Lessons from the Prodigal
Throughout my life, I have often shared my Christian faith with others. Even as a child, I found ways to talk about Jesus.
These days, I admit to wrestling increasingly with this aspect of being a Christian. As an adult, I have regularly experienced humiliation and ridicule for sharing my faith. Traditional methods of presenting the gospel have become more challenging with each passing year. Jesus promised suffering for those who choose to follow Him. The problem comes when suffering seems to be, at best, unnecessary, and at worst, counterproductive.
Proclaiming the gospel in primarily cognitive or doctrinal ways often results in more harm than good. A thick cloud of skepticism covers our world. People tend to mistrust ideas and put more confidence in experience.
A recent meeting reminded me of this. I stopped by the office of Randy, a friendly, middle-aged businessperson. The president of a large successful bank in town, Randy and I became acquainted several years ago when he purchased a pair of trendy glasses from me.
Happily, Randy welcomed me into his expansive office. With a look of surprise and curiosity, he announced, “I was in the optometry office a while back and heard you are starting a church. How’s that going?” His skeptical tone was obvious.
I began by telling Randy that Prodigal was not the “traditional” church with which he was likely familiar. Instead of raising money for a building and eventually offering a myriad of church programs, our hope is to create multiple, small, in-home congregations throughout the city.
Rather than a central focus of meeting weekly for “church,” we are placing a greater emphasis on being the church by fostering opportunities to serve those in need by hosting fun, inclusive, community events; and engaging in a rhythm of deeper spiritual, educational, and accountability practices.
Randy looked interested, genuinely, as I continued to describe our mission. I explained, “We want to focus on building strong and lasting relationships centered on Jesus in the most affordable and meaningful way. We know most people in this city aren’t interested in hearing about Christianity. Many have attended church services on-and-off throughout their lives only to gain little from it—besides another “thing-to-do” on the weekend.
Randy nodded in agreement and confessed that he went to Sunday School each week as a child but none of it ever really made any sense to him. He went on to grumble about a few negative stereotypes in the Christian culture. No doubt, Randy seemed happy that this chapter of his life was over.
Sensing that our conversation was coming to a close, I handed Randy my business card with the name of our community on it. I asked him if he was familiar with the parable of the prodigal son.
When he told me he wasn’t, I shared that the word prodigal means “reckless and extravagant” behavior. The younger son in the story leaves the family home and shamefully squanders away his inheritance. Upon the son’s pitiful return home, he is surprised to find his father meeting him on the road with extravagant grace, joyfully welcoming him home.
I explained, “This is the kind of community we hope to foster.”
Randy’s eyes began to water. He confessed that he had made a lot of poor choices. Underneath the veneer of a successful career lay the brokenness of a painful divorce and estranged relationships with his children.
Over the course of 30 minutes, we discussed several things he might do to begin repairing the damage. It was a sacred moment when the hope of the gospel began. As if on cue, Randy confessed, “I know there is something missing from my life.” I encouraged him that this truth would become increasingly clear as he learned more about Jesus and suggested he begin reading the book of John. I told him I would invite him to our next “no-strings-attached” BBQ event.
Randy is the perfect example of those who will not go to a church service and believe Christianity is irrelevant to their lives. Skepticism and individualism are doing their parts to erode the culture of any true meaning or purpose.
As I ponder this dilemma, I wonder, how is the church going to find and connect with people like Randy?
How will the church welcome people back home when they don’t even know where home is?
Is it possible for people who will not go to church to become disciples?
I believe that adopting the extravagantly loving and missional posture of the prodigal’s father is the only way the church will fulfill its mission.
From Genesis to Revelation, we see hundreds of examples of God sending His people on missions. The people of God have always been called to be a sent people, to bring God’s blessing to the world. Missional is therefore an adjective used to describe the church as a missionary entity. Each person has been called, in a unique context, to go and make disciples.
At Prodigal we believe our mission should no longer be to “get-a-person-to-church.” As a people who have been called to go, we cannot expect the not-yet believer to carry the burden of entering a foreign culture (in many cases, the local church). Instead we must go to them with humility and respect. In order for the gospel to be fully revealed, Christians must share it through the cultivation of genuine relationships, intentional acts of serving, and of course, words.
Brian Timmer is trivocational. He creates and sells fine art paintings (recently he completed a mural for a new restaurant in his city), he works at an optical shop (crafting lenses and selling glasses), and leads the Prodigal Church community in Lawrence, Kansas.
Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.
