What about....The ELDER SON?

[Rhoni]

One Accord,

This is a truly good article. I have heard it preached on, and studied it myself. I think the elder son is like so many 'religious' people that get really miffed at God for using sinners like......instead of 'religious' people like themselves.

That is why these 'religious' people have little mercy and forgiveness and want to make those who have fallen into a pit somewhere along the line stay in the pit. It kind of goes along with the sermon God gave me that I posted in the cafe. These 'religious older sons' like to keep us sinner sons/daughters reminded about how much a sinner they are and unusable in the kingdom.

Good article and I agree you should write a book.


Blessings, Rhoni

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Hmmm....Altho their may be some merit in your interpretation it seems like you are overlooking one important thing.

31: And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32: It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

The Father himself said Son thou are EVER WITH ME.

So the Elder son had NOT strayed from his Father.

The Father himself said to him:

"All I have is thine".

So the parable shows forgiveness and restoration for the wayward son it also shows the full inheritance of the faithful son.

Thanks, Bro. Mike for your comments. I see your points and agree. However, thats the beauty of the Word. God speaks to us in many different ways thru His Word. Paul, in writing to the the Galatians says some pretty harsh words to them, referring to them as being "so soon removed" from the Lord, "foolish", "bewitched," and in danger of being "entangled" by the yoke of bondage. These were Christians, of the Elder Son variety, who were living beneath their spiritual privilege. Their Christian experience had become nothing more than a position of servitude, rather than a position of sitting in heavenly places as God intended for them. They had become lax in the faith, and were resorting back to the law (servitude) to sustain them.

Reminds me of water baptism. We often here the need for, the absolute necessity of being baptized in Jesus Name... but we seldom hear of the incredible opportunity, the honor and privilege of taking on the Lord's name in baptism. Baptism has been reduced to a command, a requirement rather than the beautiul expression of faith that it is. Baptism, it seems in some minds, is nothing more than another act of servitude, when God intends it to be the means of "putting on Christ". (Gal. 3:27).

No, I didn't necessary neglect what you are saying. I simply looked at things from a different perspective as I often do. The father, I am sure, appreciated his sons service, just as God appreciates ours. But what God wants from us more than our service, is our fellowship. And that is what, it appears to me, was missing in the life of the Elder Son.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Thanks, Bro. Mike for your comments. I see your points and agree. However, thats the beauty of the Word. God speaks to us in many different ways thru His Word. Paul, in writing to the the Galatians says some pretty harsh words to them, referring to them as being "so soon removed" from the Lord, "foolish", "bewitched," and in danger of being "entangled" by the yoke of bondage. These were Christians, of the Elder Son variety, who were living beneath their spiritual privilege. Their Christian experience had become nothing more than a position of servitude, rather than a position of sitting in heavenly places as God intended for them. They had become lax in the faith, and were resorting back to the law (servitude) to sustain them.

Reminds me of water baptism. We often here the need for, the absolute necessity of being baptized in Jesus Name... but we seldom hear of the incredible opportunity, the honor and privilege of taking on the Lord's name in baptism. Baptism has been reduced to a command, a requirement rather than the beautiul expression of faith that it is. Baptism, it seems in some minds, is nothing more than another act of servitude, when God intends it to be the means of "putting on Christ". (Gal. 3:27).

No, I didn't necessary neglect what you are saying. I simply looked at things from a different perspective as I often do. The father, I am sure, appreciated his sons service, just as God appreciates ours. But what God wants from us more than our service, is our fellowship. And that is what, it appears to me, was missing in the life of the Elder Son.

I agree with you One Accord about the father appreciating the service. The thing about God is that he know the motives - the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4: 12. Many times why we serve and what the secondary gains are as a result are more important than the act of service.

Blessings, Rhoni

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

I agree with you One Accord about the father appreciating the service. The thing about God is that he know the motives - the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4: 12. Many times why we serve and what the secondary gains are as a result are more important than the act of service.

Blessings, Rhoni

Preach it, sista!!!! I've seen times when even good things were done for the wrong reasons. When I post here, I try to see the intent of my posting before I hit the submit button, even when I think I am right. (which is 99.99% of the time!) Theres no point in posting even truth if I do so with the wrong motives.

You speak truth, Rhoni. Might have to refer to you an "A lady Man of God"!

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Preach it, sista!!!! I've seen times when even good things were done for the wrong reasons. When I post here, I try to see the intent of my posting before I hit the submit button, even when I think I am right. (which is 99.99% of the time!) Theres no point in posting even truth if I do so with the wrong motives.

You speak truth, Rhoni. Might have to refer to you an "A lady Man of God"!

The "lady of God" is great but nothing Man/masculine about me!

Bless you, Rhoni

[DividedThigh]

nice job one accord, thought provoking for sure, bless you, dt

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

The "lady of God" is great but nothing Man/masculine about me!

Bless you, Rhoni

well of course not fair lady, lol

[GrowingPains]

A tangent about the Prodigal Son story I thought interesting:

In the culture of the ancient eastern world, everything in daily life and livelihood was either furthered or advanced by what was considered honoring or what was considered shameful. Sociologists actually refer to such cultures as honor/shame cultures, and ancient Palestine was one of them. There were certain things the patriarch of the family just wouldn't do simply because of his status as patriarch--running was one of them; slaves and servants ran and it was considered a sign of their social standing. The shame of exposed legs was a part of the fabric of that culture, much in the same way that it is still today in parts of Jerusalem. So when the father in the parable of the prodigal ran, he was doubly taking shame upon himself.

You can find many resources that speak to the honor/shame influence of Jesus's day. I think it is one of the more essential elements to hold in opening up many of the parables and stories he told--and ultimately in recognizing the ways in which he radically worked to reverse the honor/shame social order.

What a beautiful example of Christ's own humility to seek and save us.

[TJJJ]

The older son went on, with the Father's approval, and formed the ... WPF!

[Rev]

Originally Posted by TJJJ

The older son went on, with the Father's approval, and formed the ... WPF!

How are they doing?

Haven't heard anything about them in a long time.