American Slavery - A Sin That Is Hard To Admit

Written By: Daniel Kleven  |  Posted: Thursday, July 30th, 2015

American Slavery - A Sin That Is Hard To Admit

By Daniel Kleven

   In the wake of the murders of several black Christians in Charleston, South Carolina, America's long history is in the headlines again, resulting in the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina capitol, and calls to redesign the Mississippi state flag altogether. These kinds of events often provoke two opposite reactions. "Finally, something is being done," say many black Americans, while pointing out many more changes they would like to see. The opposite is that of most white Americans: "Why do they keep bringing this up? Slavery ended 150 years ago. Can't they just get over it?"

   This polarization is further exacerbated for those keen to promote America's goodness. One popular conservative commentator claims that focusing on America's past slave-holding is a tactic used by "America-bashers" to "discredit the United States and to deny our role as history's most powerful and pre-eminent force for freedom, goodness and human dignity."[1] His defense of America in this regard amounts to: "it wasn't that bad, we didn't do it for long, and besides, everyone else was doing it, too." Indeed, for those intent on defending America as "The Greatest Nation on God's Green Earth," the horrific evils of slavery can be hard to admit.

   At the time of the American Revolution, the state of Virginia was made up of 40% slaves. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson each owned over 200 slaves. At the same time that these men were bewailing the "slavery" of having to pay taxes to their government, they were holding men and women in actual slavery, which, incidentally, enabled them the leisure to pursue their revolutionary ideals. To make matters worse, many early slave-holders claimed to be Christians and appealed to the Bible to defend their practice. Does the Bible actually provide a justification for slavery as practiced by early Americans?

   While the Bible does allow for a "slavery" that is really more like indentured servitude, the particular practice at the heart of the African slave trade is explicitly condemned in the strongest possible terms. "He who kidnaps a man and sells him shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:16) The African slave was not an indentured servant. Rather, he was kidnapped, plain and simple. The entire institution of American slave-holding rested on an act that, in Old Testament times, would have warranted the death penalty.

   But once the slaves were here, raising families, their children being passed down like inherited property, what then? The child of a slave was not "kidnapped," so should this be viewed as somehow less reprehensible?

   The Bible is clear on this too. "Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow," (Deuteronomy 17:19) "The stranger" was a term for a foreigner who was sojourning in the land of Israel. The Israelites were specifically commanded not to oppress them, but rather to love them and care for them. "You shall neither mistreat a stranger, nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt," (Exodus 22:21); "If a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him… you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt," (Leviticus 19:33, 34). If this applied to foreigners living voluntarily in another land, how much more those who were forcibly removed from their land, or born in that foreign land into a slave home?

   Indeed, more than simply "not oppressing," Israelites were required to provide for the material needs of the stranger (Deuteronomy 24:19); to pay them fair wages (24:14); to treat them justly before the law (24:17); even to celebrate holidays with them, and provide the food! (26:11)

   Ultimately, the reason for this principle is rooted in God Himself. "The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:17-19) God Himself cares for the oppressed, and so his people should too. To oppress the poor or the stranger is to "reproach their Maker." (Proverbs 14:31)

   Slaveholding as practiced in America's past is a wicked and grievous sin. It was rooted in kidnapping, and perpetuated by the ongoing oppression of these "strangers." In so oppressing these men and women, American slave-holders demonstrated a true contempt and reproach for their Maker, in whose very image they were made.

   One doesn't have to be an "America-basher" to admit this. You just have to read your Bible. 

   The effects of this great evil are still reverberating to the present day. So when someone brings up America's past in response to these kinds of events, don't be instinctively defensive. Don't assume the worst of them - "they're just using this as an excuse to keep getting welfare." Don't be so quick to speak, and slow to listen. I, for one, don't want any part in defending a practice that God says is morally abhorrent. "Loving your neighbor as yourself," sometimes means swallowing your pride, and listening carefully to their grievances - and admitting sin, when sin was committed.

   Daniel Kleven is a native to Eau Claire and is currently enrolled in a seminary in Minneapolis, MN.