Article: Changing The Culture

Changing the Culture

By Jon Henegar

In Paul’s letter to Philemon we see a very important message for the Emergent church. Today’s progressive/ emergent church model is one of social justice. Rick Warren’s P.E.A.C.E. plan is a good example of that. His plan is basically a kingdom now/ dominion theology that say’s the church must usher in the changes needed in the world that would allow the stage to be set for the return of Christ.

Philemon was the owner of a runaway slave named Onesimus. Onesimus stole something of value from Philemon, ran away and eventually met Paul, who was in house arrest in Rome. Onesumis became a Christian and then became a helpmate to Paul. In Paul’s letter he appeals to Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his household, not as just a slave, but now as a brother in Christ.

The culture of the day allowed people to own slaves, as we can see in this and many other scriptures. This ownership literally gave the power of life or death over the slave under certain circumstances, such as when the slave stole something or ran away. Philemon, according to the culture, had the right to end Onesimus’ life or at the very least have him severely punished. Paul showed Philemon that, as a follower of Christ, he now had a higher obligation to fulfill in his relationship with his slave. Instead of being master and slave they were now brothers in Christ. Culture was changed the day Philemon accepted the new relationship he now had with Onesimus. The slavery in this story didn’t end because the church engaged in social justice; it ended when Christ changed a relationship between two men. Paul didn’t condemn slavery and appeal to the culture to change. He appealed to who Philemon now was in Christ and that changed the culture. Culture doesn’t reflect God when man changes the culture; the culture reflects God when Christ changes man.

According to the Bible, the world will never know P.E A.C.E.(peace) through the acts and efforts of man, other than perhaps the 3 and half years during the tribulation. The emergent church say’s that we can all work together to build a better world. The emergent church says that, we (man) have the ability to produce the world that God always had in mind. Is that what scripture really says? If it does please point it out to me, because I don’t see it. God bless.

Share on Facebook