(June 30, 2016 at 11:45 am)Mr.wizard Wrote:(June 30, 2016 at 11:13 am)SteveII Wrote: I am assuming you are talking about the NT. Wouldn't a command not to own slaves be the same as telling slaves they should not be owned? What do you think the result of that would be? Additionally, I think taking the teachings of the NT as a whole you cannot conclude that forced slavery is in keeping with "love your neighbor as yourself, etc.". Paul in in his letter to Philemon is asking him to do the right thing...free his slave for the right reasons. Read it, it's very short. The NT was not espousing a political change (which condemning slavery would be very political) but an internal change of the heart and attitude. Properly applied this would result in abolishing slavery for the right reasons--that is, even the best applied slavery is morally inferior to no slavery.
What!? I'm saying if god is against slavery why would he command the slaves to obey their masters, instead of just commanding people to not own slaves? Is a law telling people not to rape, the same as a law telling people to not get raped?
Slavery and rape are not morally equivalent.
From Paul's letter to Philemon. Notice the bold.
Quote:8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[b] who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
This explains the Christian response: choosing for the right reasons what is morally superior. Jesus did not come with a list of dos and don'ts. He preached a change from the inside.
