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- Apr 25, 2006
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WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE THE CHURCH (1)
'The younger son ... journeyed to a far country' Luke 15:13
It's easy to look around you, compare your life to your mate's next door and come to the conclusion that this Christianity malarkey isn't everything it's cracked up to be. Over the next few days, we'll be looking at the story Jesus told of the Prodigal Son and asking why, two thousand years later, people are still leaving Church (side note: that's Church with a big C, aka the Body of Christ, aka being a part of Christianity.
People leaving their local church and remaining in the faith is a different thing altogether, and not what we'll be looking at here.) Blessings, a transformed life, a new spiritual family, God's unconditional love? Yes, please!
But give it a little time and the shine can start to fade. Before you know it, the shops, the pub, Ikea, your own bed, even homework can all seem more attractive than being at church on Sunday morning. It might feel like you're fed up of your mum's spag bol every Tuesday and just fancy a big steak tartare instead. To break away.
In the story, it was the son's choice to leave his dad's home. There was no 'holding him hostage'. The father actually showed great dignity to the son by letting him go. The point is that if you will not be held by the love of God, then He won't use His power to stop you. But where did the son's choice get him in the end?
Answer: a mess. A pig-stinking, hunger-panged, guilt-ridden mess. But none of that was any matter to the loving Father; that son would always be His son. Do you need to come back?
What now? Re-read the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-21. Consider: which of the sons does your life reflect at the moment?
written by Bob Gass
'The younger son ... journeyed to a far country' Luke 15:13
It's easy to look around you, compare your life to your mate's next door and come to the conclusion that this Christianity malarkey isn't everything it's cracked up to be. Over the next few days, we'll be looking at the story Jesus told of the Prodigal Son and asking why, two thousand years later, people are still leaving Church (side note: that's Church with a big C, aka the Body of Christ, aka being a part of Christianity.
People leaving their local church and remaining in the faith is a different thing altogether, and not what we'll be looking at here.) Blessings, a transformed life, a new spiritual family, God's unconditional love? Yes, please!
But give it a little time and the shine can start to fade. Before you know it, the shops, the pub, Ikea, your own bed, even homework can all seem more attractive than being at church on Sunday morning. It might feel like you're fed up of your mum's spag bol every Tuesday and just fancy a big steak tartare instead. To break away.
In the story, it was the son's choice to leave his dad's home. There was no 'holding him hostage'. The father actually showed great dignity to the son by letting him go. The point is that if you will not be held by the love of God, then He won't use His power to stop you. But where did the son's choice get him in the end?
Answer: a mess. A pig-stinking, hunger-panged, guilt-ridden mess. But none of that was any matter to the loving Father; that son would always be His son. Do you need to come back?
What now? Re-read the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-21. Consider: which of the sons does your life reflect at the moment?
written by Bob Gass
