>>>“Thank you for pasting the story of the Prodigal Son. It’s the perfect story of lunacy, and the complete justification for irresponsible “Christian” behavior. If I’d read far enough through my Bible as a young boy, I would have stopped then and there at the Prodigal Son and made that my model of personal behavior. The Prodigal Son gets to have his cake (actually someone else’s) and eat it too. I can’t think of a better religious lifestyle than to spend it boozin’, whorin’, and being a general reprobate, and then just shy of my deathbed proclaiming my acceptance of Jesus as personal lord and savior. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

>>>The Prodigal Son, along with the far right wing whacko fundamentalist non-Christian Cult, have done more than anything else ever could to steer me toward my present spiritual soup of semi-Christian, Pagan, Heathen, . . . “


***The Prodigal Son story (Luke 15:11-32) is actually quite beautiful and demonstrates what unconditional love, free from pride, anger, etc is really like…

Christianity is about a REAL change of heart. It is about putting your self pride aside, humbling yourself, admitting your sinfulness. Becoming a Christian is NOT a ‘cure’ for sin in your life. That is still a daily struggle that God is there to help you with. You no longer need to be a slave to your fleshly desires, but are set free through Christ. When you do stumble, instead of ignoring it or justifying it, you admit it, repent, seek forgiveness, and move on. It is a process of becoming spiritually mature.


Luke 15:11-32 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

{here is where the prideful attitude of Christians and even non-Christians comes in. Some Christians think that since they have been living a Christian life longer than someone else, they are more worthy in some way. For non-Christians, this is how many copout – “look, he lived a wild lifestyle and still got saved – so why should I bother now???”}

25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "