Marker
Originally scheduled for November 29
Sitting innocently in the middle of the letters of the New Testament
is a tiny book named Philemon. The book was well known to the
ancient church, which accepted it unquestioningly as being inspired
Scripture. Athanasius, who is generally credited with having
formalized the canon of Scripture, accepted it because it met one of
his criteria: the book was useful in the pastoral work of the
church. It was not until the 19th century that the
canonicity of this book was challenged. Scholars then viewed it as
nothing more than a personal letter of St. Paul. Ultimately,
however, the test of Athanasius stood the test of time. This book is
useful to the church because it shows the power of Christ to change
lives.
Now for those of you who are wondering if there’s going to be a quiz
on Philemon, let me outline briefly what occurred. Paul was in Rome
under house arrest. He met and brought to Christ a runaway slave
named Onesimus. A runaway slave in those days was viewed as a
terrible criminal, betraying a master who fed, clothed and housed
him. Paul wrote to Philemon asking permission to have Onesimus with
him. Onesimus was to carry the letter back to Philemon. This was
extremely risky, in the world’s view, for a runaway slave who
returned risked being branded, castrated and forced to fight a wild
animal in the arena. But Paul was confident of Philemon’s
faithfulness and persuaded Onesimus to go. Things turned out well;
both Philemon and Onesimus became prominent in the early church;
both were martyred under the Emperor Nero.
I don’t know about you, but I’d have serious reservations about
going back if I were Onesimus. Castration? Branding? It shows us
here that Onesimus is a marker, an example, of what Christ can do to
change lives. Philemon, too, is such a marker. One can simply state
that if Onesimus was changed so much as to be willing to go back, it
is an example for the rest of us of what the power of Christ can be
in changing lives.
This morning at communion we set forward another marker of Christ’s
power to change lives. You think not?
·
In communion you proclaim the atonement — the death of Christ being
sufficient for your sins. No longer do you have the burden of sin to
bear yourself; rather, Christ is bearing it for you. That’s what
you’re telling the world by taking communion.
·
In communion you proclaim the resurrection — that Christ has power
over death and the grave. He has promised that at the end he will
raise you from the dead as he was raised from the dead. You should
not fear death. That’s what you’re telling the world by taking
communion.
·
In communion you proclaim the ascension — the Christ is now at the
right hand of the father, interceding for us. This also proclaims
that someday he will return to judge the living and the dead. And
that proclaims that you are ready for his return. That’s what you’re
telling the world by taking communion.
That’s what you’re telling the world — this morning. May I suggest
that you live your life in such a manner that you tell the world the
same thing all week long. Examine yourself this morning and see if
what you proclaim is what you believe.
