Originally Posted by
Smitty
It appears I offended you, and for that I apologize. For a lot of people, especially on a largely right-wing website, being a Christian is just another part of growing up in a Christian culture. I guess it's more serious than that with you, which is great.
But I maintain my position. A moral system has to have a source. Otherwise, it carries no weight. Christians typically point to the Bible, being the written Word of God, as their authority. It is untenable to hold to one part while rejecting another. Your argument is flawed for several reasons:
1. The Bible doesn't command slavery anywhere. It merely permits it.
2. Nearly all Christians agree, with good reason, that we are no longer in the Israelite kingdom, which is why biblical commands to kill the Canaanites do not apply today.
3. A moral permission (i.e., the moral right to hold chattel slaves) is absolute. What is wrong in one era must be wrong in another, unless God has changed His requirements of us, as with incest, for example. He never rescinded His permission to own slaves.
4. But point #3 is unnecessary to make because the New Testament is in agreement with the Old on this point. Paul also tacitly permits slavery when he commands slaveowners to be good to their slaves. If it were morally wrong and a jeopardy to the Christian's eternal reward, surely Paul, speaking for God, would have told us. And how can we believe Paul when he tells us how to receive the salvation of our souls, if what he says on the subject of slavery is evil and abhorrent? And to what authority do we appeal in contradicting him?
Lastly, I will deign to defend myself, although it chafes me to soothe people's modern sensibilities. I do not "support" slavery, nor do I care to bring it back. The West decided for good enough reasons to do away with it. Also, if you knew me, you would know that I would be among the last to enslave, buy, or hold another person. So everybody can calm down.
I'm done with this discussion. You can reply if you want to, but I am stepping out.
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