I just finished Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller, and it is very very good. I think it messed me up more than ever though concerning Jesus and grace!
Here is the premise: In the so-called ‘parable of the prodigal son’ Jesus actually tells the story of two lost sons. One is lost because of his distance from the father in wanting to live for himself and do whatever he wants, the other is lost because he does everything the father has ever asked and now thinks the father owes him for his obedience, so he was really only always serving himself.
It challenged me to think about why I do what I do? What are my motives for loving Jesus more than life? It’s all because of Him, baby!
The bad news is that I’m wrecked for the sake of grace now more than ever. Good quote from that book, “Marx said that religion was the opiate of the people, in that it sedates and makes them powerless. If religion is an opiate, Christianity should be the smelling salts, calling people to wake up!”
I love it. it was a good quick read, and I recommend it...
Love it! And in both cases, the father is the one who breaks all the social rules and expectations in order to reach the sons. For the father to go to the rebellious sons was scandalous, like grace!
Of course I also like the read that says Jesus was the Prodigal, bringing the wealth of heaven (Himself) and squandering it on the worthless townies (us), until he ends up discarded among the swine (disgrace and death), and then returns to the Father where the party begins which will only continue as each of us follows Him home. peace