Some folks now days try to shame Christians into apologizing for their faith and their nation's past time. I recently ran into a fellow who was not afraid in the slightest to obnoxiously express his opinion that slavery is condoned and even encouraged in the Bible. As I held back some acid reflex that resulted from hearing the absurdity of this claim, he continued stating that the confederates in the Civil War were Christians who used the Bible to justify the continued enslavement of the African American people. The idea that this could be a main stream belief concerning the Scriptures and our nation's past time inspired me to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and create this article not just rebutting such claims but correcting and upholding the integrity of the Word of God and our nation's past time.
For starters lets examine my counterparts first claim that the Bible condones and even encourages slavery. I'll give my friend some credit and assume he has read the Bible, so my guess is that he is referring to 1st Peter 2:18-20. (For sake of space I will not type the verse word for word) These verses tell slaves to submit to their masters, even the harsh ones for it is commendable to bear unjust suffering to honor God! So here, Peter is telling slaves to work for God not their masters and if their masters treat them badly it is honorable for the slave is being persecuted for honoring Christ! So that is what the Bible says concerning slave behavior but how should the master's behave? My friend must not have read the rest of the Bible or just omitted the parts concerning slave masters. Colossians 4:1 gives us the guidelines on how masters should treat their slaves, this verse says "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a master in Heaven". So clearly Paul is telling us here that everyone has a master, even slave owners. So earthly masters should treat their slaves as Christ, our master, treated us, with what is right and fair. Also in Philemon Paul desperately pleads for love and compassion to be shown to a slave, Onesimus, that he may be treated as a dear brother in the Lord and no longer a slave. So the Bible is crystal clear when it comes to slavery. That Masters should treat their slaves with the respect, and love that Christ shows them, if not, then I would say that a slave is more than justified in fighting for his freedom. It is best summarized in this passage of scripture, Ephisians 6:5-9 "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ, Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him".
Now let us address my friend's second claim that the Confederates used the Bible to justify racial slavery. This is true, but it was an intentional misinterpretation, and misrepresentation of Scripture stemming from them cherry picking different verses to help their pro slavery agenda. Kind of like how the pro gay community tries to manipulate Scripture to support homosexual relationships. Frederick Douglass said it best concerning slave holders using and abusing Scripture to fit their opinions. Frederick said "I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slave holding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels." Mr. Douglass understood the Bible and clearly saw the pro slavery "Christians" as hypocrites, frauds, and liars. True Christianity is what inspired the abolitionist movement! Tens of Millions of Christians fought to end the practice of slavery BECAUSE OF THE BIBLE! Famous Christian abolitionists include: Ida B. Wells, Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Angelina Grimke and the list could go on forever going as far back as many Founding Fathers and going as far forward as Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement! These warriors for God ordained equality probably used many verses to drive their abolitionist views. Verses such as: Exodus 21:16 "Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper's possession." Or how about the whole book of Exodus where God rescues the Hebrews from racial inspired slavery! Honestly, Galatians 3:28 is enough to convince me to support equality, it says "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." That says it all right there, Christ created us all equally and any other view concerning humanity is a clear deviation from Scripture.
This was one of my lengthier posts, but I appreciate you muscling your way through it and hopefully absorbing every detail! The facts speak for themselves. Christianity doesn't condone forced slavery, it condemns it. Christianity didn't keep slaves in shackles, it inspired the Civil War to end it! Christianity is the only means in which we can achieve true equality, for we are all one in Christ.
