“Interesting how Christianity was both a proponent of slavery and the force behind abolishing it.” Dan Haseltine, Jars of Clay (source)
"Christian" recording artists are influential even though they sometimes speak nonsense and support non-biblical values.(1)
Haseltine made this statement to justify his support of gay marriage, implying that Christianity will eventually support homosexuality as it ultimately supported freedom to slaves.
Haseltine's statement is untrue on every level:
Many professing Christians supported American slavery. But Christianity never supported it. The Bible clearly condemns the kind of slavery that existed in the U.S. (Exodus 21:16)(2)
Christians who approved slavery were following culture, not Scripture. Christians who approve homosexuality are following culture, not Scripture. Both slavery and homosexuality violate God's design for mankind (1 Timothy 1:10).(3)
Christians who spoke out against slavery were not popular, but they were right. The same is true for Christians who speak out against homosexuality. Slavery damages hearts and souls. Homosexuality damages hearts and souls.
Pro-slavery "Christians" justified their support by twisting Scripture in much the same way people now twist Scripture to approve homosexuality.
Genuine Christians who understood God’s Word were in the forefront of helping people trapped in slavery.(4) And Christians who understand God's Word will be in the forefront of helping people trapped in homosexuality.
Let’s listen to God’s Word, not celebrities who speak nonsense.
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(1) Why do I bring this up now when Hasletine's quote is several years old? Because his argument is still circulating and increasing in popularity. And we need to be able to answer such arguments biblically and historically. We also need to be aware that an increasing number of "Christian" recording artists and other well-known professing Christians are announcing they are gay or announcing their support for gay marriage. And they are influencing Christians with their errors.
Christians who approved slavery were following culture, not Scripture. Christians who approve homosexuality are following culture, not Scripture. Both slavery and homosexuality violate God's design for mankind (1 Timothy 1:10).(3)
Christians who spoke out against slavery were not popular, but they were right. The same is true for Christians who speak out against homosexuality. Slavery damages hearts and souls. Homosexuality damages hearts and souls.
Pro-slavery "Christians" justified their support by twisting Scripture in much the same way people now twist Scripture to approve homosexuality.
Genuine Christians who understood God’s Word were in the forefront of helping people trapped in slavery.(4) And Christians who understand God's Word will be in the forefront of helping people trapped in homosexuality.
Let’s listen to God’s Word, not celebrities who speak nonsense.
-------------------
(1) Why do I bring this up now when Hasletine's quote is several years old? Because his argument is still circulating and increasing in popularity. And we need to be able to answer such arguments biblically and historically. We also need to be aware that an increasing number of "Christian" recording artists and other well-known professing Christians are announcing they are gay or announcing their support for gay marriage. And they are influencing Christians with their errors.
For more recent examples of recording artists using faulty arguments, see:
Who Determines Your Morals?
Don't Fear Speaking Up
Who Determines Your Morals?
Don't Fear Speaking Up
To debunk other popular arguments that twist Scripture or use intimidation to support homosexuality, see:
Invalid Arguments
The Word Homosexual in Scripture
False Teachings About Sodom and Gomorrah
Are You a Gospelphobe?
Do Good Christians Live Sinful Lifestyles?
God's Kingdom Is Not a Democracy
A Lie Some Christians Believe: God Sees All Sins the Same
Hate Crimes: 4 Biblical Principles
(2) American slavery was based on kidnapping slaves from their homeland which is specifically forbidden in Old and New Testaments (Exodus 21:16 and 1 Timothy 1:8-10). The Hebrew words used in Exodus 21:16 would literally be translated "he who steals a man," but most modern translations use the modern term "kidnap."
Passages about slavery in the Old Testament are not always easy to understand. For a fuller discussion of these passages, please see:
Biblical Slavery in a Nutshell
(3) 1 Timothy 1:9-11: "We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me."
(4) To read how Christians and biblical principles were the major force that ended slavery, read:
(3) 1 Timothy 1:9-11: "We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me."
(4) To read how Christians and biblical principles were the major force that ended slavery, read:
Bible Love Notes
Thank you for this timely post, Gail. Very appropro to parallel slavery and sexuality.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this happen where we live. A worship leader developed unbiblical views about sexuality and affected many others. We must stay true to God's Word.
Amy Grant is a recent example, hosting a same sex wedding for her lesbian niece
ReplyDeleteI just read about that, Mike, and I actually have a devotion coming out with her example. Very sad.
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