Today I propose we do a little what if-ing. Let’s “what-if?” the story that contains the prodigal son. It pretty much leaves us with some open-ended questions, I know.
Did Dad ever want to wring the son’s neck? Ever?
Where was Mom in all this?
What happened six weeks or six months later?
Did the kid suffer a relapse?
Questions.
So…let’s pretend.
Imagine if Father’s Day fell a week following the prodigal son’s return. No, check that. Let’s pretend it occurred about six or seven months later. On that morning, the father—let’s call him Chanan (Hebrew for gracious)—awakens from a dreamless sleep and rubs his eyes so as to roust them from their hours of inertia. It is still dark, but an oil lamp casts a coppery glow inside the master’s bedroom, and he looks at the pleasing, sleeping form of his wife—oh, may as well: Chana. Hannah. Grace. Continue reading Father’s Day From A Prodigal’s Perspective
My Father, You reign. You are Victor and Victorious. You sit glorious in the heavenlies over all. Son of God, You sit enthroned at the right Hand of the Father until He makes Your enemies His footstool.
Hallelujah! There is no end to Your Kingdom! Blessing and honor and glory be unto You forever! You have ripped us from the lair of the enemy and set us free. You have made a place at the King’s Table for Your children who turn to You and bow to Your reign.
Thank you, Mighty One, for conquering the devil and his angels and death and the grave…and for finishing the work so that Your Name would be exalted.
There is no one like You, no one. No god is like You and I call You my God! My name is engraved in the palms of Your Hand and You call me by name.
My soul is satisfied, well satisfied, with You, and You Shephered me faithfully while the enemy surrounds me and waits for my fall. But I am held tightly to Your chest. Your grace keeps me from wanting to pull away and walk from Your care. I am secure against Your breast and I want it to be so! This, too, is grace! I never want to wander from You, my Lord, for what is there for me apart from You?
This my soul knows right well! In You is Life and joy evermore. There is a path that seems laden with lasting delights for stubborn, earthly man but it leads to emptiness and despair. Not for me! Oh, no! And not for all those whose delight is ever and only for You.
(Selah)
Though the domain of darkness imposes its strength and will, all the flexing of its muscle is powerless against the Kingdom of my God, Kingdom of Light, Kingdom without end. You broke into the strong man’s fortress, overcame and humiliated him with Your infinite power and released his captives so they might glorify the Great God’s Name throughout eternity as Your trophies of grace.
Praise You! I laud and applaud You!
This is my freedom song and You are its Author. It is my pleasure and honor to sing it back to You with every breath I have—in this world and the next.
Heaven, tune your instruments! Stretch out to receive the praise songs of the ‘captives-no-more’! Lord, receive Your glory! Your people want to raise You with their praises!
All who are redeemed, come before the Lord with your freedom song. Let us move hell to raise howls of anguish with our voices!
Glory, glory, glory to Your Name, O Eternal God! Blessing and honor and glory be unto Your Name forever.
Today’s post comes from David Fairchild’s website found here. Interesting stuff. Incidentally, Rodney Stark, a professor of sociology at the University of Washington and raised a Lutheran, says of himself, “I’ve never been an atheist. Atheism is an active faith; it says, ‘I believe there is no God.’ But I don’t know what I believe. I was brought up a Lutheran in Jamestown, North Dakota. I have trouble with faith. I’m not proud of this. I don’t think it makes me an intellectual. I would believe if I could, and I may be able to before it’s over. I would welcome that.“* (emphasis mine)
10 Marks of the Early Church
Rodney Stark and other sociologists tell us there were 10 values of early Christians that stood in stark (no pun intended) contrast to the pluralistic pagan culture of Rome. Let’s prayerfully think through these values and match them to the witness of our own churches. Do we see the city existing for us or do we see our church and our lives existing for the city?
1.They refused to attend blood thirsty entertainment. They wouldn’t go to gladiatorial events because they believed it defiled humans who were created in the image of God.
2.This made them appear to be anti-social. Tertullian and Augustine both write about these events in a negative light.
3.They did not serve in the military to support Caesar’s wars of conquest, which made them appear weak.
4.They were against abortion and infanticide. In this culture, both were considered acceptable. To throw your baby out on the dung heap if you didn’t want it was not taboo.
5.They empowered women by showing their value and dignity in places of learning and service which had previously been exclusively for men. Christians held women in high regard and treasured them rather than viewing them as just a step above expendable children and servants.
6.They were against sex outside of marriage. This fidelity was considered odd and against culture. Sex was viewed as nothing more than a desire like eating or sleeping. Christians held a high view of the bed and kept it pure and would not engage in sex outside of marriage.
7.They were against homosexual relationships. This was odd in a time when same sex practice was not frowned upon.
8.They were exceptionally generous with their resources. They shared what they had with one another and welcomed others in with a hospitality that was unparalleled.They were radically for the poor. In a time when the poor and downtrodden were viewed as getting what they deserved, they were aggressively committed to loving and serving people in the margins of society.
9.They mixed races and social classes in ways that were unseen in their gatherings, and for it they were considered scandalous.
10.They believed only Christ was the way to salvation. This was in a time when everyone had a god and could believe something entirely different and it was totally acceptable to be polytheists and pluralistic. Christians dared claim that Jesus was the only way and refused to bend to other gods.Continue reading 10 Marks of the Early Church
