Philemon 1-21

“I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.” vss. 10-13

On the surface it seems strange that Philemon is even included in scripture. It’s strictly a personal letter from Paul, to an old friend, Philemon, about his runaway slave, a fellow named Onesimus. Onesimus, whose name means “useful,” has come to Paul in prison and is now being sent back to his master, not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. Paul was probably not intending to speak a word against the institution of slavery…it was simply a given for his time and place… yet through the years his words to Philemon have been used to demonstrate that slavery stands in direct opposition to the liberty and freedom that God intends for every person. His position was based on his now familiar premise that in Christ “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female.” (Galatians 3:28) This radical gospel teaching continues to challenge our generation of believers. The tendencies to enslave and marginalize are deeply ingrained in societies and cultures all over the world. It’s not easy to put aside long held prejudices and welcome those once despised as our brothers and sisters in Christ, but such is the will of God’s liberating Spirit.

Thought for the Day: How has the Spirit challenged my prejudices?