Horace Rumpole: that great defender of most muddled and sinful humanity
If you work in the city (of Sydney) then every week is a good week to come to the City Bible Forum. This week I’ll be talking on the book of Philemon. Philemon is the smallest of the apostle Paul’s letters. Paul is advising Philemon how he should deal with a runaway slave, Onesimus.
What would you tell Philemon? My gut reaction is that slavery is wrong and that Onesimus is the noble hero of this tale. After all he is pursuing his own freedom! The truth is a little more complicated than that. Philemon has genuinely been wronged – can he really just forgive? Is forgiveness that simple? What should we do when people have wronged us? What difference does Jesus make? And what about if we’ve wronged others?
This letter is short but profound. Read it. And if you’re in town then come along and say G’day afterwards.
City North: Wednesday, 12:10-12:50pm or 1:10-1:50pm, lunch $5 Angel Place Conference Centre, 123 Pitt St
City South: Thursday, 1:10-1:50pm Lunch from 1pm $5 Upper Chapter House, St Andrew’s Anglican Cathedral, Corner George and Bathurst
