The Seed Blog: Racism, Slavery & Scriptures

As a nation, we have come a long way in racism over the years, showing immense improvements in acceptance of interracial marriages, interracial neighborhoods, interracial schools, and other area of our culture. But to say that, in the recent past we have not seen a surge in racial tensions across the nation would be to put on blinders. You can argue whether this surge represents a change of attitude in the population, or a revealing of suppressed attitudes which are now surfacing more openly, or a media that has magnified tensions through a disproportionate focus on chosen stories; but the shift in attitude is real. (CNN report) Much of the racism in this country has at least one root deeply embedded in the dark pages of this Country's slavery years, where millions of African-Americans were taken from their homes and families, and sold as slaves in this Nation. How this influences prejudice and racism we will discuss later, but I want to start with one extremely important point for everyone here first: Both sides of the American Civil War proclaimed that God was on their side; both had large numbers of professing Christians, and though the War was about so much more than slavery, each side justified their stance on slavery, even in their faith. Before addressing racism, we must address the truth of this terrible accusation first. At this very moment in time, there are more people living in slavery than ever in history (over 29 million people who are victim to slavery in human trafficking for sex, forced labor and other reasons) Would you seriously follow a god that was OK with these atrocities? Are you ok with others accusing our God of approving of, and commanding these behaviors?

1. The term "Slave" in our translation, often has a very different meaning in Scriptures; "Slavery", as talked of in the Mosaic Law of the OT, was never about race or nationality, but of servitude brought by social need. Exodus 21:1-2, Leviticus 25:35-41. The Hebrews had just been set free from the oppression of slavery in Egypt; so this was not another form of slavery they had just left, but voluntary servitude to pay off a debt that could not be paid. You, “sold yourself” as a servant only if you were extremely poor and went into servitude for security (destitute); you were bankrupt, and unable to pay your creditor; you were a thief, making restitution. Exodus 21 specifies that if the servant is hurt by the owner, the servant must be set free; if killed, owner avenged(death). Similar to indentured servants, who would give themselves to early settlers of America for a period of 4 to 7 years, in exchange for paid passage to America, food, clothes and shelter; similar to a military contract today, where you give up certain rights to serve the military for a set time of your life. Notice for the Hebrew, even here there was never an allowance for this to be a permanent situation, unless the servant chose to be there by happiness and security; there was no room left for manipulation, or power to force continued extensions of this servitude, no matter what happened, that person's debt was free after 6 years. This was not the horrific slavery as was forced on African Americans, but a helpful part of the Hebrew social structure which promoted accountability and support for the destitute.
2. The Bible is an open, honest Book that tells us exactly what happened; there is no sugar-coating for those that messed up (Bbcause the stories are there for us to learn and be motivated); therefore, be careful to distinguish between what Scriptures simply tell us happened, from what Scriptures allow and command. There are a couple of kings who later tried to enforce slavery, against Scripture (Solomon & Rehoboam, his son). Scriptures say these kings fell from favor with God and followed after evil. (1 Kings 11:6, 2 Chronicles 12:14)
3. The slave situation in the NT was not instituted by the Hebrews, but was simply a culture they were part of because of the ruling government. This system had slaves of all kinds, from every social level (ranging even from doctors and lawyers, to simple laborers). The Apostles of the NT, did not in any way condone slavery, but gave laws to those Christians living in the reality of the world of slavery (some working as slaves, some being converted while owning slaves, sitting in house churches, slaves and free together. If slaves, told to be good to masters, God’s goal is to love fellow men and win them to Christ, even in hardship. If masters, be good and fair to servants, representing Christ. Freedom would either hurt them or put them under another yoke that could be worse. So, we see that Scriptures never taught anything resembling slavery as was justified by the, "Christians" of early America.
4. Scriptures taught the total opposite: look at God's stance on any servitude or racism based upon skin and nationality: Genesis 1:27, Acts 17:26. Look at God's attitude towards stealing or kidnapping any man, of any race or culture, for slavery. Scriptures not only deal with the attitude behind what happened to those 11-12 million African Americans, but Scriptures speak directly to the exact despicable practice used to run that type of trade: 1 Timothy 1:8-10. Exodus 21:16: this Scripture directly deals with slavery of America. We cannot judge Jesus Christ and the Bible by the actions of those that say they follow His Words, these horrific things were done, either in ignorance or manipulation of God's Word.
5. Lastly, realize that it was real, Biblical Christians who had God's Word in Truth, and love in their hearts that led the fight to abolish slavery in modern times. (John Wesley) Wesley devoted his life, to the extent of ignoring other interests, and in failing health to the ending of slavery. He died just three days after hearing that the Act was to be passed through Parliament.

**Don't ever believe anything written or spoken about Scriptures supporting slavery; they are either uninformed, or they have deceptive motives in saying such things. Every slave trader and purchaser who owned a stolen man was in direct opposition to Scriptures.**
A very disturbing truth about racism, discrimination and slavery is that it is often justified because one feels superior to another person, and/or because one may feel no accountability for anything they do. If you feel a certain race or culture are beneath you, then it is much easier to villainize them or justify your evils against them. There is no, "religion" of origins that more powerfully teaches superiority of one race over another than Evolution. (Charles Darwin, Origin of Species…) In WWII, Hitler's plan to exterminate so many people were based upon his belief that the German (or Aryan) race was superior in their evolution to other races!  (The Master Race); Thereby they had the right to exterminate the very low ranking races, and rule over, and enslave, other medium ranking races. Karl Marx, whose Marxist-inspired governments killed millions, was so effected by the book, Origin of Species, that he sent a personally inscribed copy of his own recently published second edition of Das Kapital to Darwin in 1873. Some of the greatest evils done in the past century, have been unduly justified by the idea that all races are different, and competing for the next step of evolution, still underlying today. God's Word, for 5000 years has said nothing but, "Men and women of all races are created equally, as one blood, through one man and woman.” Which is seen as more accurate today? These scientific theories of race from the recent past, or the declaration of God's Word from the ancient past? Michael Hadjiargyrou, is the chair of the Department of Life Sciences at the New York Institute of Technology, recently wrote an article in Live Science, that explains the findings of modern molecular biology, as they relate to the different races of man. People have used, abused, misrepresented, and manipulated God's Word in their own plans for centuries, but it is especially appalling when God Himself takes such joy in creating His people; such humility and pain in leaving Heaven and becoming One of them; such love to be torn apart, tortured, rejected and hated to save them—only to be used as a reason to ever be prejudice or hurtful to even one of them. Romans 2:11, Galatians 3:26-28, Acts 17:26. It was God who decided that all of these nations and tribes, made from one blood, were a beautiful and perfect creation. this perfect, and beautiful design will not change when we reach the other side of heaven. Revelation 21:22-26, Revelation 7:9-10. All nations, tribes, peoples and tongues: therefore, if you even feel that one group of people or tongue are beneath you, irritating, unworthy, you have tried to take away from God's Eternal Kingdom; you have called unworthy, what the King of the universe died to make worthy. Never let anyone tell you the Word of God teaches it is ok to enslave, mistreat, or hold prejudices against any Tribe or Tongue on this earth. Mark 16:15.