Adjectives

 

Hey, Cobblestone,

    How would you like to knock out a whole book of the Bible in less than three minutes? Two-forty-five, actually, at an unhurried pace – I timed it. If you’re not on the boss’ dime at the moment, you could even do that right now. Go to Paul’s letter to Philemon, and I’ll see you in a few.

     The synopsis: Philemon is a Christian in Colossae, known to Paul, who wrote the letter from Rome. Philemon’s bond-servant, Onesimus, has fled Colossae, possibly taking money or property that belongs to his master. Philemon would be wanting him back, for obvious reasons. Moving heaven and earth, God brings Onesimus into contact with Paul, and Onesimus becomes a Christian. A dilemma takes shape. What will Paul do? Which party deserves his higher loyalty?

     Understanding a storyline involves understanding a good deal about the characters as well. How should we describe Philemon (other than what I’ve already offered)? How should we describe Onesimus or Paul? If we had to put together a bunch of adjectives, adverbs, and nouns to fill out the storyline by painting a clear picture of the players, what would those words be? Would our choice of words be influenced by what we already believe about integrity and loyalty – or slavery and Christianity for that matter?

     Of course they would.

     The question is this: How much influence should those beliefs have? Answer: a great deal, indeed, and for we who are Christians, those beliefs can provide all the insight we need into the proper choice and placement of those words. Problem is, we don’t always use the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:16) to put our words together, or to give them the proper weight. Paul’s letter to Philemon gives a priceless lesson in setting the priorities straight. Let’s do an exercise to see if we can pick up the lesson.

     Describing Onesimus, some of us would say, “He’s a lying, thieving fugitive slave.” This man, at the least, had an indentured-servant arrangement with another man, but broke the contract and stole from his master (charge that to my account, Paul wrote in verse 18). If we believe integrity is the most important consideration, then Onesimus has to go back to Colossae immediately, reenter the master/slave arrangement, and make restitution.

     Describing Philemon, some of us would say, “He’s a cold-hearted, closed-minded, tight-fisted slave owner.” What makes him think he can hold such power over another human being, anyway? If we believe slavery, or even indentured servitude, is always wrong, then Philemon needs to get over himself, and Onesimus gets to live and work wherever he pleases.

     Statistically, most of us will go with the second description. Paul should let Onesimus stay in Rome, and indeed wanted to: I would have been glad to keep him with me (verse 13). But that’s not what happened. Writing under the direct inspiration of God, Paul made a completely “other” proposition. It wasn’t the first description or the second. To be sure, it was nothing that ever would have occurred to the natural mind. Something supernatural was in play.

     Remember: by the time Paul wrote the letter, Philemon and Onesimus both were Christians. Though there were many traits and criteria to take into account, Paul put child-of-God status ahead of them all. Paul says to Philemon, I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother (verse 7), and appeals to him to receive Onesimus back no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother (verse 16). Notice: Paul didn’t order Philemon to emancipate Onesimus outright. That’s a big deal – it demonstrates Paul’s belief that adoption by God is infinitely better than emancipation from any man, and the gospel of Jesus Christ can redeem even a master/slave arrangement.

     Quite simply, Paul put the adjectives in their proper place. That’s the supernatural part. It would be easy – and natural – to describe Onesimus as “an enslaved Christian” and Philemon as “a slave-holding Christian,” and move on to the next hot-button situation. End of story – except it leaves no room, no epilogue, in which the power of the gospel does its glorious work.

     To the pollsters, I’m a post-middle-age white guy living in a blue-collar neighborhood in Midwestern fly-over country. The pollsters don’t bother with me, thinking, I suppose, they’ve already got me figured out. At times, I’m tempted to think they do. But then, I engage the mind of Christ. “Christian” has to be set in the front, by supernatural means, trusting God in letting the adjectives and adverbs fall in line behind.

     The recently departed theologian, J.I. Packer, had, I’ve heard, a nearly daily ritual. Early in the day he would remind himself, “I am a child of God. God is my Father. Heaven is my home, and each day is one day closer. My Savior is my Brother, and all Christians are my brothers and sisters too.” As top-notch as his theological skills were, as well studied as he was, he still wanted (and probably needed) frequent reminders of his simplest, most secure, and most important titles.

     I could quote a few other dead English guys with two letters in front of their last names – Chesterton, Lewis, Spurgeon – could bring you their insights on what it means to be a child of God plunked down in actual history and geography. And I’m tempted, I really am – they wrote some good stuff, almost prophetic. Instead, I’ll leap past their centuries and back into Paul’s, since his stuff has the clearest application for our times – and is altogether prophetic. We’re heading into a season, this being the autumn of an even-numbered year, in which we’ll be compelled to put the adjectives up front – to think and speak and act (and vote) according to labels and descriptors that should by no means hold first place. Philemon was given a chance to Refresh (Paul’s) heart in Christ (verse 20) by receiving Onesimus back as a brother. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say (verse 21). Notice: “in Christ” – Paul’s heart would be refreshed “in Christ.”

     This election coming up is being called the most significant in our country’s history – right… as if twenty or thirty others haven’t been. Politically, it’s no bigger or smaller a deal than any other. But from the perspective of God’s kingdom, this is the most important one for Christians to be engaging the mind of Christ. And the one after that will be more important still, simply because the kingdom will be two years closer to consummation, and I imagine God expects more cooperation from his people as the time draws nearer. “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” – absolutely, and all the quicker as more of God’s kids begin to think like their eldest Brother.

     Over the next couple weeks, I’m going to work on getting us some practice.             

 

 Grace and Peace (refreshing one another’s hearts in Christ),

 

John