There appear to be many individuals who seem to enjoy using slavery as a support crutch for whatever false cause they hold. This is especially true with regard to homosexuality. They claim that many texts have been "reinterpreted" in the case of slavery. However, this is a lie. The texts on slavery have never been reinterpreted because they cannot be reinterpreted. They say what they mean and mean what they say. Nowhere in the Bible will you find a text that condemns slavery. The Bible condemns the abuse of slaves, but nowhere condemns slavery itself. In fact, it was the Old Testament that first provided dignity for slaves (Ex. 21:1-11; Deut. 15:12-18). In the New Testament, Jesus never condemns slavery, nor do any of the other Apostles. In fact, it was Paul who wrote in regard to slaves and their masters the most, yet he never condemned it (Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:22-25; 1 Tim. 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-10; Phile. 1:10-21). Peter also briefly addressed slaves (1 Pet. 2:18-20).
You see, homosexuals attempt to relate slavery to homosexuality, but do so in error. The Bible is against homosexuality (Gen. 19:4-9; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Jud. 19:22-24; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10). It is not against slavery. A true related scenario to slavery would be a tyrannical husband, for both things have common ground: positive Scripture abused for personal purposes. Yes, the Bible commands wives to submit to their husband's authority as head of the home, but this is not a mindless slave-like submission. The Bible tells her to do so "as to the Lord" (Eph. 5:22). The other side of that is the command to husbands to "love your wives, as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25). Neither command is incumbent upon the other. The wife is not to submit only when her husband loves her, nor is the husband to love only when his wife submits. The commands are absolute whether or not the other deserves it or has earned it.
Likewise, slaves and masters are instructed how to act and treat each other. But remember, this is in regard to Christian slaves and Christian masters. The end result is that Christ is revealed and glorified. If a Christian slave has a master who is not Christian, he is to act in such a way toward him so as to glorify Christ. If a Christian master has slaves who are not Christian, he is to act in such a way toward them as to glorify Christ. You will find the same thing true with regard to husbands and wives (1 Cor. 7:12-16). By their conduct, the other might be won to Christ.
If you are rich enough to afford butlers or maids, you have slaves. The objection might be raised that butlers and maids are paid, but that objection is overruled as slaves in the Bible were not only provided for but sometimes paid, too. Having all your provisions met is the same as if you were paid for them, but you receive them freely. Rich people today who can afford butlers or maids or someone who serves in a slave capacity still mistreat their slaves (perhaps not nearly as bad as they once used to) while others treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve as human beings. Just because someone twists Scripture for their own perverted purposes does not mean the thing is wrong to begin with. Slavery in the Bible was not the same as the slavery of modern times. The period of slavery was limited to six years (Ex. 21:2). Slaves had rights and protection under the Law (Ex. 21:20). It was also possible for slaves to attain positions of power and honour (Gen. 24:2; 41:12).
Lastly, Christians are slaves of Christ Jesus. In many of Jesus' parables, God's people are likened to slaves (Matt. 24:45-51; 25:14-30; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 12:42-48; 14:16-24; 19:12-27; 20:9-18). In the New Testament, the Greek word for "slave" is δουλος, which can also be translated as "bond-servant" (bound to serve, i.e., slave). Romans 6:16-18 says, "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." Make no mistake about it, we are slaves to sin and the devil. Jesus said in John 8:34, "everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin." When we are freed from sin, we become "enslaved to God" (Rom. 6:22). Some Christians do not seem to like that terminology, but that is the truth of reality. The Bible clearly calls us slaves. Jesus, as our Master, gets to command us as He wills, and we are to obey. Jesus will not be your Saviour if He cannot be your Lord and be in control of all of your life.
ADDENDUM: Here is a list of Bible saints who explicitly identified themselves as slaves of God or Christ: the virgin Mary, Paul, James, Jude, and John. Peter said, "Live as slaves of God" (1 Peter 2:16). Paul wrote, "You have become slaves of God" (Romans 6:22). Jesus commanded his disciples to regard themselves as slaves of God (Luke 17:10).
The Bible affirms both our slavery and our sonship to God. It is utterly impossible to read the Bible, pay attention when you read it, and miss this point. We call God "Father" because we are his children, and "Lord" ("Master") because we are his slaves. God's fatherhood does not trump his lordship, and our sonship does not trump our servitude.
