There were two prodigal son’s!

Out of the three parables found in Luke 15 we are most familiar with the prodigal son.  You know who I’m talking about – the youngest.  He was a young punk, spoiled brat kind of kid who wanted his inheritance early.  He was granted his request by a loving father.  Then off he went to spread his wings and sow his wild oats.  You know the story – he comes to his senses and decides to go home.   His father greets him at the end of the driveway with open arms.  He is forgiven and the father throws a huge mega party for the kid.  The story doesn’t end here.  We would like it to but it doesn’t.   Grace, mercy and forgiveness are not what this story is all about.

There is another son we should be concerned about.  The oldest.  He doesn’t “cotton” up to the idea of grace, mercy and forgiveness as quick as the dad does.  Ooops!  More dirty laundry to air – right out of the pages of holy writ!   He cops a bad attitude with the dad and doesn’t even attend the party.  The father goes out to him also – not to extend grace and mercy – but to plead with him to come in and enjoy the home-coming of the youngest son.  The oldest doesn’t want anything to do with it.   Arrogance, anger, envy and pride at its best.

I am looking at these two sons as that which represents generational differences in the church.  While I won’t go in to the detail my message did this past Sunday (listen to it on-line at victoryhil.org) I will make some points about it.  I am deeply burdened for two groups of young people.  First the 18 – 25 year olds who are leaving their churches but not necessarily their faith.  Second, those “kids” who have been raised in the church, left the church, grew up, got married and have never come back to the church.   I’m grieved and broken-hearted over these two groups.  I think all of us should be somewhat concerned about them.   Somewhere along the line we took the word essential out of our teaching the importance of church to our congregations.  Church to far too many people is nothing more than an option in relationship to what to do on any given Sunday.  Do we go to a ball game or go to church?  Do we go to the lake or do we go to church?   Church has lost its priority to too many believers and we have succeeding generations that are taking this lack of essentiality to a new level.   Faith is important to them but not a place to express their faith in communal action.

I think the older son represents that generation of boomers and busters and older.  Here’s why:                   

• The terms used to describe the older son comes from the Greek word presbuteros.  We get our word for presbytery or elder from this word.  It indicates maturity, spiritual maturity.   The word can be used of  rank or term of office (Sanhedrin council).
• He is working in the field when he discovers news about his little brother.    Boomers and busters and older are all normally focused on succeeding vocationally.   It is often said of the younger generation, “They don’t want to work.”  I think you understand this point!
• He is given his portion of the estate at the same time.  He takes his in real property and not monetary compensation.   Sounds like my generation and older – we’re much more interested in investments, land and retirement then our successors.   Most young people take the money and run to enjoy it.
• He is angry about the grace and mercy shown to the youngest.  He assumes his dad is condoning the behavior of the young son.  He is not.  The dad doesn’t hold the past up to his young erring son – only the hope of his future (ring, shoes and robe).
• He refuses to work with the “program” initiated by the father.   He doesn’t go in.  He resists.  He rebels.  He ignores the pleas of the father.  He sits.  He pouts. He whines.  He complains.  He doesn’t engage.  After all, he has already paid a price.  He has been the loyal one.  He has always been there.  He has always played by the rules.  He had supported the father – even in the absence of the younger son.   Sounds a lot like the boom/buster and older generation to me.

The unique thing about this parable is that the father says to the oldest son – “All that I have is yours.”  He didn’t get that part.  He all the resources he ever needed at his finger tips.  He could have had the same opportunity the youngest had.  He was like Martha banging pots and pans and wanting to know where Mary is and threw up the fact that she was working so why wasn’t Mary.   He could have seriously played a part in the parable about the employer and wages.  You know, the one where servants are hired for a days pay.  Some show up early and work all day long.  Some show up an hour before quitting time and are paid the same wages (Matthew 20).  Somebody got ticked off about this idea!  Bottom line is that there is a generation out there that can cop attitudes about the culture of the young potential believers.   I hope our churches will not cop the same attitude the oldest son did in this parable.

I ask you this question: Who was the worse prodigal?  The young son who spent his inheritance on wild living?  The oldest who was consumed with envy, jealousy and anger over how the Father treats his wild young buck brother?  The youngest who wasted his inheritance or the older who wasted an opportunity to serve the Father in compliance with grace, mercy and forgiveness? 

I think we have a new approach here to this parable.  Consider it.  Think about it.  I trust we all take advantage of the Father’s willingness to celebrate forgiveness for a generation of potential believers who will not do church the way we have always done church.  Time for Nexus Church!