Day 57 - Philemon

Philemon is one of those little books and sometimes little known books that we don't read often.  It really has one theme and point.  It has one chapter.  Here's the crux of it:

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 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 will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 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 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. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

That's the story.  Paul is writing Philemon to impress upon him the importance of freeing his former slave so that he might be a partner in the ministry rather than just a forced laborer around the house.  He is asking Philemon to change his mind about something...something that will have a huge personal impact on him.  Two things come to mind in this passage.

1. The Bible was written during a period of slavery a long time ago.  Do you know how radical this little book is?  Very, very radical.  To me, Philemon is evidence enough of a new found ideology on slavery that we don't see in the rest of the Bible.  Paul even talks about slavery a lot.  However, this book is written when Paul is an old man, and I think we're seeing a bit of a changed perspective.  Paul recognizes that this is about people, and calls on Philemon to do the same.  The people that used the Bible hundreds of years ago to support slavery obviously had not read Philemon.  This is a radical passage for what was a hot-button issue many years ago.  May this kind of thinking permeate communities across the globe where the barbaric institution of slavery is still accepted.
2. Paul leveraged his influence and position for the good of those who had no influence or position.  This is what servant leadership is about.  We hear that term 'servant leadership' a lot.  I'm not sure if anyone has a really good definition for it, but I know it when I see it, and this is it.  Leaders and those in positions of authority are called by God to leverage their position for the good of those who have no power or authority.  Leaders nudge.  Notice Paul says that he could basically 'command' this, but instead he was appealing out of love.  Paul understood the nuances of leadership, and he also understood the incredible responsibility he had on behalf of others. 

So, don't be afraid to rock the boat and leverage your leadership.  A couple of good lessons from a little book.