Question
Gramps,
I have been discussing matters of misinterpretation with Bible versus with friends and was wondering, why are there parts of the Bible that allow the purchase of slaves?
Bryce
Answer
Bryce,
Interesting question. To begin, I would say remember that the distance or gulf between where God wants us to be, and where we really are is quite vast. In spite of this huge distance, God will meet us where we are and work to get us going in the right direction. The whole point of Christ’s atonement is that we are not going to meet God’s standards all at once but that we can get there if we keep trying.
This gulf is clearly an individual one, and since societies are made up of individuals, it is also reflected in our societies. Historically speaking, our thoughts on the morality of slavery is an aberration, and frankly in some locations around the globe we still struggle with it. I feel God has been working with us a very long time to get to this point, and I am very grateful for it.
Now when we read the Bible it becomes very clear that slavery was the norm of the societies of the time. When God had Moses lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, he tried to lift them up, but they were only ready to go so far. So God met them where they were at. The Law of Moses was given to provide direction and guidance in hopes of preparing them to move even closer to God.
A small part of that law outlined the purchase, selling, and proper treatment of slaves. Like the rest of the law it met them were they were at and tried to push them to be better then they were before.
Gramps
