February 20, 2010

Philemon

Yes, again, but I had another thought. I'll be moving on to Titus after tomorrow, although I want to do the gospel readings on Sundays.

I commented briefly on the passive aggressive language Paul veers into yesterday, but I have a new take on it this time.

It's easy to realize that blessed are those, like Mary, who say yes right away, without prompting or cajoling or shaming into it. But for the rest of us - well, isn't that what guilt is FOR? And the outrageous mix of humility and command in Paul is the confusing part, but what he keeps saying is this: I declare Onesimus a free man, accept him as a brother. I would rather you do it freely, from the good in your heart, but this is what's going to happen. We cannot budge on certain issues, but the ideal would be to bring everyone around to the right way of thinking.

In that process, the weapons in our arsenal might often seem odd - and Paul bends over backwards and forwards trying to keep his humility and friendship unharmed "prisoner in Christ" appears twice and another more oblique reference occurs in these brief twenty-five lines. He doesn't want to pull the Teacher card or take away Philemon and Timothy's chance to make this discovery for themselves, but he has to make sure that Onesimus comes there and is accepted as a brother - that he has a place of honor and respect.

If you think I was building toward an actual moral, I'm afraid that'll have to wait until there's something that I have a grip on. I suppose it's a lesson on how hard it can be to have a position from which you can't bend - especially when it butts up against those you love and respect, who are used to you speaking softly and sweetly and not making waves in your relationship. Then suddenly you have to, and you're liable to end up sounding like Paul: "I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and no something forced" or "I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love" Philemon 1.14, 8.

What was the response to this? "Of course"? "How dare he?" ? "What?" ?

I can imagine them all, and chances are everyone can. How do we handle coming up against those we love when we cannot bend or compromise? When we cannot let the point drop? When we have to use every weapon in our arsenal, even those we hoped never to have to resort to? Can the ends ever erase the means?

We all live in a Fallen World - do we dare use its tools?