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6 BOCNEWS.comAPRIL 2016 The Bible and SlaverySlaves obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Ephesians 65 NLT It was in the summer of 2015 when an African American colleague after a Sunday church service approached me. He said Ben you are a Christian I know. For years Ive watched your actions and con- duct in our church. So I feel comfortable in asking you this question. Its been on my mind since I was a teenager. Then he said Does the Bible condone and endorse slavery I was startled. I reflected for a few seconds. I did so because in over four decades of regular church attendance never had I heard a black minister or pastor address the subject. Consequently for the next three weeks I read the Bible spending hours searching the Internet and talking to brothers about Scriptures and slavery. Later a strange thing happened. One Sunday while attending a worship service at a white church much to my surprise the pastor announced his sermon topic--Slavery and the Good News of Jesus Christ. In his introduction the minister said Ill never forget the frustration I felt when I was taking a philosophy class at New York University. The class was on Plato and Aristotle and the issue of slav- ery came up. Because Aristotle called slaves living tools someone chimed in and said Well doesnt the Bible condone and endorse slavery Thats why I will never read the Bible because it approves of slavery. The pastor added I was so mad it set me on a course of studying this issue on and off for 15 years which led me to an article I wrote which helped the Anglican church debunk bogus arguments that connected slavery.... From the pastors comments coupled with revela- tions from my independent work as a freelance writ- er I studied the relationship between the Bible and slavery. I came to many conclusions but because of space limitations here are the top seven 1. The Bible does not specifically condemn the practice of slavery. It provides instructions on how slaves should be treated. 2. The Old Testament did allow for economic- based slavery but regulated it. 3. Slavery in biblical times were very different from slavery that was practiced in the past centuries in many parts of the world. 4. People often sold themselves as slaves when they could not pay their debts or provide for their families. 5. Some folks actually chose to be slaves to have all their needs met by their masters. 6. In New Testament times sometimes doctors lawyers politicians and people in other pro- fessions were slaves of someone else. 7. In the US black people were slaves exclu- sively because of skin color and nationality. Furthermore many white folks believed black people were inferior human beings. In closing after all I did it became obvious to me that the purpose of the Bible is to point the way to salvation not to reform society. The Bible often approaches issues from the inside out. If a person experiences the love mercy and grace of God by receiving His salvation I believe God will reform the persons soul. And equally important change the way that the individual thinks and acts. By Ben L. Walton Colonel USA Ret. Child Abuse Prevention Month Jesus said Whoever welcomes a child... wel- comes me Matthew 185. Children are our present and our future our hope our teachers preachers and pastors and our inspiration. They are full participants in the life of our churches and in the heart of God. Jesus also said If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones . . . it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea Matthew 186. Our Christian faith calls us to provide protection for children. Our Social Principles should emphasize that children must be protected from emotional physical economical sexual exploitation and abuse. Discussion of this issue is taboo in many church- es and especially amongst the African American Church. I believe we need to focus more on where our Faith meets our Works to bring life to our mission. Children are growing up in an environment where theyre confused. Confused about what a family looks like about their place in the family church and the world. Theyre trying to understand their sexuality and their morality with little concern for their mortality let alone their immortality. Many unfortunately are being transferred into the church as a last resort with warm hearted good intended programs rather than being transformed by the renewing of their minds. Sadly enough churches have not always been the safest place for our children. Ritual abuse sexual abuse exploitation occur in many churches both large and small rural and urban. The problem crosses all ethnic economic cultural and racial lines. It is real and it appears to be increas- ing. Virtually every congregation has among its members adult survivors of early sexual trauma. Many annual conferences can cite specific incidents of child sexual abuse and exploitation within churches. Such incidents are devastating to all who are involved the child the fam- ily the local church and its leaders. Increasingly churches are torn apart by the legal emotional and monetary consequences of litigation following allegations of abuse. 1. God calls us to make our churches safe places protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual and ritual abuse. God calls us to create communi- ties of faith where children and adults grow safe and strong. 2. Ritual abuse refers to abusive acts com- mitted as part of ceremonies or rites ritual abusers are often related to cults or pretend to be. Ritual abuse refers to abusive acts committed as part of ceremonies or rites ritual abusers are often related to cults or pretend to be. In response to this church-wide challenge there are things we can do to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse A. Local churches should 1. Adopt screening procedures use of applica- tion forms interviews reference checks back- ground clearance and so forth for workers Sadly enough churches have not always been the safest place for our children. Ritual abuse sexual abuse exploitation occur in many churches both large and small rural and urban. The problem crosses all ethnic economic cultural and racial lines. The class was on Plato and Aristotle and the issue of slavery came up. Because Aristotle called slaves living tools someone chimed in and said Well doesnt the Bible condone and endorse slavery TESTIMONY COMMUNITY Thomas Mayes By Dr. Thomas Mayes Continued on Page 7