In the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, the older brother becomes very upset with the Father because of the grace and acceptance offered to the younger son upon his return.
The scripture says, “He was angry and refused to go in.” (Luke 15:28, ESV).
The Father came out to talk with his son — he wanted to celebrate both of his children in His presence. He said, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:32, ESV)
The Father’s grace was offensive to the older son. I have been contemplating on the “rest of the story” about the prodigal in the last three months. I have come to a very clear conclusion: Grace offends the very religious.
The Pharisees were offended when Jesus healed the paralytic (Mark 2).
The teachers of the law were offended when Jesus ate and drank with sinners (Matthew 9:10-13).
The disciples were offended when Jesus rebuked their anger in wanting to call down fire from heaven (Luke 9:51-56).
Religious purists were offended when Peter went into the home of a Gentile to share the good new of Christ (Acts 10 & 11).
Jews were offended when Paul offered grace instead of circumcision to the Gentiles (Acts 15).
The free offer of salvation through the grace given by Jesus and secured by his atoning sacrifice on the cross has always been offensive to the “religious”. Religion says, “You must prove yourself worthy of salvation.” Grace says, “You are not worthy, I offer it to you freely.”
In the course of my ministry I have often been criticized for people I have embraced and accepted and ministered to:
- The African American woman who came to our church who confided in me that she had AIDS;
- The senior citizen who had serious mental disorders that had required hospitalizations and clinical treatment;
- The Hispanic families who wanted to worship Jesus, even when their legal status was undetermined;
- A group of lesbian women, going through drug and alcohol treatment and participating in a bible study sponsored by our church;
- An individual who had experience the sin of adultery and divorce who began to make tentitive steps back toward involvement with church;
- The senior woman who came to our church seeking a very traditional worship experience;
- The Mormon family who were simply seeking friendship and an opportunity to fit in with others.
In all of these situations I have experienced the criticism of those who believe that grace comes with a cost — you can experience grace if you get your life in order.
Yet, in each of these sitautions, including in my own life, grace is offered to those whose lives are messy, challenging, sinful, broken, weary, prejudiced and closed-minded. Grace comes and then the change comes.
To the extremely religious, these instances of God’s grace offered is offensive. Whether the offense came to the Pharisees of Jesus’ day or the extrememly religious in our day, the truth is the same: Grace offends the very religious!
I believe that I have been called (along with every believer), becuase I (and we) have experienced His free grace to offer grace to all — even if it is offensive to some.
The Father of the Prodigal invited the older son to join in the party started with grace — lay aside the preconceptions of religious dogma and embrace grace, freely offered, completely undeserved and offered through our Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ.
Join me in celebrating Grace today!
