Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman (SRSC 12)

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Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman

dignity in the way they go about doing their work. The trends of culture itself are pushing people farther and farther away from the values of God. There are moments, even seasons, when our tough talks are addressed not simply to individuals, but to representatives, groups, or larger structures. Each size or scale of audience requires a unique style of conversation. Scripture and Christian History Like I said above, difficult conversations are a part of human life. We see it in Christian Scripture and church history. Think of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 32–33). Jacob had defrauded his brother Esau out of his father’s blessing and firstborn rights. Then he fled, leaving Esau at home for many years. Now it was time for Jacob to return home. As he drew near (Gen 33:1) it looked like his brother was sending an army to meet him. How could Jacob facilitate reconciliation rather than retribution? Think of Philemon and Onesimus. Paul, in his letter to Philemon, does the very thing that John Woolman did again and again in his ministry: he tries to convince a slave owner (Philemon) to free his slave (Onesimus). Paul writes of Onesimus, who had been visiting and caring for Paul while Paul was imprisoned: For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother— especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. (Phlm 15–16)