Tony Taylor

So every time I attend an atheist/agnostic meeting on my college campus someone almost always question the character of God because of the biblical institution of slavery. Personally I think these are inquiries that non-Christians have a right to question especially since we firmly believe that we serve an infinite loving and merciful God. I also believe that Christians themselves should openly question their God regarding this issue, and even so I am disappointed at the responses that these Christians give whenever questioned by non-religious people on biblical slavery, many of which indicate our own lack of insight on the topic. And while I myself don’t claim to have all the answers nor can I satisfy everyone’s conscience on the issue, I will attempt to reveal the logic in my conclusions that I have drawn through careful research. (“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have” –1 Peter 3:15)

Let’s first begin by stating the obvious; yes slavery is permitted in the Bible, and not only so but God himself ordains laws that manage the institution. So what exactly is ok and what is not? For one let’s clarify something; the actions that took place during the African Slave Trade a few centuries ago were strictly prohibited under Mosaic Law. If the Israelites took any man, foreigner or citizen and sold him as a slave he was to be punished by death. Ex 21:16 “Anyone who kidnaps another and either sells him or still has him when he is caught must be put to death.” Now what was allowed is this; anyone who owed a debt or for any other reason could sell himself into slavery. If this person is a fellow Hebrew, slavery was to only last for seven years then he is to be freed -Deuteronomy 15:12. The Israelites were also permitted to buy slaves from foreign nations, and these men were to be servants for life -Leviticus 25:44-46. On the surface this may make God seem partial to justice but in just a bit we will carefully analyze this. Before that though let’s take a look at how slaves should be treated. For one it is very clear that God expects his people to treat all their slaves with respect and dignity; fellow Israelite or foreigner. He demands this of them by appealing to their own oppressive conditions in Egypt, Dt 10:19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt……….. Dt 15:13 And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. Dt 15:14 Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. Dt 15:15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today." Now there are those individuals who will combat me on this "human treatment" conclusion by quoting Exodus 21:20 “If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.” And while this is a tough verse to comprehend it is to be understood in the same context as the discipline of a child. Just as we as parents at times must discipline our children for wrong doing so also the slave master must discipline his slaves. If this was meant to justify inhumane treatment of property Paul would have no reason to say, Eph 6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Eph 6:6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
Eph 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, Eph 6:8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Eph 6:9 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 back to an earlier issue. Why is God allowing the Israelites to keep foreign slaves for life and only fellow Israelites for seven years? “Lev. 25:44 As for your male and female slaves whom you may have you may acquire them from the pagan nations that are around you…..you can use them as permanent slaves.” This verse is by far the longest one I have struggled with, and after careful deliberation and prayer I have reached a logical end. So now I want everyone who is reading this to do me a favor. Pretend that you lived in the Middle East around the 12th century B.C. Now imagine that you are kidnapped and is about to be sold into slavery, the individuals who took you captive gives you an option, he could either sell you to a master in Egypt or to someone in Israel. Which will you choose? Would you go to Egypt where there is no divine laws given to protect your humanity or would you decide to go to Israel where their God has commanded to love you and treaty you humanely and you are also guaranteed a Sabbath's rest. (Exodus 20:8) But what was the point of being a slave for life? God in his infinite wisdom knew that eventually these people would become integrated into Israelite society (such as the Hittites, 2 Chronicles 8:7-8) thus becoming heirs to the promise. Notice how the text calls them the pagan nations; which do not have knowledge of the one true God. So as long as these people were among these nations they were already slaves, slaves to sin -Romans 7:14. So now it becomes clear that this command was actually meant as a righteous blessing to these foreigners not a curse. God himself wanted as many individuals as possible to share in his promise, even the aliens.

I hope that this satisfies the many questions others may have on this topic. Still though some of you may be wondering, if God is so just why doesn’t he prohibit slavery all together? Why does he have to give laws regarding it? Well for one, remember that just because God allows something doesn’t mean it is part of His original plan or that He doesn’t like it. Take for example divorce, we are told in the book of Malachi where God explicitly states, “I hate divorce” but it is something that he allows because of the hardening of men’s heart -Matt. 19:8. Or take David, God himself gave him many victories in wars but yet when it came time for David to build God a temple He says, “But the LORD told me that I had killed too many people and fought too many wars. And so, because of all the bloodshed I have caused, he would not let me build a temple for him. -1 Chronicles 22:8“ So even though we know that God allowed war and gave David victories he makes it clear that he is overall displeased by bloodshed and prefer times of peace.

While the above may be satisfactory to some and not to others, let’s keep in mind that reason can only go so far. Some things we must accept on faith. And like I stated earlier I don’t have all the answers, and until I myself grow in full knowledge of God only faith can fill in those empty voids where reason cannot. I pray that we all come to realize that at the end of the day God is just in everything, though life may seem to impact us from the complete opposite end, or when we struggle with troubling scriptures, or even when it seems prayer is taken in vain; We must always know we have a righteous Father in Heaven, the true Overseer of our souls.