Philemon and Onesimus
"Onesimus ran away for a little while so that you could have him back forever. He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord." Philemon 1:14-16
How to be (a little bit) like God
Philemon is the only private letter that we have from Paul. He is writing to Philemon, the Christian owner of the slave, Onesimus, asking to take Onesimus back into his household. It seems Onesimus had run away, found his way to Rome and had become a believer under Paul’s influence. Paul must have found out about his having run away from Philemon so he insists that he return to Philemon, the leader of a local house church back in the province of Asia. (No, Paul does not denounce slavery, although the horror of it must have been gut-wrenching to him . . . Paul apparently follows Jesus’ teaching teaching that submission and repentance rather than rebellion are the great witness)
It strikes me that the phrase “ran away for a little bit so that you can have him back” could apply to parenting. The clingy child you cherished and raised rebels and leaves home in anger. You grieve because she has done you much damage. Can you ever forgive. One day he returns repentant. What do you do? We don’t know what Philemon did.
Paul mirrored God’s heart. Reconciliation is at the top of God’s list, even at the cost of another, in this case Paul (who was willing to reimburse whatever Onesimus may have stolen when he became a runaway)
Prayer
“Lord, please use me in any way you wish as an agent of reconciliation. Amen."
ReplyDeleteIn response to the first paragraph regarding submission, repentance, and rebellion, a couple of thoughts-
Paul actually was denouncing slavery but not in the way we would expect. He tells Philemon that "he (Onesimus) is no longer a slave to you, he is a brother to you". Pretty clear to me.
If Paul thought slavery was okay, he wouldn't have pointed this out at all, he simply would have sent Onesimus back for 'obedience' sake.
Instead, he is making a HUGE stand that slavery for believers is no longer. The shell of slavery may have needed to stand culturally, but for believers that shell was filled with love not control. What a witness to those who didn't believe! What would pagan slave owners see when Christian slave owners behaved as brothers towards their 'slaves' and not owners!
Rebellion needs to be in the context of to whom and what you are 'rebelling' against.
Was Jesus rebelling when he wouldn't answer the Pharisee's questions when asked? Was he rebelling when he did not comply with their demands, or when, knowing they were searching for him, would hide?
David was annointed by God to lead the Israelites while Saul was still King. Was this rebellion? Here's how he got his army:
"All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him (David), and he became their leader. About 400 men were with him." 1 Samuel 22:2
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" Proverbs 31:8-9
I think it is important that we remember to consider seriously terms such as these and to always take them before God to see how they apply.