Why Dive into Slavery and the Bible? What's the Goal? Why Take This On?

Exodus 21: God's Emancipation Proclamation

Photo by Jayy Torres on Unsplash

As we’re making our way through this new book, I’m going to be writing a lot more of these introductory comments to each chapter. In previous books, the entire post could simply be the chapter. But in this case, we might a few extra words to catch people up, in case people are jumping in mid-way.

Let me begin by telling you where we’re going in this book.

Then I want to address why we’re going on this journey in the first place.

Here’s where we’re going:

We’ll start by looking at three key verses — God’s three-round knockout that destroys slavery by tearing out its roots. Then we’ll look at the words causing a lot of the problems — the words consistently mistranslated or represented wrong, words that people latch onto without grasping their meaning. Then we’ll walk verse by verse through Exodus 21, where God dismantles slavery piece by piece. We’ll look at other passages throughout the Law Books of the Bible that continue to abolish slavery. We’ll see how the Bible compares with other ancient works, to see just how revolutionary it truly is. Finally, we’ll see how believers in God have led the charge to abolish slavery — precisely because their Bible commands them to do so.

We’re going to be thorough. I don’t want to leave any verse untouched.

In part because we need to. The topic is too vital to do a half-complete job.

But also because each verse continues to unveil God’s glory. When we wash away the mud and muck, and see what God is really saying, He shines forth better than you imagined.

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Now I want to address why we’re taking this journey — what I hope to accomplish.

This is the next chapter in the book:

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What’s The Goal?

In all the years I’ve been writing, nothing has drawn attacks like the subject matter in this book. I can’t reproduce in print the things I’ve been called for writing about this topic. I’ve never received this kind of hatred on anything else I’ve written.

Which begs the question: why keep writing about it? Why keep putting myself on the firing line?

Am I trying to make a political statement? Am I a masochist? Am I a sucker for attention, even bad attention?

Ultimately, it comes down to breaking through barriers.

The barrier to belief

Many believers or seekers start reading the Bible from the beginning. Genesis’ stories flow well, as does the first half of Exodus. But then the Law begins, and in many translations, it appears to condone or command slavery.

This is a massive barrier to belief in today’s culture. Any God who could do this is a hard God to worship.

This book aims to break through that barrier.

The barrier to worship

When we see God as He is, He inspires worship like nothing else. When we experience the highest form of beauty, power, wisdom, compassion, and love, we want to celebrate it.

But many can’t see God this way, blinded by these barriers. If someone believes God condones slavery, God’s beauty is marred, His wisdom tarnished, and His power twisted into a terrifying force of oppression.

This book aims to break through that barrier.

The barrier to discussion

Politics feels hyper-polarized. People on one side won’t even talk to people on the other. It’s paralyzing.

This book isn’t political. I don’t use it to advocate any particular political side. Yet it touches on issues key to today’s debates -- love and charity, division and class, oppression and freedom. It asks questions key to finding a way forward: Is the Bible relevant? Can the Bible be trusted? How do we handle cultural divisions? When we treat people like God commands us to, what kind of society appears?

Hopefully, this book and the conversations it sparks can give us a place to talk about these issues without triggering the hyper-political divide. It gives us a chance to talk about the issues that matter without the conversation being framed as a political point for either side.

The barrier to compassion

Many believers are unaware of the struggles that their brothers and sisters face. Throughout human history, cultures have treated each other horribly, enslaving and abusing those they viewed as “lesser.” This attitude still pervades the world today. Many countries still openly practice slavery; others still feel its effects.

The wounds are deep. The pain is real. For the Church to be one, we need to see each other as God sees us. For the Church to be one, we need love each other as we would want to be loved. We need to see each other’s wounds and love each other as we would want to be loved, if that wound had been inflicted upon us. As long as we’re unaware of each other’s pain, we can’t love each other as God loves us.

This book aims to break through that barrier.

I might be naive. This might be fool-hardy. It could stir up a lot of controversy.

But it might help someone see the Bible as worthy of their belief.

It might clear the muck away so someone sees God as worthy of worship.

It might help someone see a brother or sister with compassion.

It might help foster a conversation that’s productive instead of destructive.

If I can accomplish anything like that, I’m going to keep writing, even if I stir up trouble. Some things are worth the trouble.