Philemon

The Epistle of Paul to Philemon was written in 62 AD.  Philemon was a slave owner and Onesimus his slave converted to Christianity.  Philemon was also a part of the Christian faith.  Yet, Onesimus fleed because he felt he was treated unjustly.  It is very true that often times Christian buisinessmen can be very shrewd on the job and can indeed turn others away from the buisiness and from Christianity because of that.  Onesimus fleed but he did not turn away from the faith.  However, there are many today who turn away from the faith because the Christian bosses of which they work under treat them shrewdly and it makes them think that if this is what Christianity is all about- then I want no part of it.  Paul tells Philemon he has sent Onesimus back to him- but instructs Philemon to treat him with respect and not to take him back as a slave but rather as a brother in Christ.  After placing his request before Philemon, Paul informs him he is coming by for a visit.  In the Middle East even to this day, it is a custom of the people to just stop by at any house because they are bounded together by a national identity and feel the security of letting people of their identity into their house.  This book can apply in lots of manners.  It can apply to the relationship between a Father and a Son in which the Father is suppose to be the spiritual leader but rather becomes a dictator instead of a spiritual leader and this turns the son and/or the daughter away from the Father.  This passage applies to a lot of Christian parents who exasperate their children rather than correcting them and rebuking them in love and compassion.