| The CROWN of CHRIST - Understanding the Times in the Light of Scripture |
| The CROWN of CHRIST - Understanding the Times in the Light of Scripture |
ARCHIVE - Aug 15, 2008
Race relations, the Bible
and American Slavery
Race relations, the Bible
and American Slavery
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It is an old tactic of pagans and apostates - lately revived by the "new
atheists" like Richard Dawkins - to assume Christian morals in order to slander
Christianity. For example, they will complain that the Bible "supports slavery" or
some other discredited practice, which we all find revolting and agree is "obviously
wrong".
Right up front, one has a right to ask how slavery could possibly be wrong if
atheism and evolution are true. Perhaps the fit survive by enslaving the
less-favoured races, to use Darwin's terms. Romantic cynics like Mr. Dawkins tell
us that they "don't need the Bible to tell them that murder, stealing and adultery
are wrong". But we should not be fooled. The deluded Darwinians hold ethical
positions strikingly similar to those of the Bible precisely because they grew up in
post-Christian cultures, and sentimentally cling to the mores of their parents.
Murder is not obviously wrong for Hindu widow-burners, Nazi anti-Semites or our
own abortionists.
Nor has slavery been a manifest evil for most societies of the past or present.
However, to state without qualification that "the Bible supports slavery" is
analogous to declaring that "evolutionism condemns birth-control", since so many
Darwinists so regularly insist that all creatures are constantly trying to have as
many offspring as possible. We must see past childish generalizations and
examine specifics. What sort of slavery does the Bible support? How can our
modern prisons and factories staffed with undocumented immigrants avoid
categorization as some form of slavery? Are slavery and racism in fact inseparable
things?
In 1802, Reformed Presbyterian pastor Alexander M'Leod answered many of
these questions in his historically important book Negro Slavery Unjustifiable. His
thoroughly Biblical perspective, summarized below, will surprise most modern
readers.
It is wrong to hold slaves forever, because the Bible says that kidnapping and
slave-trading are crimes worthy of death. 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
...the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient -
for man stealers - and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound
doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:9
It is not wrong for someone to be temporarily enslaved because his insanity,
crimes or debts demand it. But American permanent slavery of Africans was sinful.
1. Perpetual slavery violated a human being's natural right to freedom.
2. Perpetual slavery was absurd. If Europeans have a right to enslave Africans,
then Africans have a right to enslave Europeans; "right" becomes nothing more
than force.
3. Perpetual slavery was against the general teachings of the Bible.
a. All human beings are cousins - children of Adam and Eve created in
God's Image. God has made of one blood all the nations of men to
dwell on all the face of the earth... Acts 17:26
b. The "golden rule" teaches us that Whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them. Matthew 7:12 Is it safe
to assume that we would not wish to be enslaved?
4. Perpetual slavery violated four of the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20)
a. Slaves must violate the 5th commandment by ignoring their parents to
obey the master.
b. Slave-traders commited murder (against the 6th commandment) by
allowing many slaves to die on board filthy ships.
c. Masters stole from their slaves by paying them only food and clothing
when their labor was worth much more - breaking the 8th
commandment.
d. Masters acted out of covetousness, breaking the 10th commandment.
5. Perpetual slavery was opposed to the spirit of the gospel of God's
grace. All men are fallen sinners, yet God is so merciful that He
became a man to die for His people. Christians should love God
and their fellow man, but slave masters had no pity on their slaves.
Jesus preached liberty to the captive, and the opening of prison doors
to them who are bound. Isaiah 61:1
6. Perpetual slavery had horrible consequences.
a. It hardened the hearts of owners against their fellow human beings.
b. It dehumanized the slaves, stunting their education and character
development.
c. It encouraged sexual immorality between slaves and sexual
exploitation by masters.
d. Next came the death of family love, with a master looking at his own
mixed-race child not as flesh and blood, but as more livestock.
e. It brought God's judgement on our nation.
None of the objections raised in favor of slavery hold any water against this Biblical
teaching.
1. Some claimed that "white" Europeans are so mentally superior to wretched
"black" Africans that the blacks were better off as slaves. This claim is ridiculous -
but even if it were true, all simple-minded people have feelings and make choices.
Should we submit to be slaves to whoever is smarter than us?
