Wrongfully Dividing the Word of Truth: The History and Impact Of the Negro Slave Bible- Part 2
By George Moore
In part 1 of our series, I shared why the slave Bible was created, its contents, and heroes of the faith that shined bright during that dark time. For this segment, we are going to look at how we see remnants of this ideology today and how the church can address it. Let’s dive in!
Why We Should Know About the Slave Bible
There is nothing more sacred to a believer than his or her encounter with the Word of God. Knowing that there were myriads of slaves who were not only subjugated to slavery but also deprived of the whole counsel of God, can leave many of us furious and with a lack of trust in Western Christianity. Dissecting the issues with the Slave Bible will help us to deconstruct and expose the problematic nature of the book. In doing so we will learn several valuable lessons:
1. Our sinful nature will drive us to great lengths in order to maintain social & economic power.
2. “Whenever you take away or ignore parts of the Bible, injustice can quickly happen.” [1]
3. Knowing about the Slave Bible exposes the dark side of Western Christianity and it helps us to identify how it’s roots function in the present day.
4. It shows us the need for individual and corporate repentance for ways the American Church has been silently complicit in the ideologies of the Slave Bible.
5. It helps us understand and empathize with why many African-Americans wrestle with the narrative that the Bible promotes slavery and oppression.
6. Despite their best efforts to enslave the spirits of the enslaved, the Lord still used mighty men and women during this era to point slaves toward the truth of the Gospel and/or liberation. [2]
Furthermore, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the ultimate message of liberation because at its core God is making a way to free men and women from sin and bondage. This message is the central theme of Scripture , from Genesis to Revelation, and removing any portion of it (i.e. slave Bible) gives an incomplete picture of the heart of God. The Gospel’s message extends beyond our souls as it speaks to the value of our bodies, something the slave Bible misses completely.
Ideology of the Slave Bible Today
When we talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ we must think about its content and scope. The content of the Gospel “is limited and contained…[it] is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” [1] The scope of the liberating message of Jesus Christ extends to every part of our lives. For example, in 2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul writes, “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The Greek word for “righteousness” in this text is the word dikaiosýnē, [3] which is also synonymous with the word justice. In other words, not only has God made us righteous in Christ, but we are called to be a “community of the just.” [4] This means that believers must not show partiality based on ethnicity, gender, or economic status. It means affirming each man and woman as being made in the image of God. This, by default, makes all forms of oppression incompatible with God’s righteous character.The Slave Bible eviscerates the idea of God’s people as a community of justice.
Though we are free from the chains of chattel slavery and Jim Crow, parts of the ideology that shaped the Slave Bible still exist today. For example, the idea that race and social issues should not be preached from the pulpit (i.e. “just preach the Gospel”) goes back to the principle of sharing the content of the Gospel but ignoring its scope. This is the very sentiment that the Slave Bible upholds. Telling African-Americans to leave their desire for justice, equality, and equity out of the church is similar to what led to the slave Bible in the first place. If we really want to rectify our past and become a true community of justice, then we must extend the message of the Kingdom to every sphere of humanity and not just the soul.
For my African-American brothers and sisters who read this blog, understand that though this Slave Bible was used to keep us subservient, there is a bigger story to tell than the narrative the Slave Bible creators gave. There is an entire book that tells the full story of God’s love, redemption, and the glorious future for those who have placed their hope and trust in his Son, Jesus Christ. Additionally, if you really want to challenge white supremacy and desire to honor those who came before you, pick up your Bible and read it from cover to cover. [5] Read everything the slave masters took out. I have wholeheartedly believe that as you do so, you will either find or rediscover the glorious Savior who changes hearts, restores souls, and who makes this life worth living. [6]
For my white brothers and sisters who don’t fully understand the cries coming from many corners in the church, may you read this and understand from another angle the ugliness of the Church’s history. I pray that your worldview is shaped, that Scripture will have new meaning in your heart, and that repentance be done, if necessary. I want to close with a quote from Dr. Tony Evans from his influential book Oneness Embraced:
“These injustices lie largely in the past, but they do not lie dormant. Their tremors and repercussions remain as alive and active as ever, as evidenced in the societal schisms still present in our country today…Biblical justice can only bear its fruit with regard to the issue of race in America, in particular, when we acknowledge the sin of our division, repent of it, offer and receive forgiveness for it, address any appropriate restitution, and build a bridge of oneness with each other in place of it through mutual service toward the common goal of advancing God’s Kingdom. Then we will experience the freedom, power, and purpose that the functioning, healthy, holistic body of Christ was designed to know.” [7]
May the Spirit of God continue to purify the American church, as we truly become a people without a spot or blemish. [8]
Notes:
1. Ricky Jenkins. Southwest Church. September 30, 2021.
2. David Daniels. African Christianity Before Modern Racism, 1500-1700. Legacy Conference: Moody Theological Seminary, 2019. Dr. Daniels’ research provides historical evidence which shows thousands of Africans were Christians around the world prior to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Even in the Americas, many could be found in Peru, Mexico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
3. https://biblehub.com/greek/1343.htm
4. Michael Gorman. Becoming the Gospel: Paul, Participation, and Mission. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing, 2015, pg. 121.
5. Lisa Fields. Facebook Post. Nov. 21, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/25106977/posts/10104180374453132/?d=n
6. “Because He Lives.” National Baptist Hymnal, pg. 107.
7. Tony Evans. Oneness Embraced: A Fresh Look at Reconciliation, The Kingdom, and Justice. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2011, pg.
8.Ephesians 5:27