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The Prodigal Son (Part 4 of 4)

My friends, the final character we’ll look at isn’t actually in the story but rather is the story teller; Jesus. In part 1 we looked at the younger son who represents lost people through open disobedience to God. In part 2 we looked at the older son who represents lost people through self absorption over being “good” or “religious”. Remember, all people are born lost. We all fall into one of two categories: We either go to the left and live a life of open sin like the younger son or we go to the right and live a life trying to “earn” God’s love like the older son. Both are sin and both are lost. In part 3 we looked at the Father who represents our loving and Graceful God. Our God who reaches out to both sons in a symbolic effort to bring all mankind back into communion with Him. In part 4 we’re looking at the story teller and what He’s trying to accomplish through this story.

The first aspect about Jesus in this story we must understand is who He’s trying to reach and why. At the beginning of Luke 15 we see the Pharisees and scribes complaining about Jesus receiving tax collectors and sinners around Him. In response to this complaint 15:3 says, “So He spoke this parable to them”. Therefore, Jesus’s primary audience for this story isn’t the younger son but rather the older son. All too often the younger son gets the attention through this story because his sin is open to see and is rather blatent. The older son looks like the good son and so fly’s under the radar. The Pharisees and scribes were the very people the older son represents…Folks, many people in our churches today are the very people the older son represents. Jesus was telling this story for them. Jesus was trying to tell them they were lost and didn’t know it; they thought they were the good son who “earned” something from the Father. My friends, I beg you to look at your life and ask the Lord to reveal if you’re living an older son life. If you are, Jesus is telling this parable for YOU! Not to condemn you but to find you.

Jesus delivered this story to the religious elite about the religious elite. Think about what He’s saying and doing here. Jesus is addressing someone like a Billy Grahm or a Dr. Dobson here and telling him that he’s lost. (I’m not saying Billy Grahm or Dr. Dobson are lost, I don’t know them that well) That is huge. Jesus is telling him that noone is without need of the Father. My friends, unfortunately we can fall into the same trap as the Pharisees. As we grow in the church we can all too easily begin thinking we’ve got it all figured out. Usually this arrogance begins to creep in when we see younger sons but it creeps in none the less. We’ve become proficient at hiding this arrogance in false humility because we’ve learned through the church that we should be humble if we’re to be good “christians”. The lesson Jesus is teaching us in the parable is this: The most important aspect of life is close fellowship with the Father simply to be in His presence, not to get His inheritence. Close fellowship with the Father results in a deep love for people. (John 13:34-35) Do you love other people? Not just your friends and family but all people. Here’s a better question, Do other people think you love them? In other words, are you viewed in your community as a loving person? I’ve met a lot of good people in the church who really don’t enjoy other people, let alone love them. Folks, if you’re living a life void of joy, if you’re living a life void of love for others, you may be a lost older son.

Here’s the beauty of Jesus the story teller. Jesus told this particular crowd two stories prior to this one. He told them about the lost sheep and then the lost coin. In both stories someone went out in search for the lost item. This concept is carried over into the story of the lost sons. Folks, the Father is coming out to find us. Both sons had the Father come out to find them. If you’re living a life without close, deep, and intimate fellowship with the Father I’m telling you that He’s searching for you right now! If you aren’t experiencing a passionate relationship with God you’re lost. It’s ok to be lost as long as you realize you’re lost. The Father welcomes you back with open arms. Friends, I beg you, please, consider your current position and run to the Father. AMEN!

The Prodigal Son (Part 3 of 4)

In the first two posts of “The Prodigal Son” we looked at the two lost sons. Again, all of us fall into one of two catagories; either the younger son or the older son. There are certainly differing degrees for each, but we are all lost in one way or another. Since we are all lost in one way or another I believe it’s important to look at the Father in the story.

The father in the story represents our Heavenly Father, God. Much can be discerned about His nature from this story and I believe understanding Him better will change how we interact with Him. First, we must understand the historical context in which this image of the Father is being presented. The original hearers of the story understood a patriarichal society in which the father was to be reveared and respected. A child did not disrespect the father of the family and remain a member of the family. In essence, a child knew his/her place and it was subservient to the father who was the master of the family.

In this context the story begins with the younger son asking for his inheritance in Luke 15:12. In essence, the younger son lays all his cards on the table and tells the father that he only wants the material possessions and not a relationship with his father. Now this would be rude even in todays culture but it was unheard of then. The hearers would have expected the father to disown the son and potentially have him killed. This request by the younger son was incredibly disrespectful. BUT, the father in the story grants the request.

The granting of the request reveals our Heavenly Fathers willingness to give us all things out of His love for us. Though we act like rude and foolish children, our Father doesn’t disown us. He loves us enough to allow us the opportunity to make mistakes. He allows us the opportunity to get lost. Folks, this is important to understand. He doesn’t make us get lost, He allows us to get lost. One is hurtful, the other is loveing. If you’re lost now you must understand that you got there by your own doing. The Father IS NOT to blame! In fact, He was greatly disrespected by your choice to wander away yet still desires to find you. He is not the one to blame for your poor choices.

In verse 20 we find the Father running out to his wayward son come home. Understand, a dignified, respected father of the family would not run during this time. He would walk gracefully. And certainly, if a child who dishonored the family so greatly were to come back home the father would not be expected to accept the boy, let alone run to him. However, the picture of our Heavenly Father is one of Him running to us. He loves us despite our stupid mistakes. If you’re living away from the Father, please don’t fear returning to Him. You should expect your loving Father to come running and take you into His arms…no matter how dumb your mistakes were.

