The Judæo-Christian GOD on slavery [Part 2]

Okay.  Apparently after reading quotes from their own Holy book we have a few Christians out there not getting the point, so to make this point clearer I obviously have to spell it out for them.  When I wrote the original post I really didn’t think it was necessary to do so if it had quotes within it, but I guess old habits don’t die that fast so here we go again.

 

The claims they make go as such..

1. The Bible (being translated from Greek) does not discern the difference between slave, indentured servant or temporary resident.
2. GOD is all-knowing and knew that people would be enslaved.
3. GOD allowed slavery as a punishment for sin.
4. What’s seen has harsh now was not seen as harsh during Biblical times due to cultural differences.
5. Christianity does not take a stance on slavery, and is not for or against slavery
6. GOD does not encourage slavery.

The writers of the Bible made it very clear that a “temp worker” and an actual “slave” held different positions are in the family of the slave master, and they go as such: 

Exodus 12:43: “..Any slave you have bought may eat of it after you have circumcised him, but a temporary resident and a hired worker may not eat of it.”

 As you can plainly see the quote here refers to humans being bought as slaves [in Hebrew “awbadim”], and shows a clear distinction between slaves verses hired help.  This shows they were fully aware of the differences between the three mentioned here, and now that the above has made this more apparent to us check this out: 

Exodus 21:1: Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them.  When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s and he shall go out alone.  But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for life.

As you can plainly see the concept of slavery was entrenched into their society, and you know this because they needed ordinances (laws) scripted in a holy book for the treatment of slaves.  The word “buy” has been thrown in for good measure, and for starters “he shall serve.. FOR NOTHING” sounds like a big clue they were talking about slaves.  Then there is the separation and kidnapping of family members that gives you another clue, and they used the word slave and master within this passage too.  Besides that the slave could only keep his family via blackmail, and this meant he would have to vow to be a slave FOREVER!! 

Exodus 21:20: If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.

No doubt they had different levels of servitude, but much of what’s mentioned about slavery in the Bible mirrors the African slave experience to the letter.  African’s were beaten to or almost to death, families separated, children kidnapped, and so on.  In fact it looks like the old American slave masters took a page right out of the Bible for their treatment of slaves, and they seemed to have followed much of these rules to the letter to justify their treatment of slaves too. 

 

Besides that the Bible gives you an actual protocol for the treatment of slaves, thus the Bible does condone slavery, does not confuse slaves with temp workers, and thus its views for or against slavery is clear as well.  So my questions are as follows:

 

1. As GOD if you are here to save humanity how can you not see something wrong with slavery?
2. If you are not for or against slavery how can you make laws that govern it?
3. In an imperfect world I can see how a fallible being like humans could not see that slavery is wrong, but what excuse does a GOD have for such behavior?
4. How is it that a human can see that it is wrong, but GOD cannot?
5. Does this make the abolishment of slavery a sin or is the institution of slavery voluntary for every nation in GODs eye’s?
6. Being that Jesus is the son of GOD does that means he agrees with his father on this matter of slavery?

Jesus also treated slavery as if it was the norm, and were not progressive enough to see that it is wrong or that he should speak against it.  He had opportunities to do so, but you cannot find one passage where he does.  He has even spoken to slaves, but still he remained silent on the issue.  But I think there is a reason as to why, and it goes like this:

 

1. The Jews claim to be GODs’ chosen people.
2. Jewish law was written down and said to be from GOD.
3. Jesus was a Jew too.
4. And Jesus strictly followed Jewish law
   Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didn’t come to destroy them, but to fulfill them, because I tell you with certainty that until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter or one stroke of a letter will disappear from the Law until everything has been accomplished.
5. Jews had rules for slavery (as seen above)
6. Thus we now know why Jesus showed the level of complacency he did when it came to the topic of slavery.  Because as stated earlier it was entrenched into the Jewish culture during that time.

When you look at it this way you can see that Jesus didn’t speak against slavery because like many Jews during that time he accepting of the idea of it.  It’s that simple!  My question is why?  How could an all-knowing GOD not know that slavery is evil this?

 

Also most of what was quoted comes from Hebrew and not Greek as it was the Old Testament, so the idea that this is some Greek construct is null at this point.  Confusing the facts doesn’t make them right, so just read and accept what is true.  The Bible is not against slavery, and to not be for or against would be just as big a crime for a GOD who can command millions with the snap of a finger!  How could an all-knowing GOD not know this?

 

Now as far as an all-knowing GOD punishing people for committing sins with slavery; that’s just plain sick, and there is no need to quote scripture to prove that.  An all-knowing-all-powerful GOD actually allowing the enslavement of his servants shows a failure on his side, and is only a reflection of his boundless limitations.  This would be the same as a dead beat dad allowing someone else to severely discipline his kids because he failed to lead them the right way.

 

Bottom line here is whether you are a slave, servant or guest worker; If you are not getting paid, aren’t free to leave, your family is being kept against their will, and your GOD okays the whole dam thing.. Then dammit!  You’re a slave, and that’s just not right.