Neither Slave nor Free
We parked on the main road and walked down a narrow sand alley to a small eight-by-eight-foot[1] shack. The patient called a man on his phone, his “master.” His medical treatment depended entirely on the owner’s financial situation. Some days, there was money for care; on others, no one ate. This is slavery. Today.
Living in North Africa for over a decade, I daily encounter the lingering effects of colonialism, slavery, and religious domination. This former French colony was the last nation to criminalize slavery, and it remains deeply embedded within social structures. Witnessing modern-day slavery daily evokes deep anger in me. It is wrong, unjust, and continuous.
My convictions have been shaped by my adult experiences as well as by the collective memory of my childhood. I was raised just north of the Mason-Dixon Line,[2] in a family proud of its heritage of fighting against slavery during the Civil War. Historically and biblically, slavery has existed since the earliest civilizations. Scripture affirms that every person is “fearfully and wonderfully made” [3] and that, under Christ, “there is neither slave nor free.” [4]
My broader historical and contemporary understanding of slavery began forming in my early twenties, during my first trip to Africa. I visited a slave port on the Ghanaian Coast. I will never forget the small window used to determine who was small enough to fit on the ships. What struck me most, however, was the involvement of African peoples themselves in the trade. Until that moment, I had viewed slavery as a Western-initiated problem. Yet the tour, led by an African guide, introduced me to its deeper complexity. Now, living in a place where I suspect even some of my neighbors may still be in the bonds of slavery, the issue is not just historical; it is real life for many today.
It disturbs me that the Western world seems to be preoccupied with historical injustices while disregarding slavery that persists today. When history is selectively remembered, disbelief, mistruths, or ignorance perpetuate wounds that fester rather than heal. Scripture teaches that “the truth will set you free”[5] and commands believers to speak the “truth in love.”[6] For Christian leaders, this means engaging truthfully and compassionately acknowledging historical pain while refusing to allow omission or apathy to define our response.
When looking at the long history of slavery, both Islam and Christianity adapted to the cultures they entered, “using and justifying the use of slaves as part of the divine plan.”[7] The Arab slave trade across the Sahara, the Middle East, and India was different from the transatlantic Western trade.[8] Europe was looking for male laborers for plantations. Muslims were looking for women as concubines and house servants. There is limited statistics on the Arab slave trade, but it is likely even larger than the transatlantic slavery.[9] When it came to the abolition of slavery, the West was responsible.[10] Muslims, although they were equal participants in the slave trade, strongly resisted the idea of the abolition of slavery.[11] Religion functioned both for and against slavery, adding to the complexity of the issue. Christian leaders must be diligent in consistently evaluating the word of “religion” versus the Word of God for the need for repentance, truth, and justice in these complex issues.
Colonial expansion carried the contradiction that “innocent motives and good intentions can still be vitiated by acts of injustice.”[12] Nigel Biggar in Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning writes, “Colonial rule would not have been possible at all without the widespread acquiescence, participation, and cooperation of native peoples.”[13] The legacy of colonialism in my context has left generational wounds, and I cannot deny that it has brought modern advances that have saved countless lives. The tuberculosis rate in my country has dropped; leprosy is now controlled; vaccines have saved thousands of lives; maternal-fetal mortality has drastically decreased.
As I process these difficult discords, leadership in these situations demands humility as Schein and Schein describe in Humble Leadership: The Power of Relationships, Openness, and Trust. Humble leaders display an “openness to see and understand all the elements of a situation.”[14] This is done through remaining curious, having an open perspective, and recognizing the effect of biases.[15] When addressing morally charged issues like slavery or colonialism, humility allows leaders to listen deeply, discern the context, and understand the complexity.
My journey of learning about slavery and colonialism continues. Over time, my knowledge has broadened and my convictions have deepened. Biggar’s definition of slavery as treating another human being as “disposable property”[16]was convicting. What do I do when I see that happen in front of me? What is God inviting me to do to take a stand against this abhorrent behavior? What is He asking of you in response to this issue? Silence gives consent. As I think about the future, may we all heed Black’s warning that “the curse of the past lies not in what happened, terrible as that is, but in an inability to look clearly at the present and to the future.”[17]
[1] For Glyn, this is about 2.5 meters square.
[2] The Mason-Dixon line is a colonial survey line that separated Pennsylvania and Maryland. During the US Civil War, it becomes a symbolic boundary between the North and the South.
[3] Psalm 139:14 ESV.
[4] Galatians 3:28 ESV.
[5] John 8:32 ESV.
[6] Ephesians 4:15 ESV.
[7] Black, A Brief History of Slavery, 35.
[8] Black, A Brief History of Slavery, 66.
[9] Black, A Brief History of Slavery, 67.
[10] Black, A Brief History of Slavery, 295.
[11] Black, A Brief History of Slavery, 296.
[12] Nigel Biggar, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning (William Collins, 2023), 128.
