It’s worth noting that many of the verses tweeted below have nothing to do with modern day slavery that’s founded upon racism and man stealing.

Much of the slavery mentioned in Scripture is about economics. https://twitter.com/lungamrhetjha/status/1360357481797541894

People often sold themselves into slavery (indentured servanthood) to pay off debts.

This type of slavery is vastly different from “man-stealing,” a practice which is loudly condemned in Scripture:

“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.”

- Exodus 21:16

The Atlantic Slave Trade that brought Africans to the Americas, was man-stealing.

The Bible doesn’t condone this (1 Timothy 1:10).

With this in mind, it’s easier to process the fact that Scripture neither condones indentured servanthood as it likewise doesn’t condemn it.

Scripture simply addresses how these servants or “slaves” should be treated (Deuteronomy 15:12-15, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 4:1, etc.)

Nevertheless, a Gospel minded believer should understand that the point of the Bible was never to reform society.

It was always to tell the story of Jesus and His offered salvation.

Scripture addresses issues from the inside out—beginning with the heart.

The logic follows in that if people receive the Gospel, hearts will be changed to see that enslaving other humans against their will is wrong.

This is why the NT has more to say about receiving Jesus than it does condemning the practice of man stealing.

If you receive Jesus, it’ll change the way you relate to other people (in a meaningful, eternal, and God glorifying way).

This is what the entire book of Philemon is about.

This is God’s heart concerning all societal endeavors.