Daily Dose 3

I have some struggles with Christianity.  Also with church.  I'm going to write about that alot. 

Remember the prodigal son story from the bible?  The one where a father has two sons, one takes an early inheritance, goes and squanders it all away with booze, hookers and gambling while the other stays at home and works hard for his father to be the best son he can be? Well, after several years the bad son comes home with his head hung in shame hoping in the very least to be hired as a helping hand.  But the father runs and greets him, gives him his finest clothes to wear and offers up a fattened calf to celebrate.  Other son is pissed.  WTF DAD?  This party should be mine!  He wasted ALL the money you gave him.  I've been here working hard to please you.....

Most people think this parable is about the son that left and came back. It is.  Most people think the son that's always been there is a selfish prick who could care less about his brother.  It is.  Most people I would guess picture themselves as the prodigal son.  I think we can learn alot more from the jealous brother.  

How many people in their Christian faith work really hard to do all the right things, say all the right things, and make sure they do EVERYTHING God asks them to do? Working really hard to please God.  It's hard to do.  Takes a lot of energy.  Then someone comes along and wants to be a part of the faith and we tell them, "GREAT!  Here's what you have to do......"   I think this story is telling us that method is wrong. 

The father silences him. He says "Son, You have been with me the whole time.  Everything I have is yours and always has been.  But he has come home, lets's celebrate.  

Confused?  The son who stayed was working so hard to please his father he didn't see the glorious gift right in front of his face the whole time.  He thought he had to work, to do all these things for acceptence.  But grace is free.  It's hard when you learn something so abruptly and you realize you've been doing it wrong for so long.  You don't have to "do" anything.  It's already been done.   See, it's just as much about the son who stayed as it is the son who came home.  

I could write all day.  Sometimes I wish I could.  Be at peace friends.