I've been doing some soul searching...... rocket and mortar attacks tend to do that to a person. A co-worker here handed me a dvd copy based on the book by Timothy Keller, "The Prodigal God - Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith." I recommend this to anyone interested in better understanding their relationship with God and Jesus Christ. As Latter Day Saints I think we have a tendency to dismiss insight from other faithful Christians - and I mean this as lay members, because I don't know of anyone quoted by leaders in the LDS church more than the writers of the Book of Mormon than C.S. Lewis. The Prodigal God was very insightful and I was touched by the spirit as some of the truths of the parable of the Prodigal son were expounded upon by Timothy Keller. It's pretty obvious that the younger son in the parable gave his life to "riotous living" and was therefore separated from his father - "God", but what was insightful was how the elder brother in the parable was also separated from God in that he was more concerned about his inheritence being squandered on his lost and found brother, than he was about his brother's welfare. How many of us as Christians behave as the elder brother?
Seems like a good thing to watch. The concept of how Christianity and Christian experiences are projected onto our own lives is a tough subject as that is a very subjective application. The part that I have struggled with in this parable is that people tend to focus on fault. Both brothers were at fault but for different reasons and in different circumstances. I think that the key here is not placing blame or guilt, but who sought to be forgiven of their guilt? All are guilty to some degree, but only those that come to Christ can be made clean.
ReplyDeleteIt would seem that this concept is explored as part of this video. Definitely worth a look. Thanks for sharing.
I have a few thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am skeptical of anything that comes from Zondervan publishing I liked this message. myskepticism comes from the fact that they are one of the largest publishers of anti-mormon material in the world, and much of it is vicious in attacking not just our message,but us as people. As I said however this is a great message.
I found it interesting as well that this minister referred to Jesus as "our true Eldest Brother".That is significant to me and maybe you know why also. That exact terminolgy inreference to Jesus is not found in the Bible.
It is alluded to as His being the first-born among the children of God,and of followers of Jesus as being his brethren, but that exact verbage for him of being our "Elder Brother" is not there in the Bible, though there are many scriptures there that refer to us as bretheren of Jesus:
Matthew 25:40, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 2:11-17. Also there is a passage in the Doctrine and Covenants 45:5 where Jesus calls us his brethren.
Our usage of term "Elder Brother" in referance to Jesus is one of those points of contention among Zondervan types, so that is why I find it interseting they publish a video where a minister uses that very term.
To the heart of the issue regarding the point of the Gospel. It is a solid point that we always remember that God loved us FIRST, and it is because of Jesus loving us to the point of his suffering and painful death that we can attempt to be obedient to laws and ordinances within the Gospel. Yes it is the principle that the love of God was first in our relationship with Him that is so important to understand.
Neither can we earn Gods love. We cant make him love us more or less since his love is perfect and complete. Love is not the issue with obedience to Gospel precept and commandment. How much God can bless us is up to us. We have to allow the love, the Atonement, to come inside. Then we can be blessed, but whether or not God loves us should be beyond the point of question. His love will always be steady and never diminishing. The ability to bless is another story, reserved for obedience to repentance and works.