What does God knows that you detest slavery but it is an existing evil and you must endure it and give it such protection as is guaranteed by the Constitution mean?

Answer 1

I am not sure if this is a question or a protest, and will respond to it as both. The typical practice of modern slavery was already much in deleterious contrast to that which was regulated under the Old Testament (and in which, some accommodation of the hardness of man's hearts was allowed: cf. Mk. 10:1-19), and which was superior to the culture that God was separating them from. Please see this link for a fuller examination of issue for slavery: http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qnoslave.html.

However, Israel soon rebelled against God's good laws, and whatever further progress could have been made was prevented.

Under the New Testament, the primitive church as a model organic community had no slavery (Acts 2:41-47), but it grew within a society in which Christians had little to no political power to change laws and were in fact persecuted, and opposition would have made it worse for the slaves. But while slavery as an economic practice was tolerated (and keeping one servicefully employed is needful, and is better than indolence or poverty), it was required of Masters, "give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven" (Col. 4:1), and mistreatment was forbidden (Eph. 6:9), and even the escaped slave Onesimus was to be treated as a brother, not a servant, if indeed he should be required back at all (Philemon v. 16). Moreover, slaves were encouraged to obtain freedom if they lawfully could get it (1Cor. 7:21).

Such requirements to masters to give unto slaves just and equal pay and good treatment in the fear of God, and to accept them as brothers - and all that such entails - effectively disemboweled classical slavery, and would reduce it to more of an employer - employee type relationship, with the liberty to obtain the freedom (which even non-Christian wives were allowed), as this what the apostle Paul exhorted (1 Cor. 7:21). And yet the outworking of the gospel would have it's fuller effect of freedom for all slaves in societies in which the evangelical church had more influence, as people got back to the Bible and realized the Great Awakening in the the 1800's. Such esulted in evangelical Christians being the driving force behind the abolition movement in America, while Christian William Wilberforce labored purposely to outlaw slavery in England. "American Christians took it upon themselves to reform society during this period. Known commonly as antebellum reform, this phenomenon includes reforms in temperance, women's rights, abolitionism, and a multitude of other questions and problems faced by society." (Wikipedia). See http://columba11.blogspot.com/2007/02/christianity-abolishes-slavery.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wilberforce http://answering-islam.org.uk/ReachOut/ckeener.html But the greater bondage, freedom from which is to be the primary concern of a true church, is that of bondage to sin, which finally will make one far more miserable than physical slavery. Ultimately, "sin will take you were you did not want to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay." And everyone serves something or someone. Jesus Christ, who served others selflessly and sinlessly day and night, and then took responsibility for our sins and paid for them with His own precious blood, and who now reigns in Heaven, is the only One that can set us free. And as was told slaves, "if thou mayest be made free, use it rather" (1Cor. 7:21). Give your sins and life to Him to died for you and rose again, and then follow Him. .