The Full Wisdom and Love of God

All weekend I have been ruminating over the story of the Prodigal Father, a story too often labeled the prodigal "son." Perhaps the tendency to slant the story toward the "foolish" son is due to our tendencies toward a "can-do", self-derived righteousness (the elder son). Both extremes, stem from trust issues.

Ironically, though I first began my spiritual ruminations as far back as Friday, reluctant to share thoughts that to me seem overplayed, yet this morning the pastor's sermon would even more intensify my gratitude for the Prodigal Father, so here we go!

If we accept that Jesus was the Christ, that is, he was God incarnate, then the One sharing this infamous story from the book of Luke, was truly full of wisdom and thus had great purpose behind all his stories. This one believe it or not, was meant solely to point out the lavish love of God, irregardless of our bent in life!

You know the story, describing two joint heirs and a father devoted to both. The father's work on behalf of his family had provided an abundance of wealth, all this very obvious to the elder. Thus the older and more devoted to the father's work would assure his fair share when that day arrived by way of his hard labor on the front end of life.

Meanwhile the younger, seen most often as weak willed, carrying some underlying rebellious streak, unless perhaps made to feel inferior by the over zealous elder with his well demonstrated work ethic.

The younger likely crowded out by the elder's hourly display of faithfulness to the proverbial grindstone, though in the end the elder's true motive would become evident.

The younger perhaps assumed he'd soon be beat out of his inheritance anyway, by the older brother once the father passed, so why not ask for it now and enjoy life!

The story demonstrates two different personality types: those who work hard, so that in the end they can be assured of reward; and those more "now" oriented, going for the gusto, with a "get it while you can" approach.

If you are honest, you likely can identify with one or the other. Both sons demonstrate a lack of trust in the true spirit of the father.

As alluded to in the first few lines of this blog, the real truth behind the story, the real prodigal, is the father! You see, the word can also be used to imply extravagance in a positive sense of provision.

We well know the traditional take on the story of the sons, the one rebellious, ending up eating from the troughs of hogs, the elder resentful, viewing the younger as "a sinner" undeserving. Unfortunately, that negative edge has remained dominant in our definition of "prodigal", even after the father runs to the younger, falls on his neck, clothing him with a fine robe, with the son's original authority restored by a ring placed on his finger!

Given the nature of the Christ, he likely would have focused not on the failure of the sons, their human tendencies, but rather on the lavish love of the father, over the wastefulness of the younger or even the hard work of the elder. When readjusted by the Spirit, the picture is all about a loving father, long awaiting the moment when his dear son's mind would shift toward home.

This is the true meaning of repentance, metanoia! And furthermore, it wasn't his words of confession that turned the fathers heart back to him, for the Father "seeing him afar off, ran to him and fell on his neck!" The son's confession was only necessary in that it was helpful in clearing the younger son's heart, as he knelt before his gracious father.

Yes, Jesus likely told the story quite differently than we religious often do, over emphasizing the son's rebellion and failure. It makes for good altar calls!

Meanwhile, too often providing the elder son a softer landing, as he more resembles the disciples of the works-based rewards system often necessary to sustain the mission of our numerous church campuses.

The reason for bringing the elder into the picture was to capture our duality, given that both images portray a lack of understanding of true fatherhood, both orphan-like in their motives.

There now seems a hopeful and more progressive revelation unfolding among believers, at least those sincere in their love for others. One which I believe most transformational,

unveiling the true heart of our Father, affording us a better understanding of our limited human perceptions.

Such doctrines as "Old & New Covenant," the old insufficient, the new unbelievable, now cause me to marvel at the sovereignty of God. The law (see Leviticus) was temporary, only necessary such that we wouldn't miss the New, the Messiah, one unbelievably foretold in the ceremonial sacrifices, yet his time restrained until humanity could grasp the gift of grace, the New Covenant, one "better" (see Hebrews).

This would nullify the need for sacrifice, confession, repentance, especially if ever the thought intended as a necessity for one's salvation (the Sinner's Prayer). Just as with the prodigal story, you are loved beyond and ever before your words of confession!

In reality, God so loved the world that he gave himself...full stop!! A message of love that should out do any religious hesitation that ever befalls the "orphan's" heart.

God's way of demonstrating both desire and capacity for true communion with ever unique individual ever birthed in a mothers womb!

Regardless of your life experience, pitfalls and poverties, you are loved, churched or unchurched!

Congregating is good, in that being in fellowship with others strengthens the soul, I still do it weekly.

However, we churched, too often create a sense of entitlement available only to those who congregate with us. That's the elder brother syndrome!

Bottom line, we are heirs of the Father, any distance or distrust is all on our side of the story.

By the way, the message this morning was on gratitude and the grace which drives our gratefulness! So, I'll go ahead and gratefully release my three days of thought!