"Had the holding of slaves been a moral evil, it cannot be supposed, that the inspired Apostles ... would have tolerated it, for a moment, in the Christian Church. ...they would have enforced the law of Christ, and required, that the master should liberate his slave.... But, instead of this, they let the relationship remain untouched, as being lawful and right, and insist on the relative duties. In proving this subject justifiable by Scriptural authority, its morality is also proved; for the Divine Law never sanctions immoral actions. ... That the holding of slaves is justifiable by the doctrine and example contained in Holy writ; and is, therefore consistent with Christian uprightness, both in sentiment and conduct."The individuals who attempt to use slavery as their support crutch claim that the church was "morally blind" on the issue in the past and that presently those texts have been "reinterpreted" and objected against. Both the premise and the conclusion of these individuals is false. The church was never the leading party behind the mistreatment of slaves that occurred in Britain and the United States. No doubt there were "Christians" and common men who used the various passages in the Bible to their advantage, but they did so lop-sided, ignoring what the Scriptures say to the masters. A similar example would be a "Christian" or common man who uses the passages in the Bible regarding his wife's submission to his advantage.
—Richard Furman, "Exposition of the Views of the Baptists
Relative to the Coloured Population of the United States
in Communication to the Governor of South Carolina"
You see, homosexuals attempt to relate slavery to homosexuality, but do so in error. The Bible is against homosexuality (Gen. 19:4-9; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Jud. 19:22-24; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10). It is not against slavery. A true related scenario to slavery would be a tyrannical husband, for both things have common ground: positive Scripture abused for personal purposes. Yes, the Bible commands wives to submit to their husband's authority as head of the home, but this is not a mindless slave-like submission. The Bible tells her to do so "as to the Lord" (Eph. 5:22). The other side of that is the command to husbands to "love your wives, as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25). Neither command is incumbent upon the other. The wife is not to submit only when her husband loves her, nor is the husband to love only when his wife submits. The commands are absolute whether or not the other deserves it or has earned it.
Likewise, slaves and masters are instructed how to act and treat each other. But remember, this is in regard to Christian slaves and Christian masters. The end result is that Christ is revealed and glorified. If a Christian slave has a master who is not Christian, he is to act in such a way toward him so as to glorify Christ. If a Christian master has slaves who are not Christian, he is to act in such a way toward them as to glorify Christ. You will find the same thing true with regard to husbands and wives (1 Cor. 7:12-16). By their conduct, the other might be won to Christ.
If you are rich enough to afford butlers or maids, you have slaves. The objection might be raised that butlers and maids are paid, but that objection is overruled as slaves in the Bible were not only provided for but sometimes paid, too. Having all your provisions met is the same as if you were paid for them, but you receive them freely. Rich people today who can afford butlers or maids or someone who serves in a slave capacity still mistreat their slaves (perhaps not nearly as bad as they once used to) while others treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve as human beings. Just because someone twists Scripture for their own perverted purposes does not mean the thing is wrong to begin with. Slavery in the Bible was not the same as the slavery of modern times. The period of slavery was limited to six years (Ex. 21:2). Slaves had rights and protection under the Law (Ex. 21:20). It was also possible for slaves to attain positions of power and honour (Gen. 24:2; 41:12).
Lastly, Christians are slaves of Christ Jesus. In many of Jesus' parables, God's people are likened to slaves (Matt. 24:45-51; 25:14-30; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 12:42-48; 14:16-24; 19:12-27; 20:9-18). In the New Testament, the Greek word for "slave" is δουλος, which can also be translated as "bond-servant" (bound to serve, i.e., slave). Romans 6:16-18 says, "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." Make no mistake about it, we are slaves to sin and the devil. Jesus said in John 8:34, "everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin." When we are freed from sin, we become "enslaved to God" (Rom. 6:22). Some Christians do not seem to like that terminology, but that is the truth of reality. The Bible clearly calls us slaves. Jesus, as our Master, gets to command us as He wills, and we are to obey. Jesus will not be your Saviour if He cannot be your Lord and be in control of all of your life.
ADDENDUM: Here is a list of Bible saints who explicitly identified themselves as slaves of God or Christ: the virgin Mary, Paul, James, Jude, and John. Peter said, "Live as slaves of God" (1 Peter 2:16). Paul wrote, "You have become slaves of God" (Romans 6:22). Jesus commanded his disciples to regard themselves as slaves of God (Luke 17:10).
The Bible affirms both our slavery and our sonship to God. It is utterly impossible to read the Bible, pay attention when you read it, and miss this point. We call God "Father" because we are his children, and "Lord" ("Master") because we are his slaves. God's fatherhood does not trump his lordship, and our sonship does not trump our servitude.