We see the Father in verse 28 coming out to the older son as well. The older son is upset about the party and remains outside. The Father comes out to get him as well. Again, the Father trades in His dignified position in order to meet His wayward son in an attempt to bring him back into community. If you’re currently living like an older son, please realize the Father has come out to you now. He’s come out of the party to meet you where you’re at. Stop trying to earn the Fathers love, accept His grace, and enter the party with Him. He loves you and has paid the price. All you need to do is focus on your relationship with Him, NOT on earning Him or His possessions.

Friends, the Father is magnificent and loves us despite our sin. No matter how lost you are; no matter which son you are, the Father is seeking you for a loving relationship with Him. Yes, the Father is a just God and should be respected above all things, but the Father is also a loving God who is to be loved above all things. Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, are you lost right now? Not sure? Are you currently basking in the presence of God daily? If not then you’re a lost son and don’t know it. The Father only wanted the two sons to be in communion with Him, therefore, if you’re not in constant communion with Him you’re lost. If you’re not in daily communion with God YOU’RE LOST! Turn back right now and beg the Father to enter His party. Friends, living with Him is the only life that will ever bring happiness and joy! AMEN!

New experiences in Iraq

“I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” (1Corinthians 9:22b)

Well my friends, the Iraqis have taught me another important lesson. Again, this lesson is a bit humerous but has a legitamate lesson. First, let me catch you up on my current job in Iraq . I’m an intelligence officer working inside an Iraqi Intelligence fusion office with the mission of taking American intelligence and matching it up with the Iraqi intelligence in order to provide the most accurate picture. OF course, Iraqi intelligence officers are not the most trusting people in the world, so building a relationship built on trust is vital. Therefore, my goal is to create a bundle of new best friends. This is the fun part.

Well, I’ve heard stories about the Iraqi culture being very intimate once initial formalities are past and friendship is established. I had NO idea how intimate that intimacy runs. You see, apparently I’m doing a pretty good job of building friendships and trust because my new counterparts see no problem hugging, giving kisses on the cheek, and holding hands as they walk. The first time I was walking along and one of my co-workers, an Iraqi man about 45 years old, reached over and held my hand I flinched and shook my hand like I had just been stung by a bee. He was just as startled as I was because holding hands is quite normal for him. So there we stood, two grown men facing each other with a million thoughts screaming through our heads. (well, I did any way) I stood there, appauled that this man thought I was gay, when it hit me. He doesn’t think I’m gay, he thinks I’m trust worthy. Then Paul’s words popped into my head, “I’ve become all things to all men”.

Though I was not witnessing to this man, I was loving him as Christ would love him in order to work together. The Lord calls us to step out of our comfort zones and meet people where they’re at. The Lord calls us to get up out of the pews and meet the lost in order to bring them closer to Him. Christians, we need fellowship but we don’t need holy fraternities. Let down your walls, risk being hurt, and step out into the unknown in order to win just one for Him. This isn’t easy, I know. But neither was holding that grown Iraqi man’s hand. However, once I got over the weird goosebumps and creepy feeling, my relationship with the Iraqis has blosomed into a much deeper trust than experienced before; a trust that would never be reached from inside the American comfort zone.

My friends, I challenge you to become all things to all men. Let down your guard, take a risk, and walk off into the sunset holding a middle aged Iraqi man’s hand in order to win but one for Him. AMEN!

So many churches, which one do I choose?

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:1-5)

My friends, when you go to a new town and begin looking for a church the options can be overwhelming. It’s hard to even know where to start. Do you look based on theology? Do you look based on geogrophy? Do you look based on….you name whatever criteria you want. I believe all the different worship styles is wonderful, however, our human nature has some what taken us down the wrong path. All the different denominations seem to be competing against one another to some degree or another. An extream example is the Catholic/Protestant issue of Northern Ireland in the mid ’80s. My friends, this dissentian amongst the Brethren is not what the Lord intends for us.

Obviously we are going to have differences of opinion and differing worship styles that will lead to denominational divides. However, in Philippians 2 we are told to be “like minded” and to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. If all believers took on the mind of Christ could we still have Protestants and Catholics killing each other?

When using a compass you start at a spot on the ground and attempt to walk on a straight azmith to another spot on the ground. If you get off this azmith just a little bit you will miss the mark on the other end. Now, if you have two people start from the same point, heading to the same end spot, and both of them get off the original azmith but in different directions they can end up very far from each other. It will almost look like they are heading to different spots and perhaps that they even came from different start points. I believe this is the current state of many denominations today. So how do we bring them back together?

When a person has gone off the azmith, the best way to get back on track is to go back to the start point. For our denominations today the best place to go is back to Jesus. The closer we get to the mind of Christ, the closer we get to all the others seeking Him. The only way I have been able to successfully lead Bible studies mixed with Catholics, Orthodox, liturgical Protestants, and Evengelicals (all at the same time) was to take the study as close to Jesus as possible. When we get to the foundation (Jesus) we all agree. Many of the dissagreements come based on “non-essential” issues. (non-essential meaning the issues not dealing with salvation. Though these are important they’re not worth destroying the love of my Christian Brothers and Sisters.)

If you’re in ministry I encourage you to seek out your foundation, Jesus. Understand your theology but also understand what is essential and what is non-essential. Don’t destroy relationships over the non-essential items of faith. If you’re looking for a church in the sea of denominations, begin to seek out Jesus in the Scriptures on your own while seeking out a church. If you’re walking closer to the start point you’ll be able to identify the church that is also walking back to the start point. The church that is seeking to be as close to the mind of Christ is the church you want to be a part of. I pray that we all meet up at the start point one day soon. AMEN!