I can't count how many times people have said, "The Bible condones slavery". Firstly, what most people have in mind when they think of slavery is the
modern usage of the word that refers to the African slave trade or racial slavery, which the Bible most certainly does not condone. In fact, the Bible explicitly condemns the type of slavery that most people have in mind, as typified in the Atlantic slave trade.
Exodus 21:6 - And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Not only does the Bible condemn it, but it puts the death penalty on it.
Secondly, the KJV Bible only uses the word slave one time and the word slaves one time and context has nothing to do with anything that is in God's law or anything that God condones. The time that slavery is mentioned in Revelation 18:3, it mentions slavery as something that is practiced by a wicked, heathen nation.
Most of the time, the Bible uses the word servant and it is either referring to employment or indentured servitude. Indentured servitude is allowed and has a max of 6 years and this has to do with someone working for someone to pay off a debt. That is one type of slavery that the Bible does condone, which makes perfect sense. This is kind of like in the movies where someone can't pay their bill at a restaurant and has to wash dishes. That's right. By the way, indentured servitude is far better than our prison industrial complex. What do we do today? If someone racks up some huge bill that they can't pay, you just end up getting stiffed, you don't get paid and there's nothing you can do about it or people will just go bankrupt. That is not right, you are supposed to pay what you borrowed. In the case where someone steals from someone else, the thief goes to prison which our tax dollars has to pay for. How is this fair? What exactly is good about this system? And Is it not slavery to be locked up behind bars? But modern man is so much smarter, right? No.
Listen, locking someone in prison is more inhumane than slavery. Prison destroys people's lives and permanently damages their record and makes it harder for them to get a job. 85% off people who go into prison, their spouse divorces them. It destroys their life and it is cruel and unusual punishment. Human beings are not designed to be locked in a cage, especially not solitary confinement, It makes people go insane. We in the United States have the largest prison population in the world and vast majority of people in there are there for non-violent crimes. People don't go on about that but then they want to go on about how the Bible condones slavery. It is basically this emotionally charged word where people don't stop and think and study what the Bible actually teaches.
If you steal from someone or damage their property and you don't have the money to pay them back, then you should have to work for them to pay it off and be their bondservant. This is completely fair. It is not that God is promoting "slavery", it is that God is making allowance for "slavery" in certain situations, like people can't pay a bill, prisoners of war or criminals. And the masters in these cases are told to treat their servants well and in a just manner. But say if that servant is not doing what they are supposed to be doing, like not working at all and eating the masters food, then of course some form of punishment has to be inflicted, hence why there is physical discipline described in Luke 12:47. This is logical. This is reality. This is the real world, folks, and we need practical solutions to deal with the sinful heart of man, not idealism and utopianism which always leads to disaster, degeneracy and chaos. The Bible is a practical book that has the answer to everything.
So, the type of so called slavery that God did allow is right. God is always right about everything.
Did you know that if you're lost today, you are a slave to sin, dead in trespasses and sins. But you can be made free.
Romans 6:22 - But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Romans 6:18 - Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
John 8:36 - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
You see, Jesus Christ is the truth and the truth shall make you free. Jesus Christ is the only one who can free you from the prison that you are currently in. That prison is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. It is a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind. You feel that something is deeply wrong and can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you pay your taxes. Satan has your mind blinded right now and has you robotically walking according to the course of this world, according to his course.
2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Take the blindfold off and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today. Be set free from the matrix.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Exodus 21:6 - And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Not only does the Bible condemn it, but it puts the death penalty on it.
Secondly, the KJV Bible only uses the word slave one time and the word slaves one time and context has nothing to do with anything that is in God's law or anything that God condones. The time that slavery is mentioned in Revelation 18:3, it mentions slavery as something that is practiced by a wicked, heathen nation.
Most of the time, the Bible uses the word servant and it is either referring to employment or indentured servitude. Indentured servitude is allowed and has a max of 6 years and this has to do with someone working for someone to pay off a debt. That is one type of slavery that the Bible does condone, which makes perfect sense. This is kind of like in the movies where someone can't pay their bill at a restaurant and has to wash dishes. That's right. By the way, indentured servitude is far better than our prison industrial complex. What do we do today? If someone racks up some huge bill that they can't pay, you just end up getting stiffed, you don't get paid and there's nothing you can do about it or people will just go bankrupt. That is not right, you are supposed to pay what you borrowed. In the case where someone steals from someone else, the thief goes to prison which our tax dollars has to pay for. How is this fair? What exactly is good about this system? And Is it not slavery to be locked up behind bars? But modern man is so much smarter, right? No.
Listen, locking someone in prison is more inhumane than slavery. Prison destroys people's lives and permanently damages their record and makes it harder for them to get a job. 85% off people who go into prison, their spouse divorces them. It destroys their life and it is cruel and unusual punishment. Human beings are not designed to be locked in a cage, especially not solitary confinement, It makes people go insane. We in the United States have the largest prison population in the world and vast majority of people in there are there for non-violent crimes. People don't go on about that but then they want to go on about how the Bible condones slavery. It is basically this emotionally charged word where people don't stop and think and study what the Bible actually teaches.
If you steal from someone or damage their property and you don't have the money to pay them back, then you should have to work for them to pay it off and be their bondservant. This is completely fair. It is not that God is promoting "slavery", it is that God is making allowance for "slavery" in certain situations, like people can't pay a bill, prisoners of war or criminals. And the masters in these cases are told to treat their servants well and in a just manner. But say if that servant is not doing what they are supposed to be doing, like not working at all and eating the masters food, then of course some form of punishment has to be inflicted, hence why there is physical discipline described in Luke 12:47. This is logical. This is reality. This is the real world, folks, and we need practical solutions to deal with the sinful heart of man, not idealism and utopianism which always leads to disaster, degeneracy and chaos. The Bible is a practical book that has the answer to everything.
So, the type of so called slavery that God did allow is right. God is always right about everything.
Did you know that if you're lost today, you are a slave to sin, dead in trespasses and sins. But you can be made free.
Romans 6:22 - But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Romans 6:18 - Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
John 8:36 - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
You see, Jesus Christ is the truth and the truth shall make you free. Jesus Christ is the only one who can free you from the prison that you are currently in. That prison is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. It is a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind. You feel that something is deeply wrong and can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you pay your taxes. Satan has your mind blinded right now and has you robotically walking according to the course of this world, according to his course.
2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Take the blindfold off and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today. Be set free from the matrix.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
