Thursday, September 30, 2010

Social Justice in the Old Testament

Social Justice has become a hot topic in the media recently. A quick online search will produce a myriad of definitions; which are based on one's view of politics, religion, and philosophy. The current main stream interpretation of social justice is a forced redistribution of wealth, similar to socialist and communist programs.

Social justice is however, discussed very clearly in the Bible. Chapter 58 of the book of Isaiah refers to it as part of true religion and love for God: "I tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives" (v 6-7). Chapter 59 clearly condemns social injustice: "All you think about is sin; you leave ruin and destruction wherever you go. You don't know how to live in peace or to bear with others. The roads you make are crooked; your followers cannot find peace" (v 7b-8).

There are over 2,100 verses of Scripture dealing with poverty and justice. The Lord God loves the poor and He blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. Caring for the poor and needy are conditions of our blessings. Isaiah chapter 58 verses 9-14 gives a list of "if…then" statements from the Lord, making clear the types of religious practices that are pleasing to Him and worthy of His blessing.

If the church, the body of Christ, is obedient to do what Scripture teaches about caring for the poor and needy, then there will not be a need for government agencies and other humanitarian agencies (good as they may be) to care for them. God calls us to humble ourselves and "share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house…" (Isa 58:5, 7). In his commentary on the book of Isaiah, John Calvin states that "uprightness and righteousness are divided into two parts; first, that we should injure nobody; and secondly, that we should bestow our wealth and abundance on the poor and needy. And these two ought to be joined together…."¹

It is clear from Scripture that social justice is not about a forced redistribution of wealth. It is about loving God and your neighbor as yourself. It is about living as citizens of the Kingdom of God, surrendered to the lordship of Christ, with a passion to see God's Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

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¹ John Calvin, Commentary On The Book of The Prophet Isaiah, vol. 8
(Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009), 233.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Does the Old Testament condone slavery?

Slavery is rampant throughout the Old Testament and any serious student of the Old Testament must be troubled by this fact. Why? Because the Old Testament seems to neither condone nor outlaw slavery: seemingly accepting it as a matter of fact. Some may even argue that by establishing rules for slavery like those found in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy the Old Testament gives tacit approval to the institution. So what are we to make of this? Is the Bible ambivalent toward slavery?

When addressing the topic of slavery any biblical scholar will hasten to point out that slavery as we see it demonstrated in early Jewish culture was much different than what we may believe it to be. Slavery was often times the result of economic issues. A father may sell his son into slavery to cover a debt he cannot pay, or person may willing enter in to a period of slavery to cover their own debt. Also, slaves were not often treated harshly like many in recent history. In fact we find many provisions made for the ethical treatment of slaves. Slaves were to be given rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10), slaves were to be freed every six years (Exodus 21:2) and when freed they were to be given provisions to help them survive the initial period outside the masters house (Deuteronomy 15:14). In fact we even see an instance of King Saul’s slave being a slave and yet a slave owner himself (II Samuel 9:10) indicating that he must have been a man of some material wealth.

However does the humane treatment of slaves in the Old Testament exonerate the practice of slavery? It does not. In most cases the slave was still there against their will. Even when someone had entered into slavery willingly it does not eliminate the central evil of slavery: the idea that one human can own another.

Why does the Bible seem to see this as acceptable? How can we reconcile this with the clear teaching of scripture that the dignity of all mankind flows from creation in the image of God as well as God’s love for all nations. The answer comes in understanding man’s relationship to God. The Bible is clear in teaching that man has only one true master, the God of heaven. In the Old Testament we read of God’s very own people the children of Israel being taken into slavery. However, it is some time before God comes to rescue them. Why? Is God unconcerned with the plight of his people? Of course not, he had promised to watch over them. However in watching over them God’s main concern was not their physical well-being but rather their spiritual well-being. It is better to be a slave with the fear of God, than a rich man who does not know him (Mark 8:36). In fact it is often when man is humbled that he looks to God. Is there anything more humbling than slavery? This may be one reason that in its post Jewish roots Christianity sprung up in greatest numbers among the poor and slaves.

So are we to suggest that slavery was always allowed since it brings people to God. No. Certainly there were slaves who never believed. It however illustrates the greater point that the attitude of Scripture toward slavery is tempered by the knowledge that the greatest slavery is not that of the body but that of the soul. The Bible is a book of transcendence and is therefore much more concerned with that which is transcendent than with that which is temporal. A slave may be a slave for a few years; however their relationship with God will last into eternity. It is scriptures main focus to release mankind from slavery of the soul not the body. Therefore we see the attitude not of ambivalence toward slavery but rather an understanding that physical slavery, while evil and outside of God’s plan, is a momentary state and it is man’s ultimate state of bondage to sin with which we should be primarily concerned.