This Sunday the Epistle comes from the very short book Philemon. At only 25 verses, we are reading nearly the entire book on Sunday (verses 1-21). Philemon was a member of the Church at Colosse and was brought to the faith by Paul. Philemon had a slave named Onesimus who ran away. We get the impression that Onesimus might have stolen from Philemon when he left in order to provide for himself. A slave stealing from the treasury of his master was an infraction punishable by death. Onesimus found his way to Paul who then, just as he did with Philemon, introduced him to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here is where the drama begins. Paul had rescued Philemon from the slavery of sin. Paul had also rescued Onesimus from temporal and spiritual slavery. Yet Philemon wanted Onesimus back. Look at what Paul does. He sends Onesimus back with his letter and says, “I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”

In this very short book, Paul speaks not only to the nature of Christian authority and obedience, but also to Christian ethics. If we have been freed, then we have the duty – we have the joy – to help others enjoy that same freedom found in Jesus Christ. It shows again that Christianity isn’t a mere mental or emotional exercise – although we do love God with our mind and heart. There are ramifications when we say “I believe.” Paul reminded Philemon that he too was once freed for greater service to the Lord and welcomed as a brother. Therefore he had the duty of joy to do the same for Onesimus.

Every week we say as a Church – I believe. How does saying “I believe” direct what “I do”?