Christianity and Slavery

March 16, 2013

You don't have to be born a long time ago, you simply need to read your own Bible to discover the numerous verses that either imply support for slavery, or declare it outright.
In Paul's writings in the NT, he urged a runaway slave Onesimus to return to his master. He did also counsel Philemon to not treat him harshly, but a well treated slave is still very much a slave, is he not?

Paul urged Philemon to set Onesimus free. Please see the following verses: (I boldened some.)

Philemon 1 NIV - Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and - Bible Gateway

"8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,9 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.

12I 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. 14But 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— 16no 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."

Paul was in chains/imprisoned and the only authority he had for encouraging Philemon to set Onesimus free was through Jesus Christ (see verse 8).

The "Great" Roman Empire is famous for enslaving people wherever they could. See The Roman Empire: in the First Century. The Roman Empire. Social Order. Slaves & Freemen | PBS

I don't know how Onesimus became a slave to Philemon, but it's obvious from Paul's letter that he ran away. Now, normally when slaves ran away, they were hunted down and cruelly taken back to masters, not to be officially set free, but to either be hurt more and remain a slave, or be murdered.

However, Paul very strongly showed that he expected Philemon to set Onesimus free. Paul called Onesimus "my very heart" and my son, which are very strong terms of affection and love, and which shows that Paul already considers Onesimus free, since he called him his son. In Judaic culture, being called someone's son gives that person respect.

Paul specifically ordered Philemon to free Onesimus with these words: "...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." He makes it clear to Philemon that Onesimus is his brother, NOT a slave.

The Old Testament talks extensively about how slaves are to be bought and treated. Exodus 21 is my favourite, stating that a slave owner should not beat their slaves so hard that they die, but if they are able to recover from their injuries in a day or two and resume their duties, then it's all good.

Christians follow Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ taught serving others, not enslaving others. For example, (I boldened some in all the passages below.)

John 13 NIV - Jesus Washes His Disciples? Feet - It - Bible Gateway

"3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

Many Christians believe we are willing, volunteer servants of Jesus, who we believe is the Son of God... God incarnate. Jesus did not teach us to enslave others or hurt/kill others. Rather, he taught us to serve others, like he did.

Matthew 20 NIV - The Parable of the Workers in the - Bible Gateway

"25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Again, Jesus did not teach his followers to enslave others; Jesus taught his followers to serve others.

Concerning the Old Testament, is it possible that the chip on your shoulder then is with the Tanakh and Jewish Orthodox people? However, they don't tend to discuss their beliefs with people who mock the history of their forefathers. They, and Jewish people in general, have also unjustly experienced horrible persecution throughout the centuries for their differences.

There is also not one single explicit word against the institution of slavery to be found anywhere.

Jesus showed how he sets people free from slavery. Slavery to sin is a form of slavery same as slavery to other people is a form of slavery.

John 8 NIV - but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. - Bible Gateway

"31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. "

Now, Jesus was talking to the Jewish people who were not slaves to other people, even though they were under the oppression of the Roman Empire. Jesus did come to set his people free, but his interest focuses mainly on freedom from slavery to sin. Sin captures people in chains and oppresses them too, enslaving them. Where Jesus taught against people enslaving other people is in his commands to love others, as well as to do unto others what one would have done to oneself.

The Roman Empire, as mentioned before, had many slaves, many of which were captured in other countries. Paul, a later follower of Jesus, wrote the following specifically against slavery to other people, in his letter to the church of Corinth:

1 Corinthians 7 NIV - Concerning Married Life - Now for the - Bible Gateway

'"21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave."

All you can do is infer it from statements about love, and that has nothing at all to do with whether slavery is bad or not, and just begs the question. Why is slavery wrong?

Jesus showed how being a son is better to being a slave: "Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever." Many of the followers of Jesus, especially after the events of Acts 10 and 15, were poor and many were slaves to other people. However, they found hope and comfort in following Jesus! Now, Jesus did not advocate fighting. Jesus did not kill anybody or declare war on the Roman Empire that had many slaves under it. Rather, he advocated love, which is much more powerful and freeing!

