Evening star., 1921-12-10
of Church News, Activities and Services
Sunday School Lesson

whose application changes with the
progress and advancement of time.
Paul placed emphasis upon the obii-
cations that Philemon owed as a
Christian. whose life should always
be guided by faith toward God and
love towards his fellow man. He had
changed in his own personal life
changed in his own personal life through
the grace of God. Paul did not seek to
create social revolution, but he tried
to make Philemon see when the trem-
ping slave returned with the apos-
ties letter that Christian fellowship
transcribed the difference of social
life. Our relations to others tests
our spiritual life. Onesimus had re-
turned willingly when Paul proposed
to send him back. for the spirit
standing. He was still in the eyes o.
the law the slave of Philemon. lie
had received the spiritual strength
to sustain him in that Relationship
He came to fulfill his obligations 10
Philemon.
Justice called for the slaves re-
turn. Paul longed to have retained
MIN, but he recognized that he had
not the right to the ministering serv-
Ice of another mans slave without
his consent. SO he advised him to re-
turn. Paul recognized also that
onesimus had wronged Philemon
when he ran away and carried off
what he could that belonged to his
master. This prompted the apostle
to offer to personally make good any
loss. He does not let justice alone
decide. for he appeals to his friend.
Philemon, to welcome the slave back
as brother in Christ and as a con-
vert won by Paul during his impris-
onment. While as an apostle he sug-
gests that he might have commanded
him. he prefers to appeal to him
to extend a hand Of welcome to the
former Improbable slave as brother
beloved and profit sharer in the serv-
ice of Christ. He tactfully pressed
home that appeal by a personal refer
ence to hims If as an old man and to
his being in chains.
Paul depended upon the principle
OF brotherhood to secure the welcome
he desired for Onesimus. The out
ward relationship of master and slave
was to be supplanted by that OF the
spirit of brotherhood. It was this
change in Onesimus that had made
him worth more to Philemon Paul
counted both master and slave as his
brothers and partners in the develop
ment of the kingdom of God. He
appeals to this fact when he said to
Philemon, IF you and ] are brothers,
then logically Onesimus is your
brother. since he is my BROTHER
(Eerse I'D
Paul was not only an idealist. but
he was practical man when he came
to dealing with any social question.
He considered that the first work of
Christianity was to transform the
characters Of men SO that out of
their transformed lives there would
inevitably come the transformation
Of all social conditions through the
victory of justice. Righteousness and
love over injustice, iniquity and ha-
tired. He had learned to trust God IN
the dark hours and look forward with
faith to the new day when the spirit
of brotherhood would transcend all
differences and solve every social, po-
itical and indus rial problem.
We are moving rapidly today when
forts to solve the perplexing prob
lens left as an aftermath OF the
world war. We have seen suddenly
ONE out of the darkest moment.
when men feared that England and
Ireland could not find wy out of
their centuries of animosity and ha-
-red. a path that will probably re-
move the differences of centuries X
the spirit Of brotherhood rules In the
isles of Great Britain and Ireland. It
is the key that will solve the worlds
Industrial problem. The success that
has marked the conference of nations
30 far in the nations capital is that
America has sought. through her
leaders. to establish brotherhood
among the nations whose interests are
involved in the problems of the Pa.
cific If in all the future men appeal
to justice and the desire for brother
mood in spirit of faith In God and
love for humanity. as Paul did In mis-
appeal to Philemon, then, through the
grace of the living God, We will see
gradually developing among men and
nations the spirit Of Christ that re-
.eals greatness in life by love and
service.