In America, where race relations have been strained, to say the least, let me give a word on slavery. Of itself, slavery is not wrong, and believers are slaves of Christ, willingly (Rom 1:1; 2 Pet 1:1; Jude 1:1). He is a good Master. The Lord instructs masters to be fair and righteous in how they treat people, slaves included (Eph 6:9; Col 4:1). The bible never makes the slave to be less than the Master in terms of value; the slave is to be treated from the standpoint of mercy received, because the master has a Master in heaven.
Do not be ashamed of the bible. The problem isn’t slavery; it is hatred, lust, violence, and brutality practiced by the masters, instead of righteousness, love, and peace. Paul sent Onesimus BACK to Philemon, his believing master (Phile 1:12). God found Philemon a safe refuge for a child of God, to be under his care. He sees no problem with authority, even absolute authority, as the wife obeys the husband “in every thing“, but He does hold abuse, hatred, pride, and neglect of those under our care as crimes to be punished by the Judge.
If you have been put under a wicked ruler, God will avenge you, in due time. Don’t let his evil cause you to err. If you have a good master, boss, husband, parents, then thank God who cares for you through them. If you are in charge, remember your Creator, and deal with people how He treats you, lest you dishonor His name by abusing power, which He never does.
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