Prodigal Son Distorted by FB Pastor

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Socialite

The context of his rehearsal was all in the same breath of him figuring out what he would. "I will tell him I've sinned against heaven (common Jewish response for repentance) and then work for a hired servant and get out of this pig farm." Nothing in there signifying a work of repentance in the son. No doubt, like any human, he felt bad. But mostly, he was coming back home because he spent all his money. Rob seems to think because he considered "the rules aren't so bad" (which you disagree) -- I lean more toward him genuinely wanting the Father's acceptance, but going about it in a way that most of us do. In spite of it, he was shown Grace --- even before his rehearsed story.

You insist on a rehearsal "speech" and I just see that he "came to himself" and wanted to go home.

Grace is extended BEFORE our obedience. Let's get the Gospel the right way, PO.

That isn't what Romans 1:5 says. "...received grace and apostleship, for obedience .." I suppose we could quibble over "eis", but I believe it to mean expressing the purpose - "in order to" and not "because of".

I am not sure I disagree with Rob. If he considered going home because it was a better place for him, I'm not sure that didn't include the "rules of house". We have "rules" in our house.

When my daughter was 16 and acting out, I called her and said, "You have a choice. You can live here and honor this home and God or you can come and get all of your belongings." We have rules and they will be honored.

I don't see the prodigal son living in different environment and if he walked away because of foolish youth, he also walked away from obedience. That, again, entails some rules were broken.

[OneAccord]

Not meaning to muddle the waters even more, but I'm reminded of something I wrote and posted on AFF a long time ago....

The Elder Son
Luke 15:25-31

by OneAccord

We’ve all heard the story about the Prodical Son. But what about the other son? The Elder Son is the one who served his father faithfully. He remained true to his family, He was faithful in service, and never lived the riotous life that his younger brother had lived.

However, the Elder Son in this story serves as a perfect example of many Christians who have become a little too pre-occupied in the Fathers service.

For one thing, our first glimpse of the Elder Son is while he was returning from the field… far from the fathers house. Yes, he was faithfully working, but sometimes, working for God becomes our priority rather than God Himself. While the Elder Son busied himself with his chores, he was depriving himself of some quality time with his father. Elder Sons of today are so busy working for God that they often neglect their relationship WITH GOD. No time to pray, got to get to the next church function. Can’t fast, having a church dinner tomorrow night. You can tell today’s Elder Sons from a mile away. They are the ones who have no time for their families, because they have to rush to the next revival or campmeeting. Like Peter on the night of the Lord’s arrest, they follow the Lord but only from “afar”. Martha was acting like an Elder Son when she concerned herself only with SERVING Jesus, while Mary sat at His feet establishing a relationship with Him. (Luke 10) While we “must be about the Father’s service”, we must never neglect to spend quality time with the Lord.

In fact, the Elder Son had spent so much time away from the fathers house that he failed to recognize that sound of merriment. This reminds me of the present day Elder Sons who have neglected their fellowship with the Lord to the point that they no longer even recognize the moving of God’s Spirit. In fact, in some cases, they have drifted so far from the Fathers house, that they now find Pentecostal worship quite annoying. Just as the Elder Son in our story became angry with all this unnecessary merriment, the Elder Sons of today are annoyed and embarrassed by the moving of God’s Spirit. This Elder Son was so removed from fathers house that he didn’t understand what all the music and dancing was all about. He had to ask what it was all about.

And, he became angry. His anger was motivated by jealousy and hatred. And he refused to enter his fathers house. Like the Elder Son here, present day Elder Sons refuse to enter into the blessing of God because they don‘t like all that noise in the church service anymore.. The Works of the flesh rule them rather than the Fruit of the Spirit. There is no joy to their Christian walk. Theirs is a life of spiritual drudgery, conforming to man made rules, rather than being led by God’s Spirit. They aren’t motivated by love when they see a sinner give his heart to the Lord. Rather, just like the Elder Son here, they begin to judge their own spirituality by what they perceive as a lack of spirituality in others around them. They become self-righteous. “Why, I’ve been a faithful member for years, and you’ve never made such a fuss over me!” They point out the mistakes and failing of others while they gloat about their own spiritual accomplishments. (Luke 15:29-30) Like another Elder Son in Luke 18, they stand before God pointing out their own spirituality while rejoicing that they aren’t “like other men…or even this publican…", who humbly cried out to God for mercy.

Many Elder Sons of today have no interest in establishing a relationship with God. Their only interest in being in church is for what they can get from the church. “….Thou never gavest me a kid…”, the Elder Son wailed. Being a Christian isn’t about what we can GET, but rather about what we can GIVE. In addition, the Elder Son was satisfied with living beneath his spiritual privilege. He would have settled with a kid when he could have had a fatted calf anytime he wanted it. God wants us to prosper and be in health but often we settle for just getting by! We sing “Lord, just build me a cabin in Gloryland”, when it is the Fathers good pleasure to give us His Kingdom! The Elder Son settled for the life of a servant when, in fact, he was a SON!

This Elder Son boasted that he had “…never transgressed thy commandment….”. There are Elder Sons today who are proud of the fact that they have convinced themselves (and others) that they are without sin. John tells us that if we say we have no sin , we deceive ourselves. (1 John 1:8.) John also has quite a lot to say about hating our brothers. (1 John 3)

The Elder Son had no interest in spending time with His Father. He just wanted to spend time with his friends. (v 29). Many of today’s Eldest Sons think of the church as nothing more than a social meeting place where the latest gossip or the latest recipe or the latest sports scores are freely exchanged. Hearing the sermon has about as much interest to them as praying at the altar. The Supper Room takes precedence over the Upper Room.

