God Might Not Have Plans to “Prosper” You… Can You Live with That?

There are two passages in the Bible that get misapplied more than any others. The first is Jeremiah 29:11, the second is Deuteronomy 28:1-14. These two passages are routinely ripped from their context and abused by all types of Christians. Tall, short, skinny, hefty, rich, poor, it makes no difference. It seems that these two passages have been rendered defenseless against the advent of technology and the “single-scripture-written-in-whimsical-fonts-over-a-picture-of-a-river-forrest-mountain-or-beach-then-posted-on-instagram-to-seem-spiritual” craze.

Well, I’m here to bring the context kicking and screaming into view for you. If you want to know how to irritate me, say that you know God has good plans for you, then quotes one of these two passages as proof. (Either that, or say that Satan’s name before he fell was Lucifer, but that’s the topic of another post for another time.)

If that just hit too close to home for you, let me clarify: God does have good plans for you, but my definition of good often involves pain, poverty, and death. Jesus said that those who are poor and weak were blessed. The Apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to share in Christ’s suffering. Paul prayed 3 times that the thorn would be removed from his flesh, and each time the answer came back, “My grace is sufficient.” So God’s plans are absolutely good, but good in the ultimate sense. Good in the sense that he is glorified. Good in the sense that unity with Him is the best good, and that unity often comes through hardship. Good in the sense that if you are killed for your faith, you will be with Christ and the gospel will be preached.

Okay… I’ll put this particular rant on pause until I show you what I mean from the text.

Paul on Slavery

Introduction

The Apostle Paul authored almost half of the New Testament, and spoke authoritatively about the Christian perspective on countless subjects from the meaning of love, to the roles and duties of church officials. Much of Christian doctrine is based on the writings of Paul, but one particular issue appears to fall between the cracks in his writing: the question of slavery, its lawfulness, and its role in the Christian life. The crack into which it fell was large enough to fuel the American Civil War. Many Christians saw Paul’s writings as “pro-slavery” and were therefore willing to fight and die for their right to own other human beings. The purpose of this paper is to argue Paul’s view of slavery throughout the Bible as clearly as possible, and to pay particular attention to his view as expressed in Philemon.