody.

You could not mistreat them, you had to pay them a fair reward for their labor, that was used to reduce their financial obligation to them, you could not charge interest until it was repaid, and if it was not repaid within 7 years you had to release them from their debt.