2. Others actually insisted that Africans were so different from Europeans that
they must not be descendants of Adam and Eve; so we can rule them as mere
animals. However, human varieties had centuries to develop their distinct
characteristics. And if outward appearance means we are not related, where does
one stop? Might not every nation, tribe or people group have had their own "Adam
and Eve"?
3. Some appealed to the Bible, saying that blacks are descended from Ham, who
was cursed with slavery in Genesis 9:25-27. But this is incorrect in several
particulars. First, it is the children of Canaan, not of Ham, who were cursed.
Second, the Canaanites were not Africans. (Genesis 9:19) Third, the curse is
prophetic, not a duty! God predicted that Pharaoh would enslave the Israelites
(Genesis 15:13), but this did not justify the cruelty of Pharaoh! (compare Acts
2:23) Finally, the slave-holders were the descendants of Shem and the prophesy
was fulfilled three thousand years ago when the Israelites conquered Canaan.
American southerners are not Israel.
4. The most plausible defence of slavery was that God allowed it in Exodus
21:21. This is true, but not the whole truth. The Israelites had a three-part
slavery law. First of all, they could only own a fellow Israelite until he paid off
debts or repaid a theft. (Exodus 22:1-4). They could not treat these slaves
harshly (Leviticus 25:39-43) and had to set them free after six years (Exodus 21:2)
with financial assistance to begin a free life (Deuteronomy 15:12-15)! Secondly,
the Israelites could own people of other nations - but only on the same kind terms
as applied to their fellow Israelites. (Leviticus 24:20, 25:35) Thirdly, the
Canaanites were a special case. God ordered Israel to exterminate these vile
pagans; but in mercy He allowed them to live as slaves. And their masters were
not to treat them harshly. (Leviticus 25:44,45, Exodus 21:26) In any case, the
Israelites had no right to sail to distant lands and kidnap foreigners to sell into
perpetual slavery.
Slavery is, then, "supported" by the Bible. But not the kind of slavery that was
practiced in the United States prior to the civil war. From a Christian perspective,
slavery cannot be perpetual or linked to "race". In a godly society, a black man
could own a white man until the latter's debts were paid. The complex wisdom of
Biblical law will forever elude the attacks of unbelievers who attack their own
straw-men with simplistic slogans.
Scott Rocca
atheists" like Richard Dawkins - to assume Christian morals in order to slander
Christianity. For example, they will complain that the Bible "supports slavery" or
some other discredited practice, which we all find revolting and agree is "obviously
wrong".
Right up front, one has a right to ask how slavery could possibly be wrong if
atheism and evolution are true. Perhaps the fit survive by enslaving the
less-favoured races, to use Darwin's terms. Romantic cynics like Mr. Dawkins tell
us that they "don't need the Bible to tell them that murder, stealing and adultery
are wrong". But we should not be fooled. The deluded Darwinians hold ethical
positions strikingly similar to those of the Bible precisely because they grew up in
post-Christian cultures, and sentimentally cling to the mores of their parents.
Murder is not obviously wrong for Hindu widow-burners, Nazi anti-Semites or our
own abortionists.
Nor has slavery been a manifest evil for most societies of the past or present.
However, to state without qualification that "the Bible supports slavery" is
analogous to declaring that "evolutionism condemns birth-control", since so many
Darwinists so regularly insist that all creatures are constantly trying to have as
many offspring as possible. We must see past childish generalizations and
examine specifics. What sort of slavery does the Bible support? How can our
modern prisons and factories staffed with undocumented immigrants avoid
categorization as some form of slavery? Are slavery and racism in fact inseparable
things?
In 1802, Reformed Presbyterian pastor Alexander M'Leod answered many of
these questions in his historically important book Negro Slavery Unjustifiable. His
thoroughly Biblical perspective, summarized below, will surprise most modern
readers.
It is wrong to hold slaves forever, because the Bible says that kidnapping and
slave-trading are crimes worthy of death. 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
...the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient -
for man stealers - and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound
doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:9
It is not wrong for someone to be temporarily enslaved because his insanity,
crimes or debts demand it. But American permanent slavery of Africans was sinful.
