Philemon part 2...Philemon 1-25...Do The Right Thing!

 Back to Philemon this Sunday with the actual reading through of this letter from one church member to another church member about another church member.  Paul is the pusher; Philemon is the receiver; and Onesimus is the carrier.  As a result of Onesimus' conversion now all three are brothers in Christ.

How will Philemon receive this instruction from his brother in the Lord, Paul?  Will he respond like the father in the parable of the prodigal son as someone coming home who has been changed or will he respond like the older son and brother who still was focused on himself rather than the other?  How would Philemon's response affect his household and the church that meets in his home?  

The topic of forgiveness created quite a "buzz" around the church and in our "Going Deeper" groups after the morning worship service.  Stories were flying about the church foyer of different scenarios with being the one asking for forgiveness or the one giving forgiveness.  The sharing of experiences started showing that we are not alone when walking through this thing called forgiveness.  

The act of forgiveness is one of the vertebrates of the healthy church.  If we are not participating in Biblical forgiveness it will have the same affect on the local church as it would for Philemon and the church that meets in his home.  When we don't act like the father, God, and respond like the older son, the world, we never experience "full forgiveness" and its benefits individually and corporately.  The lingering of un-forgiveness in the church body makes the church body lag in spiritual growth.

One last point is that Paul is asking Philemon to do what he has already done.  Paul mentions Mark who was once estranged from him but is now called a "fellow worker."  In my studies of the week into 2 Peter, Peter, another giant of the faith, does the same thing with his audience.  He is "making every effort" as he is encouraging them to do the same.  How important it is for us to speak from experience and action rather than just from knowledge.

Adam