Listening to the Giants

In one of my previous blog posts, I addressed the topic of Charles Hodge and slavery.  (Here is the link:  http://cpletter.blogspot.com/2011/12/charles-hodgea-man-who-was-moderate-and.html )  Not only was this blog post difficult to write, but I was challenged regarding my thinking and implicit  agreement of Hodge's approach to the issue of slavery.  The individual (who called himself.....or herself...."Anonymous") challenged my position by asking this question.... "Is it fair to equate the New Testament concept of slavery to the different concept of 17-19th century American slavery?  Is that not comparing "apples to space-ships" (oranges)?" Now initially, I responded to this by asserting that there is a difference, but not a fundamental  difference. In other words, slavery (whether because of racism or oppression) is fundamentally wrong, mainly because humanity is made in "the image of God".  Yet Anonymous continued wit...

There is a part of me that wants to run from this topic….slavery. Just saying the word invokes thoughts of anger, indignation and unbelief. To give an example of my inner resentment towards slave-owners (and racism), I watched The Help with my wife (a recent movie about a white woman chronicling the stories of African-American maids) and made this comment to her during the final credits, “I have never wanted to punch so many white women in my life.” By the way, just so the readers are clear…..I HAVE NEVER HIT A WOMAN….EVER (white, black or any other ethnic group)! So why write about it? Two reasons: 1) Charles Hodge wrote about it and 2) he lived through the Civil War era. Charles Hodge grew up in the most volatile time in America’s history. The Civil War claimed thousands of lives and the issue of slavery could not be avoided. As a Christian, a theologian and a churchman, Dr. Hodge knew it was his responsibility to help Presbyterians (and Christians in general) ...