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What's wrong with the way the apostle Paul handled the
"wayward" within the flock or for that matter the principles taught by Jesus? After all the Prodigal Son is a
parable - why would you assume that he is part of a "flock" to start with? For me this parable illustrates the
blessing that comes with repentance. I note the Father did not get into
the pigpen with him to win him back and have often
wondered what the outcome would have been had the prodigal died in the
pigpen before the change of heart took place.
It's not good to read more into this than what is there. The older brother
has a sin problem and we can learn from this also. Yes the Father loves us
but we can't bring the pigpen back to His house with us. His love and His
grace do not "cover" sin. They empower us to part with it.
judyt
Caroline:I've got a version of this story as told
by Adrian Plass. It offers a nice twist and, is somewhat closer to the way we
do or would like to treat the 'wayward' within the flock.
Hi Terry
(again);
The second story is the parable of the prodigal
son.
Consider that the prodigal son was still a son
when he was in the far country partying away all his money and when he was
in the pig sty eating pods. His father was still his father even when the
son is not there. When he saw his son approaching, he ran to meet him. The
son did not get a chance to apologize before he was folded into his father's
embrace and restored to his high position; his father commanded that a ring
be placed on his hand, sandals on his feet etc.
Consider also the elder son who stayed home and
obeyed. He was just as much a son to the father and just as loved. But
he never knew how generous and forgiving his father was. He
thought he was deserving of something for his hard work and got nothing even
though the reality is that he has everything, including his father. His
father reached out to him nevertheless.
May we all dwell in the same house in
joyous peace, younger son and older son. Love, Caroline
Caroline Wong wrote:
Obedience is a complex thing.
Folks, some people have reduced the
relationship with our heavenly Father to obedience and that is sad.
Some people have reduced God's revelation to isolated biblical verses,
ignoring the grand sweep of the narrative revelation, the stories
of biblical people living out their faith. That is sad too.
Love,
Caroline ==============================================================
Who
are these people? We need to explain to them that while obedience is
mandatory, it is also a natural response to one who loved us enough to die
in our place. It is gratitude, even when we sometimes grit our teeth
at the thought of dying to self. Sometimes it is easy, sometimes
almost impossible, but we do it anyway, because He is not only our Savior,
He is LORD. Do it for your Savior because of love. Do it for
your Lord because you serve Him. In any case, do it. A
relationship that does not require obedience is all take and no
give. That is not love.
Terry
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