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September 5, 2010
" Refresh
My Heart In Christ "
Scripture Setting: Philemon
1-21 NRSV
While imprisoned in an unidentified location, Apostle Paul wrote
a personal letter of entreaty to a church leader named Philemon.
Paul had benefitted from the presence and service of a slave
named Onesimus (meaning “useful one”), whom he described as
“useless to you, but now…useful both to you and to me” (v. 11).
Scholars have suggested that Onesimus was a runaway slave who
was converted by Paul and served him in prison, and whom Paul
was sending back to Philemon with the hope he would forgive him
and accept him as a brother in Christ and an equal.
Closer examination reveals a more subtle request embedded in
this letter. “I wanted to keep him,” Paul wrote, “but I
preferred to do nothing without your consent” (vv. 13 and 14).
“Let me have this benefit [usefulness] from you in the Lord!”
Paul asked for Philemon to return Onesimus to assist him in his
imprisonment. Paul could command instead of request (v. 8), but
chose instead to trust in Philemon’s generous and loving spirit
to go the extra mile and restore Onesimus to him. (And yet,
having reminded Philemon of his debt to Paul, he shifted from
entreaty to leverage in verse 21, expressing confidence in
Philemon’s obedience to the command that was not given!)
The word “refresh” is used twice in Philemon. Verse 7 praises
Philemon because “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed
through you.” Later, in making his subtle request for the return
of Onesimus, he entreated, “Refresh my heart in Christ.” Paul
used the same word in I Corinthians 16:18 to praise Christian
leaders who have “refreshed my spirit as well as yours,” and II
Corinthians 7:13 NIV as he thanked Christian followers who
“refreshed the spirit” of Titus. The word means to give or take
rest, to ease. It represents an action that takes place between
one human or group of humans and another. Furthermore, the word
“in” that is used has deeper meaning than the English
translation presents. To be “in Christ” is to participate in the
spirit, personality, and character of Jesus Christ.
For that reason, it would be a mistake to think of this theme
statement as a passive internal action of the self. To
paraphrase it “rest in Christ,” for instance, removes both the
involvement of other disciples who participate in the refreshing
process and the action portion of being “in Christ.” Instead,
Paul would say, “Give to one another the renewal and refreshment
that comes from loving and giving as Christ loved and gave.” It
is in this spirit that he requested the use of Onesimus, the
Useful One. It is in this spirit that we are to consider one
another’s needs and provide the renewal and energizing new life
that is the hallmark of God’s action in the world.
In the Communion service, we are refreshed by the symbols of the
body and blood of Christ. As we take the bread and wine, we take
Christ within us, take on his name, and commit our lives anew to
be his disciples. We are refreshed as we receive again God’s
grace—the grace that cleanses, forgives, and assures us of our
belovedness through Christ.
From Worship
Helps 9/5/2010 |
