tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985643612405599202.post3725914818036608189..comments2023-08-10T04:06:39.828-04:00Comments on The Proclaimed Word: All Are Valued - Luke 15A.J. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06292984443374812223noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985643612405599202.post-20965712445060747912009-10-19T10:03:00.160-04:002009-10-19T10:03:00.160-04:00The temptation with this parable is to figure out ...The temptation with this parable is to figure out with which son we identify. I wanted to look at it through the perspective of the father. Once I had gotten inside his head a bit, the parable became so much clearer. That's when I got the idea of the "alternate ending" which, of course, is a fairly literal re-interpretation of what many churches and Christians actually do.<br /><br />When that alternative ending came to me, it was such a powerful image in light of the compassionate longing of the father for restored relationship. Truth be told, it got me a bit choked up yesterday as I delivered it.<br /><br />I felt it was necessary to rescue this issue from the clutches of the conservative/liberal ideological argument, which is why I tackled that one head on at the beginning. I didn't want people sitting there through the entire sermon saying, "Well, he's not on my side," or "Well, he's on my side."<br /><br />This issue has no sides.A.J. Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06292984443374812223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4985643612405599202.post-421819786886794422009-10-19T04:35:21.605-04:002009-10-19T04:35:21.605-04:00Oooooh. This makes me want to cry and dance around...Oooooh. This makes me want to cry and dance around the room.<br /><br />You turned it away from being a political issue, a power struggle, and made the idea of value one of compassion. (As it should be!). You told the story of the prodigal son in a very powerful way; the servant turning the son back gave me shivers. And you didn't leave out the most convicting part for many of us churched folk: the older son. The "good" guy. The one with whom we like to identify in our smug assessment of ourselves... until we get to the end of the parable and it turns out we're messed up, too. Well done.<br /><br />This might be my favorite yet. Even though it means I have to be gracious to that guy who really annoys me on the bus every week.Aseahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08826709753219815266noreply@blogger.com