“For this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is found.” And they began to celebrate. Now his older brother was in the field . . .- Luke 15:24-25
In Chapter 13 (“Lost in the Father’s House- The Final AHA”) of AHA, Kyle Idleman reminds us that the Parable of the Prodigal Son doesn’t end with a happy celebration. The parable turns its focus on the older son, who has not appeared sin the opening sentence of the parable.
As Pastor Idleman notes, the older son never left his father, broke any rules, or went to a distant country. Nevertheless, the older son never had experienced AHA. He played the blame game, placing the blame for his reaction on his father and his younger brother. The older son never admitted his own culpability.
Pastor Idleman’s brother-in-law is a police officer who has investigated many serious auto accidents. Surprisingly, people don’t feel better when he shows up- because he’s there to assign blame. It’s the job of the paramedics to free those who are trapped and help the hurting. Pastor Idleman states:
” . . . faithful followers of Christ aren’t on earth to assign blame; we’re here to free the trapped, bandage the wounded, help the hurting, and celebrate homecomings.”
Today’s question” Where have you played the blame game following your ministry downsizing or vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Total dependence”
