Stacks of confusions

Several months ago while researching the potential link between genetics and homosexuality (for a conversation held at that time) I came across a site claiming to list the pros and cons of homosexuality from a "neutral position". A neutral position is virtually impossible, but in all honesty the site was mainly free from personal opinions and listed many statements from both camps. While the site proved to be useful to me in responding that no known link has been found that commits a person to such a disposition; it made one glaring mistake on a completely separate (yet utterly important) topic. That of slavery and the use of the bible.

You might be thinking, "Why speak about slavery and the bibles worth when talking about Homosexuality?" A very good question and instead of explaining it I will just quote the site, which is itself quoting another source. "Where the Bible mentions homosexual behavior at all, it clearly condemns it. I freely grant that. The issue is precisely whether that Biblical judgment is correct. The Bible sanctioned slavery as well, and nowhere attacked it as unjust. Are we prepared to argue today that slavery is biblically justified?" This was the sites "Christian angle" on the topic of homosexuality and it couldn't have made a worse stand from a Christian perspective. I wrote to them twice trying to provide reason to change it. Appealing to their desire for accuracy and sense of duty in being correct as well as "neutral". Last time I checked nothing has been changed. I had sent them material written by more professional persons than myself and was ignored.

At any rate my beef here is not about homosexuality, but about biblical slavery. Their are many reasons why the above quote is wrong and in many ways, but as for this post I am concerned with biblical slavery. Here are a few reasons why the quote is mistaken in the view it presents, that the bible condones slavery:

1. Slaves under Mosaic Law were different from the harshly treated slaves of other societies, more like servants or bondservants than what we consider the harshly treated slaves of the past several hundred years.

2. The Bible doesn’t give an endorsement of slave traders, but the just opposite (1 Timothy 1:10). A slave/bondservant was acquired when a person voluntarily entered into it when he needed to pay off his debts.

3. As with many things, the Bible recognizes that slavery is a reality in this sin-cursed world and doesn’t ignore it, but instead gives regulations for good treatment by both masters and servants and reveals they are equal under Christ.

4. Israelites could sell themselves as a slave/bondservant to have their debts covered, make a wage, have housing and be set free after six years. Foreigners could sell themselves as a slave/bondservant as well.

5. Biblical Christians led the fight to abolish slavery.

An article I sent to them:
Answers in Genesis: Slavery