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DOES THE BIBLE SUPPORT SLAVERY?
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Some critics argue that the Bible supports slavery, therefore, it is not ethical. Ginagamit nilang basehan ang mga instructions about slavery sa Mosaic Law (found in the first five books of the Bible) pati na rin sa epistles sa New Testament (Eph 6:5-9; Col 4:1; etc) para patunayan na hindi against ang Biblia sa gawaing ito. Madalas ding gawin nilang halimbawa ang pagkakaroon ng mga alipin sa Bible para sabihin na hindi makatao ang tinuturo nito. How do we respond to these accusations? This issue was already addressed in countless ways. I-discuss lang natin ngayon ang ilang mga punto:
DESCRIPTIVE VERSUS PRESCRIPTIVE. Hindi natin matatanggi na may mga passages na naglalahad ng realidad patungkol sa slavery pero hindi makatwiran na i-assume na ina-approve ng Diyos o ng Biblia ang gawaing ito. The passages only record (descriptive) the practice but never promote (prescriptive) it. No biblical text endorses slavery. The Bible faithfully records the identity of Hagar, the slave of Sarah (Gen 16:1), but it in no way instructs the readers to get their own slaves. The Bible also narrates Joseph being sold into slavery (Gen 37:28), but the story doesn’t promote human trafficking.
IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. The Bible is consistent in teaching the truth that every human being is valuable. From the start, the Bible declares that all people are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). In the New Testament, it was affirmed by saying that everyone came from God (Acts 17:26, 29) and that God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:28; 34; Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9). Ang mga early opponents ng slavery ay pinanghahawakan din ang katotohanan na ito. Dahil ang lahat ng tao ay nilikha sa imahe ng DIyos, hindi tama na ituring ang kahit sino na “property” lamang.
CONCESSIONS OVER THE IDEAL. God’s instructions in the Mosaic Law rarely reflect God’s ideal (perfect) will. Ang mga utos Niya patungkol sa mga handog at mga alay ay hindi nangangahulugan na sapat ang mga ito para mapatawad ang kasalanan ng mga tao. “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Heb 10:4). Only the sacrifice of Christ can take away sin pero for the meantime, pinagbigyan ng Diyos ang mga paghahandog ng tao at Siya pa ang nagbigay ng utos kung paano ito gagawin. God’s ideal standard is for husband and wife not to be separated (Mk 10:9) pero binigay ng Diyos ang instruction about divorce in Deut 24:1-4 para pagbigyan ang katigasan ng ulo ng mga tao. As Jesus said, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.” (Mk 10:5). By giving these laws, God chose to limit sin rather than prohibit it all together.
The practice of slavery was already an established system even before the Bible was written. God’s instructions through Moses made it more humane than abolishing it all at once. Ang isang kapwa Israelita ay hindi maaring maging permanenteng alipin (Deut 15:12). May utos din na dapat kupkupin ang mga alipin na tumakas sa kanilang mga amo (Deut 23:15). Slaves also must not be maltreated (Ex 21:20, 26). Sa NT, mas makikita ang ideal will ng Diyos patungkol dito. Paul and Peter urged slaves to be obedient to their masters (Eph 6:5; Titus 2:9; 1 Pet 2:18), hindi dahil pabor sila sa slavery pero dahil ganito na ang normal na sitwasyon sa panahon nila. Hindi naman gano’n kadali na baguhin bigla kung ano na ang nakasanayan ng lahat. Paul commanded the masters to treat their slaves justly and fairly, knowing that they also have a Master in heaven (Col 4:1). Sabi pa niya,“Masters, do the same to them” (Eph 6:9), in other words, just how the slaves serve them, they are also to serve the slaves (read v.5-8), for they must submit to one another (Eph 5:21). Makikita rito kung paano nire-reverse paunti-unti ng NT ang sistema noon! All social classes are broken down through Christ; “There is neither slave nor free… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28). Kaya maiintindihan natin bakit sinabihan ni Paul si Philemon na tanggapin ang tumakas niyang alipin na si Onesimus bilang kapatid (Philemon v.16).
Question: If Christianity is against slavery, bakit hindi mababasa sa mga letters ni Paul ang pagtuligsa sa practice na ito? Sa panahon ng NT, hindi naman isang mabigat na issue ang slavery kaya halos wala namang lumalaban para i-abolish ito. Most slaves were household slaves at madalas na may mas mataas na antas sila ng pamumuhay kumpara sa mga pangkaraniwang tao. May pagkakataon din silang yumaman at marami sa kanila ay nagiging malaya rin naman sa katagalan. Household slavery then was still an unjust system but it is not similar to the typical forms of slavery in America or some parts of the world. Kung gusto ni Paul na ipa-abolish ang sistemang ito, dadalhin niya ang isyu sa may mga katungkulan sa lipunan at hindi natin maasahan na isulat niya ito sa kanyang mga personal letters na may mga amo at alipin na readers.
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Though the Bible does not support slavery, it does not deny that every believer is a slave of Christ. “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” (Rom 6:22). Obviously, this is another issue.
CTTO
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Some critics argue that the Bible supports slavery, therefore, it is not ethical. Ginagamit nilang basehan ang mga instructions about slavery sa Mosaic Law (found in the first five books of the Bible) pati na rin sa epistles sa New Testament (Eph 6:5-9; Col 4:1; etc) para patunayan na hindi against ang Biblia sa gawaing ito. Madalas ding gawin nilang halimbawa ang pagkakaroon ng mga alipin sa Bible para sabihin na hindi makatao ang tinuturo nito. How do we respond to these accusations? This issue was already addressed in countless ways. I-discuss lang natin ngayon ang ilang mga punto:
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Though the Bible does not support slavery, it does not deny that every believer is a slave of Christ. “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” (Rom 6:22). Obviously, this is another issue.
CTTO
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