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Philemon – The Message

^1-3 I, Paul, am a prisoner for the sake of Christ, here with my brother Timothy. I write this letter to you, Philemon, my good friend and companion in this work—also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, a real trooper, and to the church that meets in your house. God’s best to you! Christ’s blessings on you!

^4-7 Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.

^8-9 In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.

^10-14 While here in jail, I’ve fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter—Onesimus! He was useless to you before; now he’s useful to both of us. I’m sending him back to you, but it feels like I’m cutting off my right arm in doing so. I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I’m in jail for the Message. But I didn’t want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn’t willingly agreed to.

^15-16 Maybe it’s all for the best that you lost him for a while. You’re getting him back now for good—and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother! That’s what he was to me—he’ll be even more than that to you.

^17-20 So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?) Do me this big favor, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.

^21-22 I know you well enough to know you will. You’ll probably go far beyond what I’ve written. And by the way, get a room ready for me. Because of your prayers, I fully expect to be your guest again.

^23-25 Epaphras, my cellmate in the cause of Christ, says hello. Also my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. All the best to you from the Master, Jesus Christ!

I came across a quote this week from the actor Alan Alda, best known to me as Hawkeye Pierce on the Korean war-based television show M*A*S*H, which catapulted viewers each week into a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital set in South Korea during the years 1950-1953.  Here is his Golden Rule for a tarnished age: 

“Be fair with others, but then keep after them until they’re fair with you.”

This morning we heard a letter, presumably written by the Apostle Paul to his friend and brother in Christ, Philemon. It got me wondering about what seems like the lost art of letter writing. How would it be if we wrote a letter in this style to our friends and family, our siblings in Christ, and perhaps to some of our government officials? 

What would we need to include in order to imitate the writing style of Paul? As was the letter writing custom, Paul begins with a Salutation; introducing himself and his co-author Timothy and offering a greeting to indicate whom his letter is meant to be shared with. 

Next Paul praises the main recipient, Philemon, with words of Thanksgiving for his past good deeds. Paul lets Philemon know that he is praying for him and offers praise to God for the ways that Philemon’s practice of following the living Christ has ripple effects in their community of believers. 

The stage is now set and Paul gets to the heart of the matter. The Body of the Letter is Paul’s appeal to Philemon for yet another good deed. As a friend, Paul asks Philemon to do him a favor.

The favor is a complicated request, but one that comes from Paul’s heart; a heart that was previously made of stone but that has been softened by his encounter with the risen Christ while traveling on the road to Damascus. 

What is the request? That Philemon forgive. That he forgive Onesimus, his slave, for running away. That he forgive Paul, his friend, for keeping him, perhaps longer than necessary as Onesimus was “useful” to Paul while Paul and Onesimus shared a prison cell. And, more importantly, that Philemon see Onesimus in a new light; in the light of Christ. In addition to forgiving, Paul is asking Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a runaway slave returned, but as a sibling in Christ, an equal. 

Lastly, Paul includes a Farewell and Closing Benediction. 

This letter was written almost two thousand years ago. Was it effective then? We do not know how Philemon received Onesimus when he returned from his time in prison with Paul. Did he welcome him as an equal or did he put him back in servitude, perhaps beating him or killing him for his disobedience? 

Would this letter be effective now? Our track record in this country is not good when measured by treatment, past and present, of slaves and former slaves and their ancestors. 

In verses eight and nine, Paul writes, “In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.” 

How do we change ourselves – and how do we motivate others to change? 

Paul was changed by direct experience with the risen Christ. I was also. Maybe you also have had an experience that changed you; brought Christ’s light and love into sharp focus and changed the way you interact with the people in the world around you. 

Our country shed much blood in an effort to put an end to slavery. Ending legalized slavery has not ended racial inequality and racial injustices. Meaningful change must be compelled from the inside out; not from the outside in. Changing the laws were only the beginning. We are still struggling to change hearts and minds and actions. 

Paul understood this. He chose to try to persuade Philemon through encouragement, through example, through a shared belief in God and the Message that Jesus shared while walking, talking, healing, on the earth – and that the Holy Spirit continues to convey through every day contact with those open to receiving the Message. 

It is often a conundrum. We want to affect meaningful change. Yet changing hearts and minds is often slow and tedious work. Yes, ensure that our laws are just and fair – and then continue to advocate for equal protection under the laws. 

Who would you choose to write to? This is my letter… 

I, Rev. TJ Mack, along with the members and friends of the Union Congregational Church of Hancock, write this letter to you, Janet Mills, our elected Governor and our companion in the work of caring for all of God’s children living and working side by side in the State of Maine. Blessings on you and all you do!

Every time your name comes up in the news, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” for the ways in which you support science based health care decisions, have made community college free for Mainers, and are working to improve relations with Maine’s Indigenous population. Whether you are a member of a faith community I do not know, but I am grateful for the ways that you value and honor each member of this state as having inherent worth and value simply by virtue of birth right. 

I have a favor to ask of you. As a Christian, and the Pastor of the Union Congregational Church of Hancock, I feel compelled to speak up for the Indigenous Tribes that have inhabited these lands and fished and paddled these waters long before we immigrants arrived. I appeal to your sense of fairness and adherence to the rule of law with which you so faithfully govern. 

While here in Hancock, I have come to know and love the sacred land and water that the People of the Dawn, the Wabanaki Confederacy, have called home for thousands of years. I have also come to know and love these people, and wish to encourage you and our elected officials to treat them with the full dignity and respect that they deserve. Knowing historically how our government officials have taken advantage of these people; stealing their land, stealing their children, treating them as criminals for honoring their heritage and speaking their languages. I urge you to change your heart and mind regarding the Tribal Sovereignty legislation that comes before you, giving these people back the rights to some of their land and water by honoring the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement, granting them similar rights and privileges as Indigenous populations in the other 49 states. 

I know that I can count on you, Governor Mills, to do the right thing. Honoring the 1980 Maine Indians Claims Settlement Act is not only right for the people of the Wabanaki Confederacy, it is right for all the people of this territory we know as Maine. 

All the best to you, Janet, from your voting public, Pastor TJ and the Members and Friends of the Union Congregational Church of Hancock. 

Who else might we choose to write to? 

President Donald J. Trump

Vice President J.D. Vance

Senators Susan Collins and Angus King 

A friend or family member with whom you disagree on a critically important issue? 

I encourage you to try this. Choose a topic that is close to your heart that you believe the other party needs to rethink. These might include: Separation of Church and State; the importance of upholding democratic principles; the dangers inherent in Christian Nationalism; the fact that everyone deserves equal protection under the law; the belief that no one is above the law; or common sense gun legislation. 

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

I pray that you are bold enough to write such a letter. And I pray that you are courageous enough to receive such a letter. 

May we all be open to civil discourse and learn to walk together into the way of peace. 

Amen

Rev. TJ Mack