Historically, the Bible has been weaponized by people and movements to justify things God would not support. If you were currently a slave owner somewhere in the world, and you read and obeyed Colossians 4:1, would you have God’s approval for owning slaves? As long as you treat them justly and fairly, does God approve of you owning another individual? Should the slave think God approves of his status as someone’s personal property? In a strict sense this is biblical teaching. Through the lens of Christ, we realized that was specific instruction given in the time when a slave free society was impossible. The entire culture could not be immediately changed, so until then, Christian slaves and masters were to relate like brothers in Christ. Further “holy ammunition” came from a misinterpretation of Genesis 9. The story of Ham was twisted into a proof text, divinely ordaining Black people to servitude. The King James Version translators rendered the word “slave” as “servant” which softens things a bit. Southern pastors played a pivotal role in defending slavery from the pulpit, using scripture to proclaim slavery as a divinely sanctioned institution. These sermons were widespread, printed, and circulated to reinforce the moral legitimacy of slavery. Richard Furman, a prominent Baptist minister, wrote a letter to Governor John Lyde Wilson of South Carolina in 1823 on behalf of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, defending slavery from a religious and moral standpoint. This letter was titled Exposition of the Views of the Baptists Relative to the Colored Population of the United States. Here is a direct quote from Richard Furman’s letter defending slavery: “The right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example.” Arguments were made that this practice is biblical, but can it be defended through the lens of Christ? Granted this is an extreme example, but this principle of interpretation matters. It is CHRISTianity, not BIBLEism.
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