1. Perpetual slavery violated a human being's natural right to freedom.
2. Perpetual slavery was absurd. If Europeans have a right to enslave Africans,
then Africans have a right to enslave Europeans; "right" becomes nothing more
than force.
3. Perpetual slavery was against the general teachings of the Bible.
a. All human beings are cousins - children of Adam and Eve created in
God's Image. God has made of one blood all the nations of men to
dwell on all the face of the earth... Acts 17:26
b. The "golden rule" teaches us that Whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them. Matthew 7:12 Is it safe
to assume that we would not wish to be enslaved?
4. Perpetual slavery violated four of the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20)
a. Slaves must violate the 5th commandment by ignoring their parents to
obey the master.
b. Slave-traders commited murder (against the 6th commandment) by
allowing many slaves to die on board filthy ships.
c. Masters stole from their slaves by paying them only food and clothing
when their labor was worth much more - breaking the 8th
commandment.
d. Masters acted out of covetousness, breaking the 10th commandment.
5. Perpetual slavery was opposed to the spirit of the gospel of God's
grace. All men are fallen sinners, yet God is so merciful that He
became a man to die for His people. Christians should love God
and their fellow man, but slave masters had no pity on their slaves.
Jesus preached liberty to the captive, and the opening of prison doors
to them who are bound. Isaiah 61:1
6. Perpetual slavery had horrible consequences.
a. It hardened the hearts of owners against their fellow human beings.
b. It dehumanized the slaves, stunting their education and character
development.
c. It encouraged sexual immorality between slaves and sexual
exploitation by masters.
d. Next came the death of family love, with a master looking at his own
mixed-race child not as flesh and blood, but as more livestock.
e. It brought God's judgement on our nation.
None of the objections raised in favor of slavery hold any water against this Biblical
teaching.
1. Some claimed that "white" Europeans are so mentally superior to wretched
"black" Africans that the blacks were better off as slaves. This claim is ridiculous -
but even if it were true, all simple-minded people have feelings and make choices.
Should we submit to be slaves to whoever is smarter than us?
2. Others actually insisted that Africans were so different from Europeans that
they must not be descendants of Adam and Eve; so we can rule them as mere
animals. However, human varieties had centuries to develop their distinct
characteristics. And if outward appearance means we are not related, where does
one stop? Might not every nation, tribe or people group have had their own "Adam
and Eve"?
3. Some appealed to the Bible, saying that blacks are descended from Ham, who
was cursed with slavery in Genesis 9:25-27. But this is incorrect in several
particulars. First, it is the children of Canaan, not of Ham, who were cursed.
Second, the Canaanites were not Africans. (Genesis 9:19) Third, the curse is
prophetic, not a duty! God predicted that Pharaoh would enslave the Israelites
(Genesis 15:13), but this did not justify the cruelty of Pharaoh! (compare Acts
2:23) Finally, the slave-holders were the descendants of Shem and the prophesy
was fulfilled three thousand years ago when the Israelites conquered Canaan.
American southerners are not Israel.
4. The most plausible defence of slavery was that God allowed it in Exodus
21:21. This is true, but not the whole truth. The Israelites had a three-part
slavery law. First of all, they could only own a fellow Israelite until he paid off
debts or repaid a theft. (Exodus 22:1-4). They could not treat these slaves
harshly (Leviticus 25:39-43) and had to set them free after six years (Exodus 21:2)
with financial assistance to begin a free life (Deuteronomy 15:12-15)! Secondly,
the Israelites could own people of other nations - but only on the same kind terms
as applied to their fellow Israelites. (Leviticus 24:20, 25:35) Thirdly, the
Canaanites were a special case. God ordered Israel to exterminate these vile
pagans; but in mercy He allowed them to live as slaves. And their masters were
not to treat them harshly. (Leviticus 25:44,45, Exodus 21:26) In any case, the
Israelites had no right to sail to distant lands and kidnap foreigners to sell into
perpetual slavery.
Slavery is, then, "supported" by the Bible. But not the kind of slavery that was
practiced in the United States prior to the civil war. From a Christian perspective,
slavery cannot be perpetual or linked to "race". In a godly society, a black man
could own a white man until the latter's debts were paid. The complex wisdom of
Biblical law will forever elude the attacks of unbelievers who attack their own
straw-men with simplistic slogans.
Scott Rocca
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