Chaplaincy Depends on the Community of Faith
Just as important as the relationships developed by the chaplain are the resources he develops in the community of faith. Paul provides a significant insight into community support when he writes in Philemon,
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me boundless joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. [NASB]
The first and most significant resource from the community for Paul was a motive to pray. Praying for Philemon brought Paul boundless joy and encouragement in his prayer life. A Chaplain must maintain this perspective from the community, so he does not become cynical and critical when support does not arrive. Prayer is perhaps the most neglected aspect of chaplains who seek support from local fellowships. Even in the interviews and processing of co-workers there must be prayer with discernment.
I have always believed that I was given the gift of discernment to better understand those who wish to serve; those who are being served; and those who fail the tests of faith. I can remember interviewing a believer who had outstanding credentials, a true scholar, honors galore, yet something I discerned was missing—where was the fruit? There was little mention of any fruitfulness or spiritual warfare for or in the ministry.
At other times discernment kept me from making some big mistakes with inmates. When I was being conned by the inmate God would reveal to me what would eventually happen and what they really wanted. Even among the staff who were, let’s say, hateful of Jesus Christ, God always protected me with discernment when responding to their treachery. Prayer was always the key that turned the lock to open and greeted those who He had called into the ministry.
Yes, the community of faith must also be tried, tested and true. Not every church has the calling, passion, or ability to deal with the worst of the worst. Paul displays his wisdom when he pens, “I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (KJV)
Verse 6 is the real focus of this text, “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective (may or might become effective, energized (ἐνεργὴς – γένηται) in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” Or “That the fellowship of thy faith may be energetic in connection with the full knowledge about every good thing in your midst regarding Christ.” The idea here is that the fellowship must actually experience the work of Christ in their midst in ‘all’ they do for Him. Programs can become mundane going through the routine of ministry without actually witnessing Christ in their midst.
If a man’s life does not live up to his faith, his faith shrinks to the level of his life. We leave vast territories of fertile harvest untouched. We hold back our spiritual gifts based on how we think they should be used. The practice of faith conviction deepens your convictions. Too often we are convinced that if we learn more bible, we will know Christ more. But Paul is going to challenge this concept with the Philemon Church. Every time we step out of our comfort zone our relationship in Christ deepens. We become more capable of beholding Him and of rising to dear communion with Him. Paul is going to suggest a great sacrifice for the church to vitalize their faith so that they will see Christ in the midst of their efforts.
I studied these words energize, effective, energhs[1] <-> genntai[2] and found some interesting concepts. One understanding was that you would be seized by the power of sickness or stricken by blindness like Paul. That will surely energize you. In this context becoming energized so that you would experience Christ in all your do. This is especially fundamental to the prison ministry. The church become aware of Christ in their midst as they watch one that was of utter sin transformed into a new creature in Christ.
We are not energized by contemporary bands putting people into some type of ecstatic state trying to touch a Spirit moving through the auditorium. We are to preach the Gospel, to serve Christ as He leads us. And when we encounter an issue like slavery, Paul wants the fellowship to look around and see just what Christ wants. In Him we are all equal. Acceptance of one transformed is not an option but a must for the church.
When we act in love in our community, we encounter a presence of Christ the Holy Spirit that simply is not found sitting in the pews. When we move forward in the presence of Him by the Holy Spirit the fellowship is energized, elevated in their understanding of Jesus Christ. And it starts with letting go of our own self, being humble, being so real about our faith that we will cross cultural boundaries for the sake of the Gospel.
Along with prayer and energized fellowship, Paul also saw evangelism and good works as key components for ministry and a reason to bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. The house church of Philemon and its members provided Paul with encouragement amid his trial. Chaplains must be committed to looking for Jesus Christ and His presence in the community or they will become dulled by the hypocritical amoral climate they endure every day inside prison.
Essential to maintaining a Chaplain’s fresh perspective is the peace and rest of Jesus Christ only found in the Christian faith. It was Philemon’s love for the saints that refreshed Paul’s heart. This was the same refreshing Jesus spoke about in Matthew 11:28[3] for those who are weary and burdened. Most chaplains will readily agree that the heaviness of prison ministry can cause great stress and anguish over time. Just knowing that there is a brother, church, or resource in the community where you can turn to for refreshment is absolutely essential to keep the chaplain fresh.
Good community relationships and resources are slow to develop and often hard to find for Chaplaincy. There are many in the religious community who unfortunately for many reasons shy away from or avoid all together the prison ministry. It is easy for chaplains to become indignant and demanding on their peers and coworkers. Recognizing the problem that could develop with this attitude Paul writes, “Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you based on love. I then, as Paul-an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus-. . .” [NASB]
Having learned many lessons from failed relationships, unseen promised resources and abandoned friendships Paul provides the Chaplain with much needed wisdom when calling upon the community. He lets Philemon respond willingly out of the love of Jesus Christ. This was not manipulation or creating a guilty conscience. Paul wanted Philemon to see the marvelous work of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration by participating in the transformation of Onesimus.
It is not until a local church sincerely in Christ by His empowerment and encouragement participates in the prison ministry willingly and moved by the Holy Spirit that they see the sincere heart of God in His redeeming work of Jesus Christ. In fact, many churches have been sparked to revival by participating in the prison ministry and watching a life that the world sees as garbage turned into a sparkling gem of God’s reclaimed handiwork.
[1] STRONGS NT 1756: ἐνεργής, ἐνεργες (equivalent to ἐνεργός, equivalent to ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ (English at work)), active: Hebrews 4:12; by a somewhat incongruous figuratively, in 1 Corinthians 16:9 a θύρα ἐνεργής is spoken of, 'an opportunity for the working of the gospel'; ἐνεργής γίνομαι ἐν τίνι, in something, Philemon 1:6. ((Aristotle), Polybius, Diodorus, Plutarch, others. [2]That one might become aware, see the things of God by faith. [3]Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Strong’s Concordance: take ease, refresh, give rest
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