The pastor is talking about his trip to China and how things are for Christians there. Mao persecuted Christians because Christianity was seen as an outside influence and threat to communism (ironically also an outside influence). Things are once again getting bad.
China has billboards dissing Christianity. If churches want a cross, they must also have photos of Mao and current president flanking cross. Students bound for college must sing a document denouncing Christianity. Christianity is not the only persecuted religion.
Things are tightening up around the world. The groundwork for control is being laid. Governments now have tremendous surveillance capabilities. China has drones that sound like birds.
Today’s sermon is based on Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son. The prodigal has become an archetype for our culture. Prodigal comes from the same root as prodigious - it denotes generosity - in that sense the father was prodigal with his love.
The eldest son is groomed to take the place of the father. In business, he might say, "I and the father are one." Interesting to view Jesus’s words in this light.
Jesus’s parables are designed to provoke you. If you read it and think it’s a charming story, then you haven’t understood it properly.
The younger son is more than rebellious - he is a fool. Starving in the pig sty, he got a clue. Going home is a big risk. His father was within his rights to kill him outright. His father’s acceptance was totally against what the audience would have expected. The father pays the price for reconciliation. He shames himself and pays the price.
God loves us the same way He loves Jesus and Jesus wants us to know that.
When the elder son refuses to take part in the celebration, he shames his father. When the father goes out to remonstrate with him, he doesn’t use the normal honorific title for his father. He is not in the image of the father, he is in the image of himself, he is self righteous. Self righteousness is always steeped in the Law. When you use scripture to justify yourself and condemn others, then you are being self righteous.
To understand a parable, understand:
1. The theme
2. The main character
3. The audience
The Pharisees were the audience for this parable. He didn’t finish the parable for them or foe us. We are called to embrace the unembraceable.
