If you read any modern commentator from the past hundred years, you will find they are absolutely unanimous in their answer:  a resounding NO!

But is that really the correct answer? 

Before you all burn me at the stake, let me make it clear, I do not own any slaves, I do not know anyone that does, I have no desire to own slaves, I am not racist (after all, everyone is descended of the blood of Noah and Adam), I recognize that slavery is illegal in the American civil law, and I am appalled at the inhumane things that happened in the slave trade of a few hundred years ago.

Now, this blog is not pure theory apart from reality.  It's actually a common criticism leveled against the Bible by skeptics.  Every apologist I've read (an apologist is "someone who gives an answer," i.e., in defense of Christianity) quickly diffuses this argument saying the Bible does not support slavery at all but actually says it is bad.  The Christians a few hundred years ago who used the Bible to justify slavery?  They were "twisting" scripture to their own personal gain.  Really?

There is a deep, deep wound in America.  Slavery was a black spot that was surgically removed.  The place where it was removed has been healing slowly.  It's pink and tender but it still hurts if you push on it.  It seems to me that these theologians and apologists who hasten to say "no" are just saying that because it's a sensitive spot and they want to appease the reader.  I think that is considerate, but I don't think that is academically honest.  I'm going to be brash and push on that tender spot here, so brace yourself and hear me out.

When I read the Bible, I see slavery as morally neutral, or even a good thing, like parting your hair down the middle or down the side, or like playing Ultimate Frisbee over soccer.  The issue of slavery doesn't really seem to matter one way or another.

What the Bible Says about Slavery:

I'm actually not disciplined enough to give you an exhaustive list of passages dealing with slavery (perhaps some seminary training would help with that), but Religious Tolerance seems to have a fairly exhaustive listing.  Browsing that site in the past has always given me a bad taste in my mouth, though, so take it with a grain of salt. Searching for "Bible" and "slavery" brings up a lot of articles with scripture, too.  It also helps to have read the Bible yourself and gained a sense of what it says.

To prevent this post from becoming overlong, let me just cut to my thoughts:

First, we must separate the pure institution of slavery (unpaid laborers) from human brutality.  The American/White slave trade of a few hundred years ago was an evil mix of both.  The later is clearly wrong according to the Bible, primarily from Jesus' Second Greatest Commandment to love your neighbor (and slave) as yourself.  But the former is much, much, much less obvious from scripture.

What then is the slavery I'm talking about if not what we saw in the American slave trade?  Unpaid labor.  That's it.  If you missed it, re-read it.  Earning zero dollars per hour.  Pulling zero dollars per week, or having a salary of zero dollars per year with regular 4% yearly raises.  Check it out:

 You know what that is?  Slavery.  The father of Judaism, no less!  Was what Laban did bad?  The deception with Leah and Rachel:  definitely!  Seven plus seven years unpaid labor:  I don't think so.  Here's why:  Jacob (1) had a roof over his head, (2) was treated very well, (3) ate well, (4) was clothed well, (5) had a family.  The comparison between Jacob's treatment and African slaves cannot be made.  African slaves were treated as sub-human cattle, a clear violation of God's Law. 

The contrast is stark.  Slaves, for all intensive purposes, are regular laborers with two big exceptions:  one, they drew no wages, and two, they were under the special care of their master, particularly with regard to room and board.  Slavery sounds more like indentured servants now, and more so in light of the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25.  And then there is Exodus 21:

The Hebrew word rendered "servant" above is ebed which can also mean slave.

One of the more intriguing things about ancient Hebrew economy was the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee, where debts are canceled and the enslaved become free.  I have no idea how a modern economy could work this way, but that's for another blog.  I think this is an important component to the Biblical model of slavery (which is just another morally-neutral mode of labor).  It allows slaves to escape nasty slave owners for one thing.  (Kind of like Cities of Refuge for accidental murderers:  they're necessary for the fallen people we are.)   

I feel an entire book could be written on this subject I have so much to say, but I'll stop here because I made my basic point:  the Bible does not say slavery is bad, and seems to go so far to outline how to make slavery work well and smoothly, which is just shy from saying slavery is a good thing, but at the least, the Bible is neutral on this subject.  The monsters who treated African slaves like cattle were as evil as sin, but not because they dealt with slaves, but because they treated Africans like cattle.  How many times have you said you are a slave to your boss, or a slave to the mortgage company?  What is money?  To God, not much.  What then are you working for?