Philemon (The test of unity)

Philemon

Paul is in prison. Epaphras (A man who heard the gospel in Ephesus) visits him and tells him of this church community that he planted.

Paul wrote the book of Colossians telling them about the greatness of Jesus, and that this Jesus is inside of them, and that it’s their defining characteristic.

Since you are defined by Christ in you, put on patience, kindness, forgiveness, and love.

Then Paul writes another letter. It’s not just Tychicus, going back to Colossae - he was accompanied by Onesimus.

Onesimus was a slave who had done something wrong to his master Philemon and ran from Colossae. We don’t know how but he meets Paul and hears the gospel. He accepts Christ and Paul wants to send him back to be reunited with his master. But not as a master - as a brother.

Philemon

Philemon 1–25 (NIV)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.

6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.

7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul is being very specific here. He’s using the word’s brother and sister reminding Philemon of the family of Christ.

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.

15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.

He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Paul stands in the gap. He takes responsibility for the wrong so that there can be unity and healing.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. 22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The test

Philemon if your identity is in Christ and Onesimus’s identity is in Christ then you are not master and slave, but brothers. If you’re brothers then there should be forgiveness. Not a forgiveness out of duty, but one sparked by love.

This is the test of unity. Will you voluntarily decide that what makes us family is more important than everything else?

The church was tested again with this problem during the 1800s.

“The “slave bible” was published in London in 1807. It was commissioned by the Society for the Conversion of Negro Slaves, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of enslaved Africans toiling in Britain’s lucrative Caribbean colonies. The purpose of the Slave Bible was to teach enslaved Africans how to read while introducing them to Christianity.”

But… here’s the problem. According to Philemon these “slaves” if they accepted Christ were no longer slaves. And they weren’t just “free”. They became brothers and sisters with all rights and privileges of beloved family members. So what did the “organization dedicated to improving the lives of enslaved Africans” do? They cut out the entire thing. The book of Philemon is the only book, in its entirety, that doesn’t appear in the “slave bible.”

Your test

According to church history Philemon did accept Onesimus back as a brother.

The church in London in 1807 failed the test and tried to hide the truth of God’s word from their brothers and sisters.

What about us?

We can say we’re united all day long, but when the test comes do we think of them as “other”