An Appeal to Freedom

The Church Gathers People from the World.

Challenge reading people’s mail.

What do we know?

Paul is in Prison in Prison with Timothy and planted the Church in Colossians of which Philemon likely a man of means who had slaves held a congregation in his home.

We can imagine team writing of this letter.

Primarily to Philemon, but also to other church leaders, and the church as well.

Why? My sense is that the appeal and decision Paul is inviting Philemon to make will re-shape the whole church, both how they live out the Gospel, but also how they will treat Onesimus.

Onesimus is a slave of Philemon. Who had done some harm and was in some way labeled “Useless.”

Words like servant and slave can be difficult for our contemporary ears. We think of the slavery of the American South. Brutal, harsh, and racially based. There was this type of harsh slavery in the Roman Empire, but many of the servants and slaves were “indentured servants” who worked in the homes of free Roman citizens. Some were sold into slavery and others sold themselves because of a debt that they had to work and pay off (Andy Naselli, “Keller and Carson: Greco-Roman Slavery ≠Race-Based Slavery,” Andy Naselli [blog], January 1, 2013, http://andynaselli.com/keller-and-carson-greco-roman-slavery-race-based-slavery).

- Scott McKnight points out, however, that slavery was not freedom. - and often freed slaves could not support themselves so had to work under their slave masters as a slave - In societal status free, but in reality not.

- Runaway slaves were severely punished - Postings were made for their capture -

- We simply don’t know Onesimus’ actual situation and how he came to Paul in Prison - where a runaway servant would not want to go., but whatever, some harm had been done, some debt occurred, and the apeal had to be made to receive Onesimus back. - Paul is standing behind Onesimus.

When the Early Church was planted, people like Philemon who had slaves and lived in a society that was mixed up and not according to God’s design, with the wealthy, the poor, the slave owner, and the slave. The Early Church was small, and difficult to make strides in societal abolition.

The Church is made up of people reconciled to God through Jesus.

Philemon - vs. 19 was saved through Paul’s Gospel work. in Colossians - Imagine many in Philemon’s household in his Church.

See all of the Thanks Paul has for the Gospel work Philemon does in the church

Apphia, and Archippus possibly leaders in the Colossian Church in Philemon’s house?

Epaphrus - someone from Colosians (4 mentioned with Onesimus) who is in prison with Paul serving alongside.

Onesimus - Not a believer while in Philemon’s house. While Paul was in Prison, he led Onesimus to Christ and he became his “Father.” and Onesimus likely then participated in Paul’s ministry serving in ways Paul could not as a prisoner. - He became useful to the Gospel.

The Church is a foretaste of the Reconciliation God wants to see in our world.

Paul is not laying down the case for abolition. Paul is not even asking specifically to have Onesimus freed. Paul is not asking for a re-orientation of the whole of society. - This may frustrate us. The abolitionists wanted to see more from Paul, the slave owners wanted to see less from Paul.

What is Paul inviting Philemon to do? Receive Onesimus back as he would receive Paul - an appeal to love.

This requires three things.

That restitution be made - Paul is willing to pay for restitution - Modeling Christ’s Love on the Cross. - but maybe it has already been paid for by Paul helping him be saved.

Recognize him as a Brother in Christ, not as a slave.

Roman status - “Boy”

Church Status - “Brother

Paul does not command, but appeals like a Brother.

Paul sees the Church like Israel’s calling, to be a foretaste community that the world looks at and sees the blessings that flow from being a part of the family of God - Being different than the world so that the world takes notice - to be salt & light in the world.

You can imagine the conversation among Philemon’s friends, “What you just took back your slave who stole money from you?” “Why do you call your slave brother, and treat him like an equal family member?”

Paul also asking for Onesimus to come and serve the Gospel alongside him.

But it is up to his Brother Philemon (not underling/apostle relationship) to make the call. Philemon, you apply the Gospel to your relationship with Onesimus. How would Brothers in Christ treat each other regardless of Roman Societal pressures? - He would treat him with love as Paul did with Philemon, and according to Gospel principles, freedom in Christ, In Christ neither Jew or Gentile, Slave or Free, Male or Female.

The kindness that Philemon is to show Onesimus is completely different than what was expected in the social pecking order of Roman society. A runaway slave was a fugitive, subject to severe punishment. Slaves were property. To ask Philemon to forgive and accept Onesimus was to confront “the social and economic order head on” (Rupprecht, “Philemon,” 460).

Fun Fact - St. Ignatius of Antioch writes a letter to the Bishop in Ephesus whose name was Onesimus. around 100 AD.

While the Abolitionist is frustrated that Paul does not outright call for the Abolition of Slavery in Roman Society - In a world (1700’s & 1800’s) where the Church was a powerful force, the Abolitionist was able to appeal to the Gospel for the dismantling of an evil institution called slavery.

Call to Action:

But what work must still be done? Who do we see as lesser than rather than a Brother or Sister in Christ in the Church?

How do we segregate ourselves in a way that does not reflect the Reconciliation we have in Christ in the Church?

How can we apply the Gospel to be a light to the nations as a church, how can we live it out?

Sunday the most segregated day of the week. - But it is a worse kind of segregation. It is a segregation by choice and unreconciliation.

We are born into communities that influence how we live. Your family, friends, clubs, neighborhoods all helped shape and form who you are today. The community shapes us, and we reflect that upbringing. These communities will tell you how to treat others, manage money, become successful, find love, etc. When we become a part of God’s family he gives us new commands and a countercultural ethic to live by. We become a part of a new community that forms and shapes us. A new community that reflects Christ to the world. The story of Philemon isn’t just about forgiveness but about confronting ungodly cultural norms that Christians are a part of—and changing them. The world says, “This is how you treat someone under your authority: like a slave; it’s all he deserves!” But Jesus says to treat him as a dear brother. The world tells you that you have to lie and cheat to get ahead in business, but Jesus says the truth will set you free (even though it might not make you rich). The world tells you to look out for yourself, but Jesus says to look out for the good of others. The world says to hold on to power at all cost and protect people who look like you; Jesus says to give your power away and serve your neighbor even if they are very different from you. When Philemon welcomed Onesimus as a brother, he showed the world how the Jesus community treats others who are different and yet siblings in Christ.

Paul rather than arguing for a big societal change, argued that it starts with us, the Church first.

“Be the change you want to see in the World.” - Ghandi

“Church, be the Gospel God wants to see in the world.”