WHAT MOST PREACHERS WON’T SHOW YOU ABOUT THE ELDER BROTHER OF THE PRODIGAL SON - By Gracious Akintayo I have heard many messages preached about
WHAT MOST PREACHERS WON’T SHOW YOU ABOUT THE ELDER BROTHER OF THE PRODIGAL SON – By Gracious Akintayo
A traditional depiction of the Prodigal Son. (Credit: Stock image.)
I have heard many messages preached about the prodigal son (Luke 5:11-32). As I took out time to study the story in the bible, I discovered some things that were curious with concern…
My concern is that whenever we use the story of the prodigal son in our messages, the emphasis and focus is always on the prodigal son…
I am worried that we spent much time analyzing his errors and become blinded to the errors of another major character (individual) in the same story. I am talking about his elder brother here…
As I look at the church today, I see a lot of Christians who fit into the description of the elder brother of the prodigal son. They appear zealous, holy and committed but when you take a closer look at their lives, you’ll begin to spot similar errors…
Please I have four questions for the elder brother of the prodigal son. Any where you see him, please help me ask him these four questions:
1. Where were you, when your younger brother was making the terrible decision?
2. How come you never made any attempt to go look for your younger brother to know how he was doing after leaving the house?
3. Why were you angry and bitter that he returned and his return was celebrated?
4. Why were you giving your father reasons why he shouldn’t celebrate the return of your brother?
A Christianity where the errors and fall of a fellow comrade becomes an opportunity to rise is demonic…
A Christianity where we try to gain favor and prove loyalty before authority by discrediting or running down a fellow brother is satanic…
A Christianity where we neglect and abandon our wounded brothers is demonic…
A Christianity where the strong does not uphold the weak is satanic…
A Christianity where the fall of a fellow brother/sister becomes a topic for gossips and discussions is evil…
A Christianity where we prefer rather to discus about the weakness of a fellow comrade behind him/her than to approach and correct him/her in love is evil…
A Christianity where we pray for a fellow brother/sister to err or fall so we can occupy his/her position is barbaric…
If you see Generational Impact smoking cigarette on the street after he has preached on facebook, will you reach out to him in love and intercede on his behalf…?
If the fall of a fellow comrade does not touch and compel you to intercede on his behalf, then you are still far from God…
Enough of the hate in Church…, fellowship nay association
Enough of plotting against each other…
Enough of analyzing and amplifying each other’s weakness…
We will do greater exploit as a team and as a unified body…
I am not your enemy, the devil is…. My fall should not bring joy to you…
Let us uphold each other and show love to the wounded in our midst…
This is what Christ expects of us. Forgiving and Upholding one another.
By Gracious Akintayo,
Editor, Providence
COMMENTS
Refreshing and highly instructive perspective of the prodigal’s elder brother. I am especially touched by the question: did he go to look for his brother and even, where was he when the brother was making the outrageous decision and demand? This is encouraging me to study this further. Thank you for the insights. Shalom!