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Christians
engaging with our world
October 28, 2007
This week I read an article on Christendom and violence, I watched the film
“Amazing Grace” about the work of William Wilberforce ending slavery in the
British Empire exactly 200 years ago, I have worked, for this Sunday’s sermon,
on the letter in the Bible called Philemon (have a read of it, it won’t take you
long). All these three “works” have challenged me to think about how a Christian
should engage with our world. Throughout history there has been a diversity of
approaches; from complete disengagement with the world and so living alone on
top of poles, to being so involved with the world that you mount armies to
conquer in the name of Christ “for Christendom” (like the Crusades of the 11th
-13th Centuries). Most of us fit in between these extremes.
Focusing now on the issue of slavery; the New Testament never says clearly that
slavery is evil, or even wrong. But the letter of Philemon certainly provides
the “atmosphere in which the institution could only wilt and die” (F.F. Bruce).
Paul urges Philemon to treat his runaway slave with love, with forgiveness, to
treat him as though he was the apostle Paul himself. The slave has now become a
Christian and so the Christian Philemon is urged to treat his slave as “no
longer a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother ... both in the flesh
and in the Lord.” Vs 16
The Roman Empire had a vastly different form of slavery to the 17-18th Century
slavery we think of, but a slave was normally considered an item to be bought
and sold. Paul in the bible challenges not the institution but he challenges the
heart of people with the love and forgiveness of Christ that is for everyone
slave or free. The end of slavery in the western world took 1700 years and the
hard work of a strong, active Christian in politics for it to happen working to
change the institution. Which approach is the biblical one? The bible says that
both are. Both are working for the good of the other, one though is working to
change hearts, the other is providing a climate where hearts can be changed more
easily. Changing people’s hearts to follow Christ is of longer lasting value
Indonesia (like every country in this world) is a country where there are many
injustices, much poverty, plenty of corruption. How do we engage in our
community, in our work, in politics, in system of justice? I think that we need
to work at changing institutions AND changing hearts. How will you work for
change tomorrow at your work place or in the community?
Ian
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