So there you have it. Was slavery a problem for Yahweh? No. Because it wasn't harsh. True Christians™ are no more harsh than the Lord God, King of Peace is Himself (which is to say, when it happens, it's for the best).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Ham, Creator of Creation Museum, Personal Thorn In Bill Nye's Side
[Biblical slaves] were paid something (Colossians 4:1) and were therefore in a state more akin to a Lifetime Employment Contract rather than “racial” slavery. Moreover, Paul gives clear instructions that Christian “masters” are to treat such people with respect and as equals. Their employment position did not affect their standing in the Church.
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I hope this settles any confusion people have when they visit our friendly forums and hear people take the Word of God seriously for the first time. We here at Landover Baptist Church do not advocate "Racial Slavery." Although the genetic element of servitude inherent in the race of the colored people is a natural choice for Lifetime Employers (Genesis 9:25), it doesn't mean one should be blamed and yelled at for Lifetime Employment Contracting an Asian girl, or Indonesian Houseboy, because we aren't harsh.
In fact, the LORD encourages the faithful to look to the heathen population for Lifetime Employment Contract opportunities (Leviticus 25:44-46). It turns out the American Indians are notoriously difficult to train, as they are far to inebriated to do much, but the Indians South of the Boarder do have lots of children, and when taken in young, they can be trained appropriately. There are lots of heathen immigrants to take advantage of God's Lifetime Employment Contract Plan from Eastern Europe as well.
We provide the practical costs of room and board, and teach the Gospel to our charges. And is it really more charitable to ignore the homeless wretch than to take him (or her) in as a child, train him up in the ways of the LORD (Proverbs 22:6), and give him the opportunity of a Lifetime Employment Contract at no cost to him?
So how do the members of Landover Baptist Church honor God's Word by Lifetime Employment Contracting people while maintaining a economic value? By following the Law as it was intended to be followed - as written - in the Holy Bible. God gives specific regulations for the treatment of Lifetime Employee Contracts.
If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters;
the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post;
and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
Exodus 21:2-6
In the event discipline takes a vigorous turn, there are certain regulations for the Lifetime Employer to employ to avoid legal hassles.
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
Exodus 21:20-21
We know the LORD is serious about this because it comes on the heels of the law that tells parents the importance of capital punishment for unruly children (Exodus 21:15).
As a bonus, as Ken Ham explains, God even honors the sanctity of Biblical marriage through the institution of Lifetime Employment Contract. If a Jewish father decided to sweeten a deal with a potential business partner, for example, or perhaps he owed a debt, he could sell his daughter to another man as a Lifetime Contracted Wife. If her husband does not find her sufficiently pleasing, she could be turned out and shunned by the community. Naysayers will consider this "human trafficking," but True Christians™ know that this deal proves the marriage contract between Lifetime Employee and Lifetime Employer was created to please God (see Malachi 2:14). If God approved of the girl leaving in six years, then the marriage was no longer consider part of the Lifetime Employee/Spousal
Contract Covenant. So God is clearly honoring the Sanctity of Marriage here (the girl would defer to her husband to know whether or not God approved, as Paul clarifies later; Colossians 3:18).
And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed:
to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
Exodus 21:7-8
God has a lovely and inspiring tradition of Lifetime Employment Contracts.
Sarah leading Hagar to Abraham to work out some Employer/Employee details (Genesis 16:1-2)
Joseph's brothers teach him the value of Lifetime Employment Contracts (Genesis 37:28)
Moses negotiates with the Pharaoh, the most prolific Contractor of Lifetime Employment (Exodus 9:1)