This post is a follow-up message from Pastor Ben's sermon entitled "Slaves & Masters, Part II". [Watch video]

One of the fascinating things I learned while studying slavery the last few weeks was the place of Christianity during the Civil War. As a retired Navy Chaplain, I was interested to learn that during the Civil War African-Americans were allowed to serve, not only as soldiers, but also as chaplains. There were 14 black chaplains that served in regiments in the Union Army. Perhaps the best known was H.M. Turner, who was known as “the Negro Spurgeon.” He was such a powerful speaker that he drew congressmen who came to hear him preach. (Christian History Magazine-Issue 33: Christianity & the Civil War)

Many black slaves were Christians, and many who opposed slavery were Christians. This raises the question, “What was the role of Christianity in slavery in America?”

You’ll often hear critics speak of how slave owners used the Bible to justify slavery, as if that were the only part Christianity played in the slavery debate. Nothing could be further from the truth. Though people erroneously used the Bible to justify owning slaves, Christianity’s main role in slavery was its abolition.

We are taught that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves. Indeed he did. But 30 years before the Civil War, the Abolition Movement was in full swing. We don’t hear much of them, they are largely forgotten, and Lincoln gets most of the credit. But the reason abolitionists are largely forgotten is because they were mainly Christians. Not all were evangelical Christians, but a great many were.

The Abolition Movement in America was born out of the Second Great Awakening, a spiritual revival that spread through America from roughly 1790-1840. Charles Finney was at the forefront of this movement. Whereas the (First) Great Awakening was seen by Jonathan Edwards as the sovereign movement of God, Finney believed we needed only to employ the right methods, and God would work. Finney’s method was to hold camp meetings, or revivals, where the Gospel was preached and people were called to make a decision for Christ.

One thing I admire about his teaching is that he believed the evidence of salvation was a changed life. As a result, many social reform movements came out of the Second Great Awakening, including the Abolitionist Movement. So, long before Abraham Lincoln came on the scene, Christian abolitionists were working hard to rid our country of slavery.

Their message was simple: American slavery was sin and the nation needed to repent. If not, America would be punished. The message was not popular—even among those who agreed that slavery needed to be stopped. People urged caution, because freeing the slaves would cause all sorts of economic turmoil. But the message of the Christian abolitionists was simple, “First repent of the sin, and then we can talk about what to do.” (Stafford, T. 1992. The Abolitionists. Christian History Magazine-Issue 33: Christianity & the Civil War)

One well-known Christian abolitionist was Theodore Weld. He was converted to Christ in the North through the preaching of Charles Finney, and soon was “converted” to be an abolitionist. Weld used Finney’s revival style in preaching in towns about the sin of slavery and became known as “the most mobbed man in America.”

He used what was called, “The Bible Argument” to argue (rightly so) that slavery in the America was different from the slavery in the Old Testament where slaves had rights and were considered people, not property. But America would not be converted except through bloodshed. The Abolitionists wanted a peaceful solution to slavery through America turning to Christ. They saw war as God’s ultimate judgment for her refusal to repent.

The lesson for us is that we, too, should speak out for injustices. But we must always keep in mind that only God can change hearts. One by one, we seek the transformation of sinners through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our mission is the mission of Jesus, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Christian History Magazine had this caption below a picture of the bed on which Abraham Lincoln died:

The war effectively ended on April 9—Palm Sunday. The front page of the New York Times declared, “The Work of Palm Sunday … thanks to God, the Giver of Victory.” That Friday, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Thus, he was memorialized by many as the “Savior” of the Union struck down on a “Good Friday” for a righteous cause. As one speaker proclaimed, “Jesus Christ died for the world; Abraham Lincoln died for his country.” (Did You Know? 1992. Christian History Magazine-Issue 33: Christianity & the Civil War)

I get the allusion by the New York Times (my, how the times have changed!). But it might be more accurate to say that it was the 360,000 white Union soldiers who died to free the slaves.

In any case, an apt comparison to the Gospel, isn’t it? Some died to set slaves free—Christ died to set sinners free from slavery to sin. All are slaves to sin. Christ died to set the slaves free.

In a sense, we are modern day abolitionists. Our mission it to proclaim that freedom, that Jesus sets free those who are captive to sin. It is Christ, and Christ alone who can do this. We have the answer.

Would you pray with me that we would see many sinners set free by Christ’s sacrifice on the real Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter morning? Good Friday and Easter are mere weeks away. Remember, our mission is Christ’s mission, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).