Module 3 · Is Christianity a White Man’s · Lesson 3
Slavery, Segregation, and the Misuse of Scripture
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Big idea
Christians and Christian institutions sometimes used Scripture to defend racial slavery and segregation. Faithful apologetics acknowledges that history, exposes distorted interpretation, and lets Christ judge Christian complicity.
Learning objectives
- Acknowledge Christian participation in slavery and segregation.
- Explain the “Curse of Ham” misuse.
- Distinguish ancient forms of slavery from modern racial chattel slavery without sanitizing either.
- Explain selective biblical reading and the “Slave Bible.”
- Distinguish Christ from Christian misconduct without excusing misconduct.
Primary text
Galatians 3:28 — “In Christ, ethnic and social distinctions do not determine covenant worth or access to God.”
Scaffolded Scriptures
- Genesis 1:26–27 — All humanity shares image-bearing dignity.
- Genesis 9:25 — The curse falls on Canaan, not Ham, and the text says nothing about Black skin.
- Exodus 21:16 — Kidnapping and selling a person is condemned.
- Amos 1:6 — Human trafficking and captivity are judged.
- Luke 4:18 — Jesus announces good news and liberty.
- Philemon 15–16 — Onesimus is to be received as more than a slave—a beloved brother.
- 1 Timothy 1:10 — Men-stealing is condemned.
- Revelation 7:9 — The redeemed community is multinational.
Teaching movements
Movement 1
Admit the Historical Record — Christians preached pro-slavery sermons, defended slaveholding, participated in segregation, and sometimes protected racial hierarchy.
Movement 2
The “Curse of Ham” Was Not the Text — Genesis 9 curses Canaan, not Ham, and says nothing about skin color or Africans. Racial theology was imposed on the passage.
Movement 3
Biblical Slavery Requires Nuance — Ancient forms varied and could be coercive and morally difficult. They should not simply be equated with modern race-based hereditary chattel slavery, nor sanitized.
Movement 4
The Bible Was Selectively Read — Obedience texts were emphasized while image of God, Exodus, kidnapping prohibitions, prophetic justice, neighbor love, brotherhood in Christ, and other themes were suppressed.
Movement 5
The Slave Bible as Illustration — Early nineteenth-century editions prepared for enslaved people in the British West Indies omitted substantial material, including liberation-shaped texts, illustrating selective control of the biblical story.
Movement 6
Segregation Also Received Theological Support — After emancipation, Christians continued to use Scripture and church structures to defend racial separation and hierarchy.
Movement 7
Christians Also Used Scripture Against Slavery — Abolitionists, enslaved Christians, Black churches, and civil-rights Christians drew on creation, Exodus, prophets, Jesus, and gospel equality to resist oppression.
Movement 8
Christians Can Contradict Christ While Using His Name — Christian misconduct is evidence against their faithfulness, not automatically against the truth of Christ.
Movement 9
Christ Judges Slaveholder Christianity Too — Jesus is not the mascot of Christian civilization. He is Lord over the church and its history.
Key terms / word study
- Partiality / prosōpolēmpsia
- Unjust favoritism or respect of persons, rejected in James 2.
Christ at the center
The cross destroys boasting, creates one reconciled people, and places every church, nation, race, and system under the judgment of Christ.
Common error to avoid
Do not say “Christianity had nothing to do with slavery,” “the Bible ended slavery by itself,” or “biblical slavery was not really slavery.” Those answers are historically and morally inadequate.
Reflect
- Why is denying Christian participation in slavery a weak apologetic strategy?
- What does Genesis 9 actually say?
- Why must biblical slavery and Atlantic slavery be compared carefully?
- What is the difference between defending Christ and defending Christian history?
Practice
Respond to: “Why would I follow a religion that was used to enslave my people?” Listen, locate the concern, acknowledge wrongdoing, examine the texts, distinguish misuse from Christ, and bring the conversation toward Jesus.
Remember
We do not have to choose between telling the truth about Christianity’s ancient roots and telling the truth about Christian complicity in oppression.