Many visitors to this forum whine that True Christians™ are racist because we recognize, as does renowned Christian Historian David Barton, that slavery is Biblical.
However,
there are sideboards on Biblical slavery. From the second page of the article:
Quote:
Involuntary Servitude is Not Biblical
Exodus 21:16 says: “He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death.” Deuteronomy 24:7 states: “If a man is caught kidnapping any of his countrymen of the sons of Israel, and he deals with him violently, or sells him, then that thief shall die; so you shall purge the evil from among you.”
Kidnapping and enforced slavery are forbidden and punishable by death. This was true for any man (Ex. 21:16), as well as for the Israelites (Deut. 24:7). This was stealing a man’s freedom. While aspects of slavery are Biblical (for punishment and restitution for theft, or for those who prefer the security of becoming a permanent bondservant), the Bible strictly forbids involuntary servitude.
…
It was forbidden to take the life or liberty of any other man. Rushdoony writes:
“Thus, the only kind of slavery permitted is voluntary slavery, as Deuteronomy 23:15-16 makes very clear. Biblical law permits voluntary slavery because it recognizes that some people are not able to maintain a position of independence. To attach themselves voluntarily to a capable man and to serve him, protected by law, is thus a legitimate way of life, although a lesser one. The master then assumes the role of the benefactor, the bestower of welfare, rather tha[n] the state, and the slave is protected by the law of the state. A runaway slave thus cannot be restored to his master: he is free to go. The exception is the thief or criminal who is working out his restitution. The Code of Hammurabi decreed death for men who harbored a runaway slave; the Biblical law provided for the freedom of the slave.”
Rushdoony also says that the selling of slaves was forbidden. Since Israelites were voluntary slaves, and since not even a foreign slave could be compelled to return to his master (Deut. 23:15, 16), slavery was on a different basis under the law than in non-Biblical cultures. The slave was a member of the household, with rights therein. A slave-market could not exist in Israel. The slave who was working out a restitution for theft had no incentive to escape, for to do so would make him an incorrigible criminal and liable to death.
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So, the restoration of Biblical slavery is not the same thing as most visitors think when they see "slavery"--recapturing all black folks and making them slaves to "Whitey" again.
Rather, Biblical slavery allows for voluntary servitude, and also for
punitive slavery for criminals. Not noted in the quote above is that it also allows for the enslavement of conquered peoples; for example, the capture of the Midianite girls. However, it is not permitted to enslave one's own people. Negro Americans are American citizens, thus cannot be conquered, thus cannot be wholesale enslaved.
But Negro and Caucasian and Hispanic Americans can all become slaves voluntarily, or as punishment for a crime. (Under Biblical law, that is.)
I hope this helps you in your walk with Jesus and your march toward a Christian nation under God's Law!