Demolition of Division

A series on Pauls’ prayers
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Philemon 1:4-25 

[Paul was a controversial figure in the first century church. But it could also be argued that he was the most dynamic and influential apostle. In this series we’ll be looking at Paul’s prayers and what he has to say to us today.]

The second house that Debbie and I ever owned was beautiful, but it needed a lot of work. One of the things that needed some attention was the garage. Actually, it was a wreck; to the point of being useless. In fact, it needed to be demolished.

One Saturday, a group of friends came over and that’s exactly what we did. Truth be known, it was kind of fun tearing it down. When we were done, all that was left was a pile of debris and a lot of dust.

 

We live in a time of significant divisions - political, racial, economic and religious – just to name a few. There were many divisions during Paul’s time as well – men and women, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, slave and master.

 

Philemon was a believer from the Colossian church… and a slave owner. According to the NIV Study Bible, Roman era slavery was significantly different from American history. First, it wasn’t based on race. Most slaves could expect to be emancipated. Some even owned property.

 

What prompted Paul’s letter to Philemon was that one of his slaves, Onesimus, stole from him and then ran away. It was during this time as a fugitive that he met Paul and became a Christian.

 

Paul’s personal appeal to Philemon was for him to accept Onesimus as a Christian brother and to forgive him. In light of what happened, forgiveness and reconciliation between owner and slave was a radical request.

 

⁶ And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.        NLT

 

Reading between the lines, you can easily see where Paul is going with his prayer. “Put into action the generosity that comes from your faith”. In other words, just as Jesus showed grace to Philemon and forgave him, he should show grace to Onesimus and forgive him.

 

Just like my friends and I knocked down the walls of my dilapidated garage, Paul was asking Philemon to knock down the walls of division between Onesimus and himself. He was asking Philemon to go against the norms of society by not only forgiving Onesimus, but also accepting him as a brother in Christ.

 

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.            NIV

 

As Paul asked Philemon to knock down the walls of division in his life, the Lord is asking you and me to begin the demolition of division in ours.

 

 

 Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

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Charlottesville Justice

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015%3A50-58&version=NIV;TLB;NLT

 

On August 13 of this year, there was a deadly incident that occurred after two days of protests, counter-protests and confrontations. It ended with a young woman being struck and killed by a white supremacist who purposefully drove his car into a crowd. No matter where you turn today, the battle for justice seems to be lost.

 

The same was true during Jesus’ lifetime. He was born into a world where the invading Romans ruthlessly ruled and the Jewish religious leaders imposed their legalistic interpretation of the law, which was used to control the masses. It was used to judge and condemn. There was no mercy or grace.

 

Into this world, Jesus made a point of healing those who others would never touch. He didn’t differentiate who he loved based on their nationality, ethnicity or religion. He didn’t care whether you lived in poverty or were wealthy and powerful. He showed justice for all.

 

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”   Luke 4:18-19 NIV

 

God has instructed us that it is more important to live justly than to be religious.

 

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.   Micah 6:8 NIV

 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15, that because of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, the battle for justice in our own life is already won! Now it is up to us, to share that Good News justice with the world; to show God’s love and forgiveness to those who He has brought into our lives.

  

⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.       NLT

⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection.   TLB

 

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