Good Works that Actually Work for the Good

"And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" (Titus 3:14; ESV).

It was interesting in reading through Titus and Philemon together today. Philemon is the abolitionists' Bible book. Titus teaches us to be devoted to good works and Philemon teaches us that there is a disconnect between Christianity and slavery ... all the while Paul teaches in other places that Christian slaves and Christian masters have Christian duties to each other.

Why did Paul not call for the abolition of slavery ... outright? This question is easy for us to ask, living in the "free" world in the 21st Century. Yet Paul wrote from 1st Century Roman society that was already quite suspicious of this new sect. Paul, himself was executed by Nero. Perhaps he knew such a proclamation was tantamount to the execution of the whole new Christian movement all together. And perhaps ... just perhaps ... Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit preached, taught, and wrote Scriptural principles he knew would one day undermine the whole enterprise ... without undermining Christianity itself.

In this patriotic season, we might be tempted to castigate the Founders and Framers of our beloved Republic for their failure to implement Abolition to Slavery. However, in the vein above, we must take great pause to avoid the same short-sighted mistakes that are often committed in comfy-Monday-morning-quarterback-chairs. Thomas Jefferson actually levelled the introduction of the slave trade as one of the offenses committed by King George III in the Declaration of Independence. However, the colonies of Georgia and South Carolina refused to participate if it was included. Many of the Founders and Framers, including George Washington, eventually acquired a severe distaste for Slavery, but it did not happen overnight. But it did happen as they came to realize that Slavery was inconsistent with the Republican principles in the Declaration. Needless to say that did not have the luxury of the comfy-Monday-morning-quarterback-chair. They were charged with holding together the fledgling colonial (and then state) alliances to fight Great Britain and then build a new country.

They believed that Abolition's day was coming, but in their prudence did not believe it was their own day. Two generations later the country would deal with the question of slavery ... but be able to do so with greater internal cohesion and strength.

While it might feel good to proclaim with bravado that such and such ought to be done, let's remember that being devoted to good works ... means being devoted to their "good" implementation ... which means good for the long haul. Jesus calls us to wisdom (Matthew 10:16) and promises us the Holy Spirit's teaching and comforting and providing fellowship (John 14).

One of the many challenges of Christianity is living in the world ... as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We have been given no option in that regard, but we have been given a God who is promised to come along side us ... the Paraclete, aka the Holy Spirit. Not only are we to live in the world as faithful disciples, we are to be devoted to good works.

That precisely is the challenge of a faithful Christianity ... to be a "thinking" Christianity, using wisdom to produce the good works that actually work for the Good.