Yes, the Bible Allowed Slavery. It Also Brought About its End.
Why didn’t the Bible outlaw slavery?
Like war and famine, slavery was a human horror that afflicted cultures across all times and throughout all of history. God knew the sinfulness of the human heart, and allowed for it, just as he allowed for divorce (Matt. 19:8). Making a single law to outlaw slavery was about as reasonable as decreeing that humans sprout wings and fly.
If you look closely at the biblical story, though, you can see that slavery is on God’s mind from the very beginning of the biblical story. One of the very first things God tells Abraham when he enacts his covenant in Genesis 15 is that the patriarch’s children would be enslaved for 400 years, but that he would redeem them. Isn’t it remarkable that the family of Abraham that is so central to God’s plans had to begin its existence in slavery?
Later, in Exodus 12, when the story of the Israelite’s miraculous escape from Egypt is told, the command is given to celebrate these formational events every year. If you’ve ever participated in a Passover, you’ve tasted the tears that slaves have shed in bondage as they’ve longed for freedom.
Ugandan Names are Interesting and Complex
I’m now working on a book with my Ugandan colleague Rev. Dr. Milly Erema Maturu and I realized that I was making a mistake with her name that I needed to correct.
In older articles, I used to refer to her as Dr. Erema, but now I realize that she really should be referred to as Dr. Maturu instead. (I’m now correcting all these articles on my website.)
What is going on here? I’m guessing you will find it quite interesting.