#325 Slavery, Scripture and the Abolitionists [Encore]

The Good Citizen Podcast

You have probably heard some iteration of this statement in recent years, “Slaveowners used the Bible to justify slavery; therefore, the Bible cannot be trusted.” Christians should not ignore this claim because it focuses on more than history (though we should understand and know the history of the evil institution). Rather, it is a claim about the very authority of Scripture–whether the Bible is both true and good. So, we should take special care in our response. And, as people of the Book, we should be the best equipped to answer this objection and explain what the Bible actually says about human dignity and slavery. Here are some talking points in response to the common objection set out above, some examples of key abolitionists and the key lesson from my study of this topic.

Key Talking Points:

1. Scripture fatally condemns the historic practice of American slavery.
2. Scripture focuses on the most important chain (while calling for public justice and righteousness).
3. Scripture faced the reality of ancient slavery.
4. Scripture finally won out.

Brief Biographical Sketches of Key Abolitionists:

• Olaudah Equiano
• Hannah Moore
• William Wilberforce
• Harriet Tubman
• Frederick Douglass

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