Christians, why did Jesus command you to own slaves?

[slaine]

since you worship the moon and the sun_you should not speak of Jesus negatively.
why? 'cause Jesus created "the moon, and the sun, you, and me", buddy.
stop worshiping "the moon and the sun", buddy!

[vruyk]

Slavery was an accepted custom at that time. But, slave also referred to indentured servitude. Your relationship to God is more important than your relationship to other men. You honor God with your thoughts and action. Even if your a slave. Because until we are right with God, we all are slaves to sin. Many of the Colonial leaders of this Country owned slaves. George Washington did. (They were set free on his death)

[yago]

Slaves existed in the culture of that day, as they have in many different cultures since very early times.

Just because Jesus addressed them, does not mean he commanded Christians to own slaves. There is no logic whatsoever to the question.

I also cannot see a rationale for saying that slaves are not equal human beings. Are you referring to the fact that they are not "greater than their master"? or that they should respect their masters? That does not imply that one is lesser.

If I go to a fast food place and place an order, I respect the person behind the counter (just as I respect anyone I interact with). That does not mean I feel that I am less than them, nor they less than me.

[vanaken25]

Jesus' Dad said it is okay and since Jesus is His own Dad,um that make Him from Alabama.

[advent]

Hello,

1) Slavery was a legal and economic institution needed and feasible in those times and until the advent of the machines of the Industrial revolution. It was a price you paid when your country went to war against another power and lost. There was no racial discrimination involved in those times and there were as many blond, blue eyed slaves as darker skinned.

2) Jesus is saying nothing about buying slaves yourself. He is telling existing slaves through Peter and Paul's words to kill their good or harsh masters with kindness and example as opposed to violence and rebellion. In his times, according to Roman law, if a slave killed his master, every slave in the household was put to death. This encouraged slaves to report any rebellious murmurs or plots to their masters. Jesus is consistent in his logic as he similarly warned the freemen of his area to kill the occupying forces with kindness, carry their equipment 5 miles if they ask you to do one mile etc. When they did not heed His advice and they rebelled a generation later we all saw what happened.

That said in his time and even right up to the mid 19th century America, slaves were an extremely expensive investment and less than 2% of the population could afford them. In Ancient Rome one lowly male would have cost a legionaire 5 years wages and in the mid 19th century 1000.00 or 30,000.00 in today's money - perhaps 250 k for a young fertile woman.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

[teithi71]

I see you are not familiar with the Bible, or you would know that three of the four quotes you listed were not spoken by Jesus. Therefore he did not "command" anything in those verse.

It is a fact that slavery existed at that time, and that a person who is in slavery is not greater than his master. To mention a well known fact does not imply that he approved of the situation. Jesus did what he often did, he took something that was common place and drew a spiritual connection from it.

Note also that none of your quotes command someone to become a slave owner, as you claimed. That do acknowledge that the majority of people in the world at that time were slaves. And so it tells them how to react to their situation, but respecting their master and trying to earn a decent life.

The NT does actual have an entire book on that is addressed to slave owners. I notice that you failed to quote from it. In the books of Philemon Paul tells this slaver owner who had become a Christian that he is to free his slave and make him a on instead.

[honi]

Love those cherries eh? I see you found some there ripe for pickin'.

Next time read the verses in context. Jesus is not saying to submit to cruel, abusive masters.

Matthew 10:5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

9Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

10Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

11And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

12And when ye come into an house, salute it.

13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

15Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

18And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

19But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

20For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

21And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.


http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/slavery_bible.html

http://christianthinktank.com/qnoslave.html

[fychan97]

this does not condone slavery. it gives guidelines for how slaves that get saved should act. just cuz there slaves and get saved doesnt mean there unsaved masters will free them so there must be guidelines for there actions.

in christ there are none that are higher than others we are all equal in Christ. thats y he said no slaves r greater than master. HE NEVER SAID masters are greater than slaves. slaves were not always what we think of them to be today, some slaves were what we think, some are slaves to repay a debt, some are bondslaves people that LOVE YES LOVE there masters so much that they pierce there ears and declare themselves of there own free will to be slaves to there masters for life. even when there are freed they remain with them.

and yes they are to submit and rely on God that loves us and to protect us. and He tells us to submit cuz by doing so (ESPECIALLY when the masters are cruel) we exhibit the Love of Christ to the master who in turn will be saved cuz of the love. so if we must submit our lives and be poor for the ETERNITY OF ANOTHERS SOUL BEING IN PARADISE then God and WE should be like oh thats a worth while cause. Besides God is just and will promote us and or free us and or reward us in heaven for our service for in everything we do we do unto HIm so by such submittion we earn great rewards way better than a mere 72 virgins


besides if a life of subjection is what He would like for us to do after the love He showed us then so be it.

NOT TO MENTION the fact that ur allah doesnt even guarantee u salvation he can still turn u away we are guaranteed salvation and being in perfect bliss with God Himself forever.