Showing posts with label Philemon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philemon. Show all posts
9/04/2022
Identity - Philemon - Labor Day Weekend - 9-4-22
9/09/2019
A New Identity
Sermon podcast from this past Sunday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Philemon 1-21. I'm not a big fan of this Bible book.
Video Sermon Preview
"A New Identity" podcast
Video Sermon Preview
"A New Identity" podcast
9/06/2016
Identity
Sermon podcast from this past Sunday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.
"Identity" podcast
"Identity" podcast
9/08/2013
Useful
This week's Bible reflection (Manipulation) doesn't hold back on my feelings for the book of Philemon. Is there anything useful? Yup. And it's in today's sermon from St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL
"Useful" podcast
"Useful" podcast
9/03/2013
Manipulation
I loathe it.
Paul masterfully manipulated this letter into one that seems to have no appropriate response except for Onesimus’ freedom and equality.
If the intent is good in the end, is it OK to use blatant manipulation of another person to achieve the results you want?
I don't like to be manipulated or to
see folks being manipulated. I'm sure I've manipulated folks before, too. Doesn't make it right at all. It just means I can be as big of a jerk as anyone else.
In the book of Philemon, Paul was
really manipulative. He wanted Philemon to release Onesimus from being a slave. I think he also wanted to challenge Philemon to do more than simply
do the right things in his life.
Paul
used cleverness to drive home his manipulative agenda. He played on Onesimus’ name, (it means “useful) by calling him formerly “useless” but now useful. He
played on Philemon’s sense of fairness, too. (“I preferred to do nothing
without your consent.” and “If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you
anything, charge that to my account. . . I say nothing about your owing me even
your own self!”)
Paul masterfully manipulated this letter into one that seems to have no appropriate response except for Onesimus’ freedom and equality.
If the intent is good in the end, is it OK to use blatant manipulation of another person to achieve the results you want?
- When is manipulation appropriate?
- How is persuasion different than manipulation?
- There's a lot more here, too. What are your thoughts?
9/03/2010
Goodwill
This week's Bible study post (Things that irk me) provides a nice rhyme to soften the rant in what seems to be a very uplifting sermon for this week at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL
"Goodwill" text
"Goodwill" podcast
"Goodwill" text
"Goodwill" podcast
8/30/2010
Things that irk me
I don't like to be manipulated or to see folks being manipulated. It really irks me.
When Paul wrote to Philemon, he was really manipulative. Paul wanted Philemon to release Onesimus from his servitude. I think he also wanted to challenge Philemon to do more than simply do the right things in his life.
In the short chapter of Philemon, Paul used cleverness to drive home his manipulative agenda. He played on Onesimus’ name, (it means “useful) by calling him formerly “useless” but now useful. He played on Philemon’s sense of fairness, too. (“I preferred to do nothing without your consent.” and “If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. . . I say nothing about your owing me even your own self!”)
Paul masterfully manipulated this letter into one that seems to have no appropriate response except for Onesimus’ freedom and equality.
If the intent is good in the end, is it OK to use blatant manipulation of another person to achieve the results you want?
When is manipulation appropriate?
How is persuasion different than manipulation?
Why does the presense of manipulation irk me so?
When Paul wrote to Philemon, he was really manipulative. Paul wanted Philemon to release Onesimus from his servitude. I think he also wanted to challenge Philemon to do more than simply do the right things in his life.
In the short chapter of Philemon, Paul used cleverness to drive home his manipulative agenda. He played on Onesimus’ name, (it means “useful) by calling him formerly “useless” but now useful. He played on Philemon’s sense of fairness, too. (“I preferred to do nothing without your consent.” and “If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. . . I say nothing about your owing me even your own self!”)
Paul masterfully manipulated this letter into one that seems to have no appropriate response except for Onesimus’ freedom and equality.
If the intent is good in the end, is it OK to use blatant manipulation of another person to achieve the results you want?
When is manipulation appropriate?
How is persuasion different than manipulation?
Why does the presense of manipulation irk me so?
9/07/2007
Useful
This week's slightly ranting blog entry for i.ucc (Manipaulation) grew into a less-ranting (but still pretty "ranty," I guess) sermon about Paul's letter to Philemon. This week's sermon at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk is called "Useful."
"Useful" text
"Useful" podcast
"Useful" text
"Useful" podcast
9/04/2007
Manipaulation
Here's this week's "Opening the Bible" blog entry for i.ucc
When Paul wrote to Philemon, he had an agenda. He wanted Philemon to release Onesimus from his servitude. I think he also wanted to challenge Philemon to do more than simply do the right things in his life.
In the short chapter of Philemon, Paul’s clever use of words and phrases really drive home his agenda. He plays on Onesimus’ name, (it means “useful) by calling him formerly “useless” but now useful. He plays on Philemon’s sense of fairness, too. (“I preferred to do nothing without your consent.” and “If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. . . I say nothing about your owing me even your own self!”)
Paul masterfully manipulated this letter into one that seems to have no appropriate response except for Onesimus’ freedom and equality.
If the intent is good in the end, is it OK to use blatant manipulation of another person to achieve the results you want?
Sometimes I think we manipulate this letter into one that is anti-slavery. I don’t think that it is. I think the letter is one that recognizes the equality we have in Christ, but it also doesn’t address the power one class has over another in the marketplace and in society.
Is it OK to use this letter to manipulate others into thinking it is about something that it is not about – even if the results would be good?
Is my use of the term “manipulation” in the context of a letter that mentions slavery so offensive that we might miss the point of this post?
What are your thoughts?
When Paul wrote to Philemon, he had an agenda. He wanted Philemon to release Onesimus from his servitude. I think he also wanted to challenge Philemon to do more than simply do the right things in his life.
In the short chapter of Philemon, Paul’s clever use of words and phrases really drive home his agenda. He plays on Onesimus’ name, (it means “useful) by calling him formerly “useless” but now useful. He plays on Philemon’s sense of fairness, too. (“I preferred to do nothing without your consent.” and “If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. . . I say nothing about your owing me even your own self!”)
Paul masterfully manipulated this letter into one that seems to have no appropriate response except for Onesimus’ freedom and equality.
If the intent is good in the end, is it OK to use blatant manipulation of another person to achieve the results you want?
Sometimes I think we manipulate this letter into one that is anti-slavery. I don’t think that it is. I think the letter is one that recognizes the equality we have in Christ, but it also doesn’t address the power one class has over another in the marketplace and in society.
Is it OK to use this letter to manipulate others into thinking it is about something that it is not about – even if the results would be good?
Is my use of the term “manipulation” in the context of a letter that mentions slavery so offensive that we might miss the point of this post?
What are your thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)