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Spiritual Formation Nathan Chatfield

THE PRODIGAL GOD

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
by Tim Keller
 
Tim Keller's masterful work The Prodigal God (2008) is a wonderful exposition and explanation of one of Jesus' most well known parables: The Prodigal Son. Having grown up in a loving, Christian home I was very familiar with the themes of this beloved story (or so I thought). Themes of separation and reconciliation; rebellion and restoration; fractured relationships and jubilant forgiveness. To be sure, each of these themes are indeed present in the story with the loving Father and the wayward son, but we often leave out a chief character: the older brother. 
 
To understand any biblical passage one must understand the context surrounding it. In this case the most pertinent question is, "Who did Jesus tell this story to?" The answer is twofold- 1) tax collectors/sinners and 2) Pharisees and religious leaders. The sinners and tax collectors are represented by the younger brother, while the Pharisees and religious leaders are represented by the older brother. 
 
I often wondered why Jesus ended His story on a low note by talking about the older brother refusing to attend the celebration thrown by the Father when the younger brother had returned. This book answers that question. Keller wonderfully and (if I am being truthful) painfully brings to light a key concept from the parable: the older brother with his obedience and righteousness was in as much spiritual darkness as the younger brother with his rebellion and pleasure seeking. Here is one particularly poignant quote from Keller, "Do you realize, then, what Jesus is teaching? Neither son loved the father for himself. They both were using the father for their own self-centered ends rather than loving, enjoying, and serving Him for his own sake. This means that you can rebel against God and be alienated from Him either by breaking His rules or by keeping all of them diligently." 
 
This struck me to my core. I was the older brother. Looking down on those who were trying to fill a Jesus-sized hole in their hearts with pleasure, while I tried to fill that same Jesus-sized hole in my heart with moralistic obedience. Moralistic obedience says, "I obey and am therefore loved." Spirit-fueled obedience says, "I am loved and therefore obey." Keller goes on to say, "There are two ways to be your own Savior and Lord. One is by breaking all the moral laws and setting your own course, and one is by keeping all the moral laws and being very, very good." Both brothers were missing the same ingredient: a genuine love for the Father. 
 
One of the many blessings of becoming a father is how certain themes of Scripture have come to life for me. Imagine with me for a moment that your daughter is in the hospital gravely ill. Now imagine you looking at her with disgust, leaving her alone in the hospital room, and wanting nothing to do with her because of the illness that she has contracted. Unthinkable! Our hearts are drawn to our children when our children are at their weakest. That is the heart of the Father to the sinner! How dare I then look down with contempt on those who are in sin? When Jesus spoke he drew sinners to himself offering forgiveness, love, and a new and better path. When I speak, who do I attract? If sinners are not drawn to the light of Jesus radiating from me then perhaps I am more of an older brother than I would care to admit. God help us to have hearts that long to see the restoration of sinners to the Father!
 
 
 
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