–– Tim Cantrell
The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
A recent BBC headline reads, “African and Caribbean nations call for formal apology for transatlantic slavery”. Here in South Africa, President Ramaphosa posts an article entitled, “Reparations must help to address Africa’s colonial legacy”, stating that “the wealth of former colonial powers today is the result of the deprivation of Africa’s people”.
Proposed curriculum changes in our schools ignore 5,000 years of African enslavement and focus only on 300 years of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, while excluding enormous Christian achievements in abolishing the slave trade. And then our rulers act surprised when there are angry mobs in the streets, fuelled by their sense of entitlement, following the example of resentful leaders?
What is a Christian response to all of this? What does God’s Word say about slavery and reparations? Since the Bible mentions slavery about 1,000 times, there’s no escaping this question if we are going to defend the integrity of Scripture and our Christian witness. Gay rights advocates use slavery in the Bible to justify gay marriage; egalitarians use it to defend female pastors.
Why is there no explicit 11th Commandment, “Thou shalt not have slaves”? Why does Scripture seem to recognise and regulate something as horrible as human slavery, instead of calling for its abolition? In brief, here are four reasons why God’s Word rejects all slave trading.
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