Stan recently said to me "You don't support slavery, but you support a god who regulates slavery." among other things that I will address in time.I want to get the record straight once and for all about this slavery issue. It gets thrown in my face quite often as an ad hominem to discredit God.
The Bible denounces slavery as sin and goes as far to put slave traders in the same boat as murderers (1 Timothy 1:10)
Plus we have to use our proper hermeneutics to see what the Bible actually says about slavery.
Back in the days of Leviticus slavery was sanctioned due to economic reasons. Back then, there were no such thing as bankruptcy laws so people would sell themselves into slavery to rectify debts. A craftsman could use his skills to literally "pay off" a debt. Or a convicted thief could make restitution by serving as a slave. (Exodus 22:3)
The Bible recognizes the reality of slavery, but it never promotes the practice of slavery. It was the biblical principles that ultimately led to the overthrow of slavery, both in ancient Israel and in the United States.
One has to only go far as to think why the Jews left Egypt in the first place to see God's view of slavery. It took some years in America to wake up to the realization of biblical truth that all people are created by God with innate value. (Genesis 1:27, Acts 17:26-28, Galatians 3:28)
Obama, in my opinion a possible candidate for the Antichrist, couldn't respect God in June, 08 and made some snide comment:
"Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is OK and that eating shellfish is abomination? ..."
Twisting of the Scriptures was the main source of this post.
UPDATE: A man named Glenn M. Miller wrote about this subject. This rather detailed study connects the fact quite well.
Does God condone slavery in the Bible? OT and Does God condone slavery in the Bible? NT
God doesn't Condone Slavery!
bit.ly/Condone
