IN SIGHT - SLAVERY

SLAVERY -  PAST & PRESENT

         RECONCILIATION: The book of Philemon gives a solution that may surprise you

THE PAST

It is the first century and Rome rules the world as a military and political power. The institution of human slavery is a driving socio-economic force. There are 120 million people in the Roman Empire and 60 million slaves. The relationship of masters and slaves is well understood and practiced. Masters have total control of their property and slaves have no human rights and an absolute obligation to obey and serve. Even the basic principles of human relationships do not apply because the culture does not consider slaves as persons or citizens.

The book of Philemon is a personal letter from Paul in Rome to Philemon in Colossae. As a personal letter it opens new insights into Paul as a person. Here he is not the rational thinker laying out the theology that will become the logic that makes Christian thought understandable like we see in other books.  Here he is not the hard-driving traveler establishing local churches despite storms, mobs and prisons. Here he is a wise and sensitive friend who relates to individuals in a loving and caring manner. The letter provides a number of insights into relationships and how they are changed when the parties are believers in Jesus Christ. It provides examples from real life on how principles are applied in the context of real life settings. Paul has skillfully positioned himself as the trusted friend and counselor of each party. He is the safe bridge that each party can use to meet and acquire insights about the other’s point of view and for God’s principles of relationship to be exercised.

Onesimus is an unreliable and dishonest slave who runs away from his master, Philemon. In Rome he encounters Paul and becomes a believer in Jesus Christ. Under Paul’s teaching he becomes a spiritual person and they become closely bonded. Onesimus matures in Christ and becomes a conscientious, productive and honest person. He can now live up to the meaning of his name, “useful”. Paul believes he has grown to the point that he can develop a healthy relationship with Philemon, despite the problems of the past. Paul also realizes that Philemon will have a very difficult time accepting Onesimus based on his past experiences. Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon with a letter that will help Philemon understand that Christ followers have a different set of values in relationship than is typical of the culture and non-believers. It is a very emotional and risky situation for everyone.

The context suggests that Onesimus used “passive- aggressive” resistance in his role as a slave. Moreover, he probably stole from his master Philemon and then ran away. Because he broke all the rules and laws he was probably marked for severe punishment or maybe even death. It was a seriously fractured relationship! While an escapee, Paul teaches him the Godly principles of relationship: truthfulness, forgiveness and abundant grace. These foster a loving family closeness where each one freely gives without thought of getting in return. Paul and Onesimus develop an intimate father/son like relationship that refreshes Paul. Onesimus grows in character as a man and becomes spiritually mature. Paul believes it is time for Christ-like relationship principles to be applied to an unhealthy situation and, as the law requires, sends Onesimus back to Philemon but with his personal letter of explanation.

Paul in his letter recalls the many wonderful relationships with people in the house church led by Philemon. He uses terms of endearment to re-enforce how fellow believers relate in healthy beneficial ways, rather than the cultures relationship model of getting even, getting more or getting revenge.

Paul had probably taught Philemon to be fair and just in treating slaves, as explained in his instructions to households in Colossians 3: 18 – 25 & 4:1. Any good treatment of Onesimus by Philemon has turned out to be an embarrassment. Philemon is certainly under pressure from his household and others to use the culture’s rules of relationship – retribution! Paul as a good counselor understands this is a difficult position for Philemon and wisely practices Godly relationship skill by requesting, not ordering, forgiveness and acceptance. This shifts the decision-making from external pressure to inner application of core values and the work of the Holy Spirit. Since Onesimus is without assets to compensate for his theft, Paul offers to cover the cost and complete the reconciliation process.

Philemon and Onesimus now have the opportunity to demonstrate that healthy Godly relationships can overcome unhealthy cultural relationships. Philemon can now understand that God has used events to turn a useless recalcitrant slave into a productive man of character who will be loyal as a brother. It is only the power of God that enables one to set aside past hurts, insults, losses, anger and resentment and transcend into brotherly love as demonstrated by the life and death of Jesus. 

THE PRESENT

Today, Americans deeply believe in freedom and slavery is seen as evil. But through the 1700’s this was not true. Slavery was an economic necessity and was commonly accepted and legal all over the world. Both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington owned slaves and were highly respected men at that time. During the eighteen century, the slave trade accounted for the transport of a staggering 11 million Africans, about 1.4 million died during the voyage. It was the evangelical Christian movement, led by William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833) that enacted the abolition of slavery in the British Empire on July 29, 1833. In the United States, the abolition movement was led by Christian churches and the Republican Party. The United States did not have all of its slaves freed until after 618,000 men - white and black - gave their lives fighting and women greatly sacrificed in a Civil War that lasted four long years. President Abraham Lincoln issued his order freeing the slaves on September 22, 1862 but freedom for all of them was not complete until the Confederate forces were defeated and the war ended in 1865. This was followed by the freeing of slaves in Western Europe.

Even today slavery is practiced with 30 million people caught in human trafficking primarily in atheistic East Europe and Islamic Northern Africa.Today is a thriving economic industry that nets billions of dollars annually.

In many Islamic countries under Muslim Sharia Law women are treated like slaves; brutalized, mutilated, raped (required sex without mutual consent), stoned, deprived of education and freedom to move about freely, and required to cover themselves with burkas (National Geographic, Dec 2010, pages 28-53). Women have willingly or unwillingly traded freedom for security. This is a challenge for Christians to change the world with the love of Christ. 

THE SOLUTION

Christians in America find it difficult to accept and awkward to explain the Bible’s tacit acceptance of authority and of the institution of slavery. Jesus taught that we should respect authority, both Divine and civil, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). Paul taught that wives should submit to the authority of their husbands (Ephesians 5: 22-29), children should obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1-4), and slaves should obey their masters (Ephesians 6: 5-9). Authority is necessary for an orderly, productive and just society. Authority is neccessary to avoid choas. This is accomplished through Servant Leaders (Mark 9:35), as Jesus modeled, and by leaders/rulers who respect, care for and even love those under their control.

Jesus during his earthly ministry did not focus on political and social reform. He did not take political action or initiate social reforms. He concentrated on changing people’s hearts and minds. When people incorporate the love, grace, justice and truth of God into their soul, their minds change and that is what happened.

As William Wilberforce, the English Christian reformer, who ended slavery in England, taught: When you change hearts and mind-sets, you reform the collective government, culture and family structures. The culture changes when you change people’s heart through the redemption of Jesus’ death and resurrection and their minds through teaching about the Kingdom of God. The United States constitution protects our freedom; democracy keeps tyrants from exploiting their power; free-enterprise provides prosperity and release from the cycle of poverty; education teaches knowledge, understanding and wisdom; hospitals heal the sick; adoption agencies care for the orphans; retirement homes care for the elderly; and millions of people and organization work every day to improve our quality of life.  

When there is enough “salt and light” in a culture you can have the benefits of limited government with democracy, economic free enterprise and personal liberty. It is emancipating a person from their fallen sinful thinking and behaviors that allows the inner freedom to relate constructively.

If Christ-like masters and Christ-like slaves can make an adversarial relationship like slavery work more productively and equitably, the same is true for employer/employee relationships, husband/wife relationships, parent/child relations, teacher/student relationships etc.