Sermons

Vista La Mesa Christian Church

Sept. 6, 2015

Guest Speaker:  Rev. Morris Finch

 Scripture references:  Psalm 103:1-14,  Philemon

Nearly everyone here has been hurt by the action or words of another.  How we respond to that hurt impacts our life.  This morning I’d like to share a few thoughts about forgiveness.

I suppose we could begin by looking at the Psalms (103:2-3; 10) and admit that we do not offer that kind of forgetfulness or forgiveness.  I can forgive and I do forget, but not like God who has “steadfast love from everlasting to everlasting.” That kind of love and forgiveness is God’s and we call it Grace.  Frankly, we all need that Grace.

So let’s turn to Philemon to watch Paul convince a runaway slave and the slave master to forgive each other and discover what can happen between them.

First, let me introduce the principal players:   Paul is a prisoner, probably in Rome.  He may be in a rented house with some freedom to receive guests; however he is stuck.  If so the year is 60-61 CE.  He will be back in a real Roman prison in a few years where Nero will have him executed sometime around 64-65.

Tradition states that Philemon was a wealthy Christian in Colossae.  Paul does not visit Colossae according to Acts.  Perhaps he became a Christian when Paul spent two years in Ephesus we do not know. He was a leader in the church along with his wife, Apphia.  Orthodox tradition calls him a saint and says he too died during the persecution by Nero.

Onesimus was Philemon’s slave who evidently stole something and ran off.  He made his way to Rome and somehow made contact with Paul.  Under Paul he became a Christian.  There is a tradition that states that Onesimus became the Bishop of Ephesus and subsequently a martyr.

Those are the principal players.

Paul writes a personal letter to Philemon in hopes that he can convince him to forgive Onesimus and take him back.  Onesimus has changed and seems willing to go back. He serves Paul not as a slave but out of respect and love.  His willingness to return to Philemon shows his changed attitude and approach to life. He knows that a runaway slave is under a death sentence.

Paul appeals to the churchman in love, to act in love towards his former slave and to receive him as a brother.  Look at v8, “For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty…” Doesn’t this sound like a parent (Paul does see himself as a parent of both men).  Can’t you see a parent correcting a couple of quarrelling kids by saying, “Stop that! Say you’re sorry.  Hug and forgive!” It always works, right? No!  Paul wants Philemon to think about what he is asking.  He wants Philemon to act out of his “goodness . . .  not by compulsion but of your own accord (v14).” This is serious stuff, this forgiveness.  I suspect that Paul wants Philemon to consider what role he played in Onesimus running away.  Paul is suggesting that forgiveness can alter the relationship.  If Tradition is correct then, Onesimus was received by Philemon and went on to be a leader in the church as well.  Forgiveness did change the relationship between them.

If we tack on modern research about forgiveness, we discover that Paul was right on target.  Indeed, studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who hold resentments.  A study and the University of Wisconsin found the more forgiving people were, the less they suffered from a wide range of illnesses.  The opposite was also true, the less forgiving people reported a greater number of health problems.[1] Forgiveness is good for your health!

Forgiveness is a process.  Allstate Insurance has a commercial showing a young couple at a fast-food restaurant eating.  She is showing him a check she has received for good driving. He starts to say something and she cuts him off by saying, “Don’t say a word!”  Her comments up to this point suggest that he has been a chauvinist.  I suspect repentance (an apology) and forgiveness will be needed before bedtime.  We can even hope that the relationship can become more equitable.

Forgiveness takes work.  Jesus used the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Mt. 18:21-35) and the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11-32) to illustrate how we should forgive without limits and how God forgives.  Forgiveness doesn’t always change the relationship.  Even as he was being tormented on the cross, he said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Lk. 23:34)  They continued to torment him!

Forgiveness is not always easy.  One wonders if some young men could have forgiven their bullies if the number of school shootings would be down.  One wonders if those responsible for teaching racial hate had taught reconciliation and forgiveness, if we might live in a more peaceable world.  Forgiveness is hard, but it’s right.

Paul didn’t tell Philemon how to forgive and neither will I tell you how.  But Paul did tell Philemon to act in love.  If we who bear the name Christian act in love then we can do things we aren’t sure we can: forgiveness may be one act we can do.  Sometimes we feel, “I’m owed something!” before we can forgive.  Paul said, “Charge it to my account.”   I wonder if that is like the old expression my Dad would say, “Charge it to the dust and let the rain settle it.”  Forgiveness, it needs to be part of our life style.

[1] Forgiveness, Wikipedia