The most insidious thing about this Elder Son is that he felt he had to earn place in the fathers house. Some today think they have to score points with the Great Scorekeeper to be a part of His Kingdom. We don’t earn our place in God’s Kingdom. That place was bought and paid for at Calvary. We don’t do works to get saved, we do what the Bible requires of us because we ARE saved! One of the greatest verses in the Bible is found in Luke 15:31. The father said to his son…” Son, thou are ever with me, and all that I have is thine.” And God is saying the same thing to us. Perhaps its time for us to come in out of the fields of our thinking we have to earn our place in God‘s Kingdom. Perhaps its time for us to come down from our lofty perches, and enter our Fathers House, where there is the sound of joy and gladness. Perhaps we need to lay down our self-righteous and judgmental tools of labor, and pull up a chair at the Masters Table.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Busier than a one legged man in a... No, better not go there. Doin' good. Got a cold and sick of winter. Leaving for (of all places) Indiana tomorrow after work. Why, oh, why, can't the Lord call me to go somewhere like Costa Rico in the middle of the winter like He does Sherri? I hear Trinidad is nice this time of year.

Heard that somewhere before. LOL!

Well, I am sorry that you are sick and I will pray that you will, very shortly, be sitting on a family friendly beach with a tall glass of lemonade. Oh snap, I just got you married. Gotta watch what we pray for!! LOL!

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

You insist on a rehearsal "speech" and I just see that he "came to himself" and wanted to go home.

I don't insist, but it does jive better with what is included in the story to me.


That isn't what Romans 1:5 says. "...received grace and apostleship, for obedience .." I suppose we could quibble over "eis", but I believe it to mean expressing the purpose - "in order to" and not "because of".

Let's just read all of Romans while we're at it. Including Chapters 4 & 5. Grace doesn't come BECAUSE we are obedient, it comes before. You didn't choose God, He chose you!

I am not sure I disagree with Rob. If he considered going home because it was a better place for him, I'm not sure that didn't include the "rules of house". We have "rules" in our house.

So now you aren't disagreeing with Rob? When you thought it was my position, you were glad to. You guys are saying "I'm sure" while projecting into the story. Read Maxi's post on the Wizard of Oz. Would love to hear what you think.

When my daughter was 16 and acting out, I called her and said, "You have a choice. You can live here and honor this home and God or you can come and get all of your belongings." We have rules and they will be honored.

God has rules too. I get that. But this isn't what the story is about -- it's exactly the opposite emphasis and focus. Pharisees wished that's what it was about.

I don't see the prodigal son living in different environment and if he walked away because of foolish youth, he also walked away from obedience. That, again, entails some rules were broken.

*scratching my head a little, PO*

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Not meaning to muddle the waters even more, but I'm reminded of something I wrote and posted on AFF a long time ago....

That is good, OA!!

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Not meaning to muddle the waters even more, but I'm reminded of something I wrote and posted on AFF a long time ago....

Good stuff, OA.


If Jesus was teaching a lesson to this audience that was present, who do you think the "elder brother" was in his story? Can we even know this? Who did it draw the most ire from?

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

That is good, OA!!

The most insidious thing about this Elder Son is that he felt he had to earn place in the fathers house. Some today think they have to score points with the Great Scorekeeper to be a part of His Kingdom. We don’t earn our place in God’s Kingdom. That place was bought and paid for at Calvary.

But.. but.. what happened to obedience before Grace?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Socialite

*scratching my head a little, PO*

I don't believe I ever said I disagreed with Rob. He also stated that there were more angles to the story. OA wrote an excellent article focusing on the elder son. Rob pointed out, his view, concerning the prodigal son.

Romans 1:5 starts out by saying that we have received BOTH grace and apostleship because of our obedience. Why do you want to skip over that portion of scripture. Many things we obtain are contingent upon our thoughts, actions and always our obedience. Cornelius' household, after receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost were "commanded" to be baptized. I assume the obeyed that command.

Part of the story is about rules. Commandment for a better word, since rules seem to have a scratching chalkboard sound. LOL! The reason why is because the prodigal son confessed that he sinned against heaven. He would have to know the laws of God to know he had done that very thing.

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I don't believe I ever said I disagreed with Rob. He

You bolded my quote here:

I actually believe the younger son was scheming when he came back, knowing he could get "better stuff" and this is the climax of the Story.

and responded with:

I don't believe that.

later...

Originally Posted by Pressing-On
Yes, he rehearsed what he was going to say, but you give the impression by saying, "I actually believe the younger son was scheming when he came back, knowing he could get "better stuff" and this is the climax of the Story.", as though he had no remorse for what he had done and had plans to waltz back into the good graces of his home because, after all, it's better than a pig pen.

compared with Rob's words:
pared with Rob's words:

Quote:Why did he come home?
Why did he come home?
He decided that he could handle living with the Father's rules as long as he could enjoy Daddy's fried chicken.

Having trouble keeping up with you this time.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Socialite

But.. but.. what happened to obedience before Grace?

The most insidious thing about this Elder Son is that he felt he had to earn place in the fathers house. Some today think they have to score points with the Great Scorekeeper to be a part of His Kingdom. We don’t earn our place in God’s Kingdom. That place was bought and paid for at Calvary.

I took that as "works of the law" and not of obedience, i.e., "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." Hebrews 10:4