The story of the prodigal son by Dr. Bruce

Are you a new creation after redemption? In my experience, no.

If you have been a part of a Christian church, especially a fundamentalist one, you’ve probably heard of the dogma of rehabilitation. Regarding someone who is not a believer, the definition is spelled out clearly in second Corinthians, which says that if anyone is saved by Christ, he is a new creation. Apparently, his/her old self is gone and the new person magically appears. Moreover, there is a provision for even those who are saved, have left the church for a ‘sinful’ life, and later returned. First John says that by walking in the light, as Jesus does, our sins are washed away. So, if you’re a sinner, either unsaved or saved but fallen, you can be forgiven and welcomed into the flock! Yet, there are two issues with the dogma of rehabilitation. Churches are by nature orthodoxic, meaning the membership comes with the adoption of a certain mindset. And, that way of thinking usually comes with a cost.

In Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the wandering sheep. That if a shepherd loses one out of a hundred, he leaves the ninety-nine in order to find the one. And when he does, there’s no punishment, the sheep is placed on his shoulders and carried back to the flock. Jesus connects the wandering sheep to a sinner, saying that heaven rejoices more at that one who repents than the ninety-nine who stay faithful. This story always disturbed me for a couple of reasons. First, sheep aren’t very smart. Thus, the comparison is not a compliment. Secondly, shepherds don’t keep sheep because they like them. They’re either fleeced or eaten. So, the sheep’s importance is only in relation to the shepherd’s well-being. Ahhh, now it begins to make sense. Consider that the wandering sheep represents the expression of individuality. And the ninety-nine represent group-think, wherein group-identity is more important than individual thought. If you’re a church member, and you wander away, you are the one sheep. And, the shepherd, which can be the pastor or any member, may attempt to bring you back. Why? Well, members are financially beneficial to churches. Also, when the one returns, its action exhibits the power of the flock, the gospel and God. So, the one sheep is back. Hooray! Forgiven! But, it can’t be that easy, can it? Nothing is freely given. So, who pays the price for this spiritual redo?

As a teenager, I had a friend named Charlie, who was the stereotypical nice guy. Quiet, well-mannered, dutiful, polite and shy, everyone liked him. When we reached our twenties, he married. His wife was the complete opposite. Confident, strong-willed, outspoken, and in the Army. One day, driving home after work, I see Charlie walking a few blocks from his apartment. I stop, but he keeps going. I get out and call to him. Nothing. I run. Upon reaching him, I find that his face is bruised, neck, scratched. He cries and explains that his wife is physically abusing him. I take him to his parents where he stays. They help him leave the marriage. Within a year, he is on his own again. But then another bombshell, Charlie declares that he’s gay. His parents, who are very religious, freak out. His father disowns him. His mother preaches to him constantly. After a few years of living the gay lifestyle, he returns to the church, confesses his sins, and marries a nice Christian girl. In the church’s eyes, he’s rehabilitated. Yet, what about Charlie? Is he? When I ask, he says that his family, wife, and God are all happy with him, and that’s what’s really important. Is it? What cost does Charlie pay for his rehabilitation? It doesn’t matter to the flock. He is the one wandering sheep and he is back.

Yet, what about the ninety-nine who have remained faithful? Do they receive a reward for their loyalty? Consider the parable of the prodigal son. As the story goes, a man has two sons, one who is dutiful, the other, not. The younger, undutiful one, asks for his inheritance and leaves, wasting it on wine, women and song. Broke, he returns to his father, who celebrates his return. The older, dutiful son is upset because the prodigal brother is receiving more appreciation than he, who has remained at his father’s side. To me, the older son has a point. Yet, to the father, what’s important is that the younger son was lost and now is found. Assumedly, to soften the blow, the father suggests that he will leave everything he has to the older brother. Well, perhaps. I would question that now since baby brother has returned. Anyhow, it’s obviously a story of redemption. And, the message resonates with many people, that despite your past, you are welcome in God’s kingdom. Yet, what about the older brother? He stayed and did the work. True, but is the story about merit? No. It’s about reinforcing the idea of the flock. Here, the older brother pays the cost. For his loyalty means nothing.

The unfairness in that story is obvious. There are many loyal people who pay for someone else’s sins. When I was barely a teen, we gained two new youth ministers at my church, Jake and Lily. Both were in their early thirties and newlyweds. They had experienced a whirlwind romance, having been together only a few months before marriage. Lily was a sweet, caring person. Jake, edgy and blunt. Lily had been raised in the church and was a virgin upon their marriage. Jake was, well, not. The church had heard a bit about Jake’s past, it was definitely checkered. But hey, he was saved by the blood of Jesus, so come on in, Jake! One night, he is asked to give his testimony, meaning, go in front of the church and tell his life story. It will be inspirational, he is told. So, he does. Let me take you to that moment. Jake struts up to the pulpit. He always walks so, chest out, like he is consistently prepared for a fight. He stands in front of the congregation proudly, nose in the air. So much for Christian humility. He says that he was a troubled youth, which is why he’s so passionate about working with young people. Amens ring throughout the church. He continues, “I went to prison, as most of you know. On drug charges, and spent several years behind bars.” He raises his hands towards heaven, “But, Jesus saved me!” Praise Jesus! Resounds from all quarters of the sanctuary. “The life that led me to prison,” he continues, “took me down many dark paths, including, the loss of another man’s life.” You could hear a pin drop. Huh? Apparently, no one, including the law, knew that he was possibly a murderer. For that was not the reason for his incarceration. The church is silent. Faces express shock and a bit of fear. Yet, Jake, seeing the reactions, smiles. He’s proud of his violent past, apparently.

As the months go on, Lily withdraws from people. Yet, she always stays near Jake. A once bright and cheery personality, now she is uncharacteristically quiet, the light slowly fading from her eyes. The change is so drastic that people become concerned. Her parents try to intervene, but Lily shuts them and everyone else out. Until. Until, Jake leaves town for a week to meet up with an old friend. Lily, terrified, flees to her parents, unable to endure Jake’s abuse any longer. The cops are called but she decides against pressing charges, if Jake agrees to a divorce. Considering his options, he does and leaves town. Over the next several months, stories of what she endured shock the faithful. Apparently, the blood of Jesus hadn’t quite recreated him. Yet, who paid the cost for the dogma? Jake? Hardly. For a while, he gained a lovely wife and status in a church of sheep. No, it was Lily. Gullible enough to believe in the dogma of rehabilitation, she was lured into the hands of a dangerous man.

I’m not suggesting that a person cannot change. Yet, I am saying that it is foolhardy to ignore behavioral signs because of dogma. Jake was haughty, loud, and when he spoke about his past, unashamed. He seemed to enjoy the fear he inspired. If Lily hadn’t been raised in the dogma, perhaps she might have been more discerning and avoided a lot of pain. Regarding Charlie, why should he rehabilitate? If being homosexual was his thing, why give it up? Because his parents’ belief system didn’t approve? So, the expectation of the faithful is that members give up their own desires if they conflict with those of the flock. Sometimes the cost you pay is being taken for granted, like the older brother in the parable. At other times, you have to sacrifice your very identity. And, sadly, others are taken advantage of like Lily.

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