Truth or Tradition? Why We’re Tackling Tough Questions About Biblical Slavery
This week marks the beginning of a new adventure on our YouTube channel—a series dedicated to addressing some of the most common questions and critiques skeptics raise about biblical slavery. It’s a sensitive topic, but one that demands clarity, honesty, and—above all—truth. VIEW THE VIDEO HERE!
So, why is this conversation so important?
Because in today’s culture, many voices claim to speak truth, but not all of them stay anchored to it. Sometimes, individuals—whether scholars, influencers, or even pastors—subtly shift away from Scripture to better align with a particular audience. And when that happens, people can be misled into thinking they’ve heard truth when they’ve really just heard someone’s opinion.
But Scripture challenges us to do better.
Throughout the Bible, believers are called not to blindly accept what anyone says—no matter how educated, charismatic, or well-respected they may be. Instead, we’re urged to test everything against God’s Word:
1 John 4:1 – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…”
1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “Test them all; hold on to what is good.”
Acts 17:11 – “…They examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
A trustworthy leader encourages accountability. They invite questions, welcome scrutiny, and embrace correction when needed. On the other hand, when someone reacts defensively or shuts down conversation just because their views are being challenged, that’s a red flag.
My wife and I had a conversation about this just the other day. In our own circle, someone we know questioned a leader's stance by pointing out conflicting Scripture. Rather than engage in dialogue or reevaluate their position, that leader became upset and cut off communication entirely. That’s not biblical leadership. That’s pride. And it’s a reminder of why this series matters.
We kicked things off with a response to a claim made by Dan McClellan, a very well-known scholar whose content has gained traction online. At first glance, his point seemed well-reasoned. But once we dug deeper and held it up to Scripture and historical context, the claim unraveled. Intentional or not, it was a case of misinformation being presented as fact—and that’s something we simply can’t afford to ignore.
This approach mirrors the heart behind my book, Bound in Lies. The goal wasn’t to argue or tear anyone down, but to build a compelling case rooted in evidence. Each chapter invites readers to weigh both sides of the argument and come to an informed conclusion—just like a jury would.
That same spirit of investigation is what we’ll carry forward in the coming weeks. We’re not here to win arguments—we’re here to seek truth.
So, if you’ve ever wrestled with hard questions about biblical slavery—or if you’ve heard claims that left you unsure—this series is for you. Let’s walk through it together, examining each argument carefully, and holding every idea up to the light of evidence.
Because truth can handle scrutiny. And if it’s real, it will stand.
