This past Sunday at our Bible Study/Community group (which if you are reading this, and live in close proximity, you should join us...love to have you)...I digress, anyway we examined why Paul tells the Philippians that all their religious activity is rubbish (i.e. big pile of steaming dog poo) by looking at the story Jesus told in Luke 15. In this chapter we read of the familiar story of the Prodigal Son, which really should read Prodigal Sons. The reason being that both of the sons--the irreligious younger brother--and the religious older brother are lost. The question we wrestled through was how we are often like the older brother. This was one of those times where we got to see the Gospel actually doing its work in people's hearts. I was so thankful that I just got to be part of what was happening. There really is power in the Gospel. Go figure. This distinction between the two brothers has been huge. As someone who has been raised in and around the church, I have never really had an "irreligious" phase of life...however, that doesn't get me off the hook. The point isn't to simply avoid irreligious activity, the point is to orient my life around Jesus. Around the Gospel. The default disposition of my heart can be to become the older brother. The one who was religious and therefore had expectations about what he thinks he deserved. Like the older brother, when I embrace this mindset, I miss the party that is going on amongst those who have embraced the Father's invitation. Thankfully the Father pursues us...both the irreligious and the religious. This is truly Good News. This is the beauty of the Gospel. This is what people need to hear...not that there are two ways to live...there are three, and only one will infuse your life with meaning.
Listen to the guru explain it...
And then when you get done, you should probably consider pre-ordering this book.
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