Onesimus

I've been spending some time in Philemon. Why, is the subject of another blog. At any rate, it's been on my heart and I want to share a few things.

I spent last Friday evening with some women friends. We're starting a book group, and the first night was really just an opportunity to get to know each other a little better. We're all members of the same local church, have been part of this particular brotherhood for a good portion of our adult lives. Being women in a patriarchal setting sometimes presents challenges and we talked a little about that. I remember when I first came back to the church after years of running. One of my sisters, I'm not sure which said, "Why do you have to go back to THAT church? You're raising boys, for crying out loud." When I shared that with these women at my book group, these women in the same situation as me, they looked at me and said, "Why did you come back to this?"

A disclaimer...the church I attend is wonderful. It's a more "progessive" body, I guess. And I'm not trying to say those that are more conservative in their views are wrong. Truly I'm not. I just know my own heart, the ugliness there, and what God desires that I be transformed into. And that is why I am here. Back in the church that I ran from so many years ago. Because God works here. In spite of weaknesses and fallible creatures, this particular church within this particular brotherhood is God glorifying, Bible believing, Truth searching, and neighbor loving, as most of the bodies within this brotherhood are. Again, this is why I am here.

Just like Onesimus. He was a slave. Paul sent him back to Philemon. Now, did Philemon free this former slave on his return? I don't know. Maybe he did. Is the thought of one man owning another repulsive to God? I believe it is. But we live in a fallen world and there will be repulsiveness here until Christ comes again. All I know is that Paul sent Onesimus back. And he went. Would that have been the best thing to do with every runaway slave? I assume not.

Don't read too much into my analogy. I'm not saying this brotherhood treats women like slaves. Or that their treatment of women is repulsive to God. I'm just trying to say that I have much to learn about submission.