Why would love and keeping slaves be contradictory? All your work is still ahead of you.

Love means giving and caring for another person more than for oneself. Because I love my husband, I serve him. Because he loves me, he serves me. We give to each other. Enslaving people however is not loving/giving/caring/serving those people, but rather is stealing from them their time, their bodies, and their freedom. Love and enslaving (keeping slaves) therefore is contradictory.

There are, on the other hand, many compelling secular humanist arguments for why slavery is immoral. Christianity can produce zero from its own canonical teachings.

The greatest "arguments" for why slavery is immoral in my opinion comes from the Golden Rule, which Jesus quotes, accounted in Luke 6:31: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Jesus, the Founder of Christianity, made enslaving others immoral to his obedient followers. How? Through common sense. I do not want to be enslaved, so I should not enslave others.

The Roman Empire continued to enslave people, and even later on when Constantine allegedly accepted "Christianity", he and the Roman Empire did not truly follow Jesus' teachings to love their enemies. I think that is why European countries did not understand this concept, due to the Roman Empire hijacking "Christianity" and putting their own spin to it... veering it completely away from Jesus' teachings.

However, eventually as some Christians begin to read the Bible again and understand through the Holy Spirit about Jesus' teachings to love and the Golden Rule, they who led the forefront of making slavery illegal in the UK, as well as in the USA. The Quakers were one of the main groups that took Jesus' teachings to love and to do others as you would have them do to you seriously. Other groups as well realized how important it is to not simply say one is a Christian, but rather to obey Jesus' teachings. Obeying Jesus' teachings is what makes a person truly a Christian; simply dubbing oneself one doesn't.

In the UK, William Wilberforce made the following comment, which is very important: "Is it not the great end of religion, and, in particular, the glory of Christianity, to extinguish the malignant passions; to curb the violence, to control the appetites, and to smooth the asperities of man; to make us compassionate and kind, and forgiving one to another; to make us good husbands, good fathers, good friends; and to render us active and useful in the discharge of the relative social and civil duties?"

William Wilberforce is one of my heroes, and I really appreciate how he worked so long and hard to make the slave trade illegal in his land. Another hero of mine is Elizabeth Heyrick, a Society of Friends lady who rightly dug deeper and wanted immediate abolition of slavery!

Elizabeth Heyrick : Biography

So to recap:

Jesus taught people to love (one's neighbor as oneself, each other, and their enemies) and the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do to you). Enslaving people however is not loving them, nor doing unto others what mentally healthy people would want done to them.

In Jesus' time, the Roman Empire was oppressing many nations, including his own: Israel. However, Jesus showed that he came to set people free from slavery to sin. Paul, a follower of Jesus, encouraged a brother in Christ to free his slave and see his slave as a brother, an equal, and not as a slaveanymore. He also encouraged slaves to get their freedom if they can, but if they can't to not let it trouble them.

Sadly, the Roman Empire and their enslaving people continued, even when Constantine allegedly became a Christian. Constantine did not obey Jesus' teaching to love his enemies.

Something to ponder:

While it would have been nice for Jesus and his followers to physically set the slaves of the Roman Empire free, I don't think the Roman Empire would have just said, "Ok!" Rather, I think they would have killed those who tried to free those enslaved to them. Ironically, many followers of Jesus were killed simply for the fact that they followed Jesus. Imagine how it would have been though if Jesus had ordered his apostles to take on the Roman Empire in a physical war! Jesus didn't order that though; he ordered his followers to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-37).

Many followers of Jesus were poor and were slaves, yet they found freedom in Christ Jesus, even when many were horribly tortured and murdered for following Christ Jesus. Their "crime" was not enslaving anybody, but rather following Jesus:

The Early Christians - Throwing Christians to the Lions: Fact and Legend

The following articles are very interesting:

Slavery in the Roman Empire

Slavery in Ancient Rome: Influence of Christianity.

Rome Exposed - Slavery

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/rome_and_christianity.htm

Jesus, the Founder of Christianity, did not encourage his followers to enslave people, but rather to serve people and to love.

Edited March 16, 2013 by BetheButterfly