[13] Biggar, Colonialism, 264.
[14] Edgar H. Schein and Peter A. Schein, Humble Leadership: The Power of Relationships, Openness, and Trust, 2nd ed. (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2023), 8.
[15] Ibid, 8.
[16] Biggar, Colonialism, 67.
[17] Black, A Brief History of Slavery, 298.
About the Author
Kari
Kari is a passionate follower of Jesus. Her journey with Him currently has her living in the Sahara in North Africa. With over a decade of experience as a family nurse practitioner and living cross-culturally, she enjoys being a champion for others. She combines her cross-cultural experience, her health care profession, and her skills in coaching to encourage holistic health and growth. She desires to see each person she encounters walk in fullness of joy, fulfilling their God-designed purpose. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 ESV14 responses to “Neither Slave nor Free”
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Hi Kari, your post has a depth to it that, I believe, is formed by your lived experiences. Thank you for sharing that. In a world where you are the different one, have you noticed your approach to the people you befriend and interact with is opening others to see a different way of living and thinking? I pray God continues to bless your ministry with safety and a confidence that even if you don’t see evidence of God’s fruit in your midst, you have the assurance of God’s blessing on you.
Hi Diane, Thank you for your encouraging words. I hope that people can see that I treat others with a different philosophy, especially when it comes to race, color, and status. Several years ago, we took some wealthy “white” friends into a poor, predominantly dark-skinned community to help with a health training. None of them had ever been on “this side of the airport,” and they were shocked 1) at the conditions and 2) how welcoming the “others” were. This was very eye-opening for them and us! Sometimes it just takes the right exposure at the right time.
Kari,y
I’m questioning whether your country was the last to abolish slavery, given how prevalent it is today and how many countries’s laws are too weak to really address it.
This question pulls in next week’s topic some. Given the contentious nature of the relationship between Islam and Judaism today, if slavery were still legal do you believe that Muslims would still be forbidden to take a Jew as a slave since they are people of the book ?
You don’t have to respond in writing to me, just a question I have been pondering.
Hi Jeff,
You are absolutely right to question my host country’s validity on this topic! The law was first announced in 1981, criminalized in 2007, and since then, numerous additional mandates have been issued to implement the policy. As to your second point, I’ve learned from the host religion is that there are always exceptions and loopholes to be found.
Kari, you have a very special and unique perspective on topics like this. Thank you for sharing that story with us.
As you describe the gray areas, I can’t help but wonder where the line might be? When do we stop being humbly curious and start advocating wholeheartedly for those who cannot speak for themselves?
Hi Debbie, Thanks for the great question. Perhaps some of the difficulties, both historically and presently, are that we put humility and advocacy on a linear plane. Humble curiosity allows us to listen, discern, and understand context; bold advocacy compels us to act when truth and justice demand it. Rather than sequential postures, they are concurrent virtues that, when integrated, form a mature and redemptive response to human suffering. Considering we have so few examples of this integrated well, it is evidence that this is not easily implemented!
Kari,
I love your first note!
Seeing slavery and colonialism from an African perspective can give so much insight and context. It also can make the issues so much bigger and deeper. I remember touring a slave cave along the Kenyan southern coast where I lived. They would use the cave to usher slaves from holding areas about 1km underground to the coast and onto ships without people noticing. The challenge was that it had to be done at low tide so that people wouldn’t drown. Modern slavery often seems to run a parallel line to poverty. The Digo people all used to be slaves but then they “bought” their freedom by all becoming Muslims.
Adam, That note was more for you than Glyn. I’m glad you appreciated it! It is so true that modern slavery runs parallel to poverty. May the Gospel continue to penetrate into these areas of need and into the Digos life and culture.
Hi Kari, I loved your post, especially the call to pay attention to modern-day slavery. I had a friend share about slavery in our supply chain and how we can be complicit with slavery through our purchases. I often feel overwhelmed with these statistics because it’s challenging to feel like anything I do will make a difference. Do you have any suggestions for those wanting to fight modern slavery but not sure how?
Christy, I wish I had a good answer to your excellent question. With your experience, I think bringing awareness to others is a good start. Beyond that, I’ve found that small, intentional choices also matter: learning where our products come from, supporting ethical businesses (this is hard to track, but I still try to ask questions), and sharing those insights within our spheres of influence.
Hi, Kari, thank you for the wonderful post. As I started to read the beginning of your post, I wanted to read more to find out what happened next. You touched how we are wonderfully made by our Creator in contrast to how we (the creatures) had treated each other, for example as in slavery context. It makes me wonder, as leaders (in our vocation), what have we learned and what is a takeaway. What would be one takeaway that you would share? Thank you again for the wonderful post.
Hi Noel, A leadership takeaway I have on this topic is that we must be humble, ask others to speak into our lives, and be willing to change ourselves. Thanks for asking!
Thank you, Kari.