Book Review.
Keller, Timothy. The Prodigal God. Recovering the heart of the Christian faith. Dutton. 2008.
T.K.- pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Manhattan.
Comment. Henry.
This book is a pastoral exposition of Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32, usually referred to as the parable of the lost son. This exposition will add to your understanding of this portion of scripture and also impact your personal inventory of spiritual resources.
The parable in Luke 15 is more correctly called the parable of a father and his two sons. The two sons represent two groups of people Jesus focused on during his earthly ministry, the religious and the irreligious, the Pharisees and the ‘unbelievers’.
Both sons have acted in very disrespectful ways to their father. The father (Father) has responded to these actions in a most non-traditional way extending grace, forgiveness and love. Both sons have ‘sinned’ against their father, one through his self-discovery and the other through his hypocritical conformity. “The gospel is- everyone is wrong, everyone is loved, and everyone is called to recognize this and change.” (45)
Both sons illustrate truths about ‘lostness’ a biblical metaphor for sin. The younger son lost his way and decided to rebuild his life. The older son responded to his ‘lostness’ with anger and resentment. Anger causes us to loose our moral footing. It reflects an attitude of superiority and self-righteousness. It is suggested that the ‘lostness’ of the older brother may well have had a major part in the decision of the younger brother to do what he did to escape from such hypocrisy. When these brothers (groups of people) come to a point of reconciliation with the father and each other, they come with their own unique baggage which must be dealt with.
“We were created to live in the garden of God.” (95) Until we reach that garden our experience will be that of exiles (prodigals) longing for home. And there will be a feast.
The father’s feast is symbolic of the Father’s feast that is described in Revelation and is for all who have experienced restoration, salvation. That salvation is experiential, material, individual and communal.
www.henrydirksen.blogspot.com
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An Amazing and refreshing view on Christianity and it's principles. I have never been exposed to this angle of Christianity in church settings, even thou in my heart I always felt that too much "religion" is not healthy for anyone. I was raised in church of too many "big brothers" and not enough grace. This book has opened my eyes to a different perspective that is based on true love and grace instead of fear and obligation based faith. Thank you Timothy Keller for writing openly of new revelations of God's true character!
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