September 9, 2007

 Sometimes You Just Have to Let It Slide

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

Philemon 1-21

Opening Illustration – Fans still support Carlos Zambrano

What do we do when people struggle? Do we cut our losses and disassociate ourselves, or do we keep faith in them and give them a second chance?

Paul advocates for Onesimus – asks Philemon’s mercy.

The story – Paul starts church in Colossae; Philemon is in leadership – church meets in his house.

Some conflict occurs; Onesimus may have stolen or damaged something.

Onesimus asks Paul to advocate. Onesimus becomes a Christian. Paul wants Onesmisus’ services.

Paul writes letter to Philemon asking for Onesmisus’ freedom.

Paul butters Philemon up a little. (Slide)

Paul wields his authority as an apostle (Slide)

Paul reminds Philemon that he owes him. (Slide)

Paul finishes up by buttering him up again (Slide)

This letter raises several issues that affect the way we live out Christian faith today.

First: Reminds us of the equality and dignity of every person in the church.

This letter does not say slavery is wrong – just that those distinctions have no place in the church.

In the church we cannot observe distinctions imposed on people by the society around us.

Some in society want to draw clearer distinctions between immigrants and the rest of the society. Our church is right to emphasize collaboration with Mexican immigrants.

Second: Story reminds us: Having faith in someone is more than just letting mistakes slide – it’s envisioning a new person.

Paul believed in Onesimus – imagined what Onesimus could do for the cause of the gospel.

We need to have faith in the people around us and in ourselves if we’re going to work for transformation.

Final Illustration: Pastoral Care and transformation

We believe that the mercy we show towards others is the same mercy God will show to us in evaluating our lives. Certainly in our lives there is a time to show mercy and a time when it’s best not to.

As Christians we believe it is usually better to err on the side of mercy, to give others a second chance. Often that second chance is all someone needs to learn their lesson and allow God to completely change the direction of their lives.

We can all look back at certain times in our lives where someone had faith in us and say, “Thank God they believed in me.” We look back at the way God has worked in our lives and say, “Thank God for not giving up on me, for seeing that on the worst day of my life God knew I could do better and trusted me to do so.”

If God can show that kind of mercy to us on our worst day, then we should also be able to look with eyes of forgiveness at someone who has harmed us and say, “I’m going to show you the kind of mercy I hope to receive someday.”