The RICHES OF GRACE
“hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11
Robert W. Reed
2019
Menstealers
“For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;” I Timothy 1:10
+ Slavery +
In this article, we will speak of the evil of slavery from a Biblical viewpoint and a Christian perspective. The question that should be asked concerning any issue should be, what does God have to say about this subject? The Scriptures should be our guide and final authority. As Christians, our hearts should always seek God’s will from God’s Word on every doctrine and practice. May we be led of the Holy Spirit on this matter, Amen.
“And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:16
“If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.” Deuteronomy 24:7
Let us consider the meaning of the word menstealers, then what the Old Testament has to say about slavery, and last we will recognize this truth in the New Testament.
THE MEANING OF MENSTEALERS
The word means kidnappers, enslavers, or slave-dealers, slave traders, one who unjustly reduces free men to slavery, or steals another to make him a slave. It is the worst of all thieves. The word menstealers comes from the Greek word andrapodistes, which means an enslaver, and bringing men to his feet. In the King James Bible, the word menstealers only appears once in a list of those for whom the law is intended. Here in I Timothy 1:10-11, menstealers are listed with those who shall not inherit the kingdom of God, such as the lawless, disobedient, ungodly, sinners, murderers, whoremongers, sodomites, and liars. Menstealers are those who steal men to sell them into bondage (Genesis 37:27; 40:15; Revelation 18:13).
THE OLD TESTAMENT AND SLAVERY
In Exodus 21:16, the Old Testament Scriptures are clear that it is a crime punishable by death to steal a man and sell into slavery, “And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.” This truth is repeated in Deuteronomy 24:7, “If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.” It is a fact of history that slavery has existed over the centuries throughout the world because of sinful man, war, racism, and poverty. God even allowed Israel to go into slavery to the Babylonians and Romans. Slavery existed in the Roman Empire in the day of our Savior and afterward. Even in America slavery existed for many years. The black man was kidnapped in Africa and sold into slavery. They were sold for labor in the new world. The slave trade existed in the North and South, and the civil war was probably God’s judgment for it.
In the Old Testament God regulated slavery and forbade the abuse of it. Ancient Israel was a theocracy with the Mosaic law code which would not be binding on the church today. There were different types of slavery in the Old Testament. There was a system of indentured servanthood for debt payment, or a thief to pay back what he had stolen. In general, the servanthood was temporal. There were other types and regulations in which we cannot cover in one article. But remember, God did not institute slavery which existed in a sinful world, but did regulate it, and forbade its abuse.
THE NEW TESTAMENT AND SLAVERY
According to I Timothy 1:10, slavery (menstealing) is evil to any society, and those who commit this sin shall not inherit the kingdom of God. In the first century, slavery existed. The New Testament mentions masters and slaves many times, (Colossian 3:22-4:1; Ephesians 6:5-9; I Timothy 1:10; 6:1-4; Titus 2:9-10; Philemon 10:21; I Corinthians 7:18-24; I Peter 2:18-21; Revelation 18:13). The Apostle Paul instructs both master’s and slaves of their duty to one another because they were members of the same church. A slave might even be a masters elder (that is, a bishop or deacon). Many slaves were saved in the Roman Empire and became a part of the church.
The church may not have been able to change the Roman Empire, but true reformation came through the gospel, changing hearts and actions of believers. Christianity never formed a revolt or revolution against slavery, but those nations that became truly Christian abolished slavery. The very principle of the Gospel brings redemption and freedom and eventually leads to emancipation. The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” We may also put it this way: don’t do to others what you don’t want to be done to you. In other words, if you don’t want to be a slave, don’t make someone else a slave. According to Colossians 3:10-11, there is neither bond nor free in Christ. In Galatians 3:28, in the church, there is equality: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” The Bible says in Acts 17:26, there is one blood, clearly showing that racial slavery is evil.
The Civil War that divided America was evil, and racial slavery did play a roll in the conflict. The most horrifying thing to me about the war was professing Christians killing each other. Not only is slavery wrong, but murder is contrary to Holy Scriptures. My heroes are not the Confederate or Union military leaders. My heroes are Jesus Christ and the Apostles.
CONCLUSION
As a Christian, I must stand for the truth that is in God’s Word. I also must stand against the philosophy of this evil world in which we live. Menstealing for slavery is a contradiction of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31
2019
Victory Baptist Church
Pastor Robert W. Reed
14473 Bellingrath Road
P.O. Box 257
Coden, Alabama 36523