matt-ruins-feminisms-shit:

The Bible: “Servants obey your masters.”

Atheists: “See Christianity is pro-slavery!”

WalMart: “If an armed robber asks you to empty a register do what he asks.”

Nobody: “See WalMart is pro-armed robbery!”

Once again when interpreting ancient texts context is your friend. These verses on slavery are not condoning slavery they are providing practical advice for how to deal with the reality of slavery. The same way retail stores tell you to not try to bum rush an armed robber, servants are told to obey their masters…for their own benefit…not the masters. It’s saying don’t be a hero, it’s better for you in the long run if you are in your masters favour than if you are insolent. All that will get you is whipped…because slavery isn’t going away anytime soon unfortunately. And remember our ideas of slavery are very different than a biblical understanding of a servant. For example at one point a servant… because of being such a great servant…was considered the most powerful person in all of Egypt, above everyone except Pharaoh himself.