Breaking Barriers

The world of the Apostle Paul had a very strict social order which separated folks who were different.  Of course, the biggest one of them all was the way the Jewish people called everyone else Gentile.  The term Gentile was not regarded as a compliment, but a way of separating the Jews from those regarded as having little  more value than dogs.  But, there were others, too.  Women had no rights. Neither did children.  People with serious contagious diseases such as  leprosy were forced to live whatever life they had left apart from the healthy community.  And, there were also some who were free and some who were slaves.

 

In Paul's letter to the Colossians, the Apostle speaks of one held in high regard.  "...Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you..."  (Colossians 4:9)  What Paul does not mention in the letter is something everyone already knows.  Onesimus is a slave.  In the very small epistle written to Philemon, we learn that this faithful and beloved brother was and still is a slave of Philemon.  Paul's friend, Philemon, is encouraged to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother and not a slave. (Philemon 1:16)   "Welcome him as you would welcome me," Paul writes.  (Philemon 1:17)

 

In those days the gospel was breaking down barriers that self righteousness, pride, bigotry, and prejudice had thrown in place to separate some from others.  Unfortunately, these barrier building spirits still exist today.  Even more unfortunately is the spirit of apathy which allows those of who bear the gospel message to look the other way.  Many of us can look back to an earlier time in our life and regret that we did not take a clearer and bolder position about some of the barriers erected between people in our world.  It was not easy then.  It is not easy now.  But, Paul's loving way of speaking to his friend certainly points into the future that is before us.