TOTALLY GEEKED!

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

RE: Interpret this Bible Passage

chef · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
chef wrote:
flan327 wrote:
chef wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Lily:

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LARGE YOUR TEXT IS.

flan
And yet, you capitalize your words, which is internet-ese for yelling. Lead by example.
Guess what? I intended to yell.
flan
Guess what? Maybe Lily used a larger font to make a point just as you used capitals to indicate yelling. You chastised Lily for using larger text yet you did the same thing. Pot, meet kettle.
I C&P the scripture.
When I typed my thoughts, the font carried.
There was absolutely no malicious intent.

This is what I figured but I figured it was also plausible you were simply making a point smile

chef · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Flan, you are missing a big point. The older son did all the "right" things by the book. But, was unrepentant in his own way. Also, the prodigal son is US. We have all gone astray from God. That is how God welcomes us.

Yes.

chef · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
The prodigal son asked for and took his portion before the end of his father's life.

His father welcomed the him home because he was missed while out in the world.

The PS, after squandering away all he had, had lived in squalor.

His father was happy to have him home, safe and sound.

The message is, no matter how far you go, no matter how low you go, God will welcome you back with open arms. Will celebrate your return.
The older son, while working, was living in his father's presence. He never stopped receiving his gifts.

This too.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

flan327 wrote:
Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan

Are you new to the boards? wink

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

just Czech wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan
Are you new to the boards?

Yes, I was a virgin until recently...

flan

Ohfour · Hooker

But your opinion is flawed. The point of the parable is that even when we ROYALLY fvck up, our Heavenly Father welcomes us back with joy and open arms. Is it fair to those that have made a daily effort to walk the walk? Not necessarily. But that's God. He is the God of a million chances.....

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

flan327 wrote:
just Czech wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan
Are you new to the boards?
Yes, I was a virgin until recently...
flan

Now, that, I believe.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

Ohfour wrote:
But your opinion is flawed. The point of the parable is that even when we ROYALLY fvck up, our Heavenly Father welcomes us back with joy and open arms. Is it fair to those that have made a daily effort to walk the walk? Not necessarily. But that's God. He is the God of a million chances.....

Exactly

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

just Czech wrote:
flan327 wrote:
just Czech wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan
Are you new to the boards?
Yes, I was a virgin until recently...
flan
Now, that, I believe.

Would I lie??

flan

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

flan327 wrote:
just Czech wrote:
flan327 wrote:
just Czech wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan
Are you new to the boards?
Yes, I was a virgin until recently...
flan
Now, that, I believe.
Would I lie??
flan

Of course not.. biggrin

WYSIWYG · Guru

I understand that moral of the story of the Prodigal Son, I just don't like the celebration of his return. Welcome him back, by all means. Do so with forgiveness and open arms, by all means. But, I think the message gets messy when the return is celebrated more joyously than reasonable or sensible.

The reason I don't like the celebratory nature is that I feel it could lead to people leaving so they can get the celebration upon their return.

Others may feel differently.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
The prodigal son is about unconditional love. About forgiveness when it is not deserved. And about acceptance.

Yes.

Here's the thing - God will forgive your sins, no matter what you do, no matter how big the sin. So, you need to pass that forgiveness on to others. You need to love them no matter what.

All the "I don't like its" are human reactions. That's why the father is set as an example - because he rises above his human emotion and forgives as God would.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
chef wrote:
The idea that the older son should've been rewarded too just because the younger son was rewarded smacks of the attitude in today's society that squashes success and achievement just because someone else might get their feelings hurt.
So LOYALTY is not important?
The younger son is rewarded for screwing up?!
flan

The younger son is welcomed home. So, if your son screws up and is gone for years and comes back, you are not going to be glad to see him?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan

There's the VICTIM! YAY! Seriously, you are so predicable.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan
There's the VICTIM! YAY! Seriously, you are so predicable.

Did you even read this thread?

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Remind me never to disagree with y'all...or even have my own opinion.

flan
There's the VICTIM! YAY! Seriously, you are so predicable.
Did you even read this thread?
flan

Yep. You are being melodramatic. People disagreed with you - big whoop. You disagree with people. Should I start playing victim whenever you disagree with me?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
chef wrote:
The idea that the older son should've been rewarded too just because the younger son was rewarded smacks of the attitude in today's society that squashes success and achievement just because someone else might get their feelings hurt.
So LOYALTY is not important?
The younger son is rewarded for screwing up?!
flan
The younger son is welcomed home. So, if your son screws up and is gone for years and comes back, you are not going to be glad to see him?

I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up.

Of course I would be glad to see my son, BUT I would make sure to talk to my OTHER son BEFORE I killed the fatted calf...

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

So, flan - do you like one of your children better? Does one son get more love, loyalty and money from you?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
So, flan - do you like one of your children better? Does one son get more love, loyalty and money from you?

What about you?

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
chef wrote:
The idea that the older son should've been rewarded too just because the younger son was rewarded smacks of the attitude in today's society that squashes success and achievement just because someone else might get their feelings hurt.
So LOYALTY is not important?
The younger son is rewarded for screwing up?!
flan
The younger son is welcomed home. So, if your son screws up and is gone for years and comes back, you are not going to be glad to see him?
I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up.
Of course I would be glad to see my son, BUT I would make sure to talk to my OTHER son BEFORE I killed the fatted calf...
flan

Really? So, when you bail out one son, you discuss it with the other first?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
So, flan - do you like one of your children better? Does one son get more love, loyalty and money from you?
What about you?
flan

You are the one with the position about not forgiving and welcoming back with open arms.

I love both my children, and I don't need to clear it with one before I forgive the other their transgressions.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Quite frankly - had he waited to discuss it with his other son - that would have been BAD PARENTING. Parents are supposed to be the guide, and teach their children about love and forgiveness, not help them nurse grudges and teach them to play the victim over "unfairness".

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
Quite frankly - had he waited to discuss it with his other son - that would have been BAD PARENTING. Parents are supposed to be the guide, and teach their children about love and forgiveness, not help them nurse grudges and teach them to play the victim over "unfairness".

This is NOT rocket science. TELL the loyal son BEFORE the big party. Tell him how happy you are that you have BOTH sons in your life now.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Quite frankly - had he waited to discuss it with his other son - that would have been BAD PARENTING. Parents are supposed to be the guide, and teach their children about love and forgiveness, not help them nurse grudges and teach them to play the victim over "unfairness".
This is NOT rocket science. TELL the loyal son BEFORE the big party. Tell him how happy you are that you have BOTH sons in your life now.
flan

Ok - let's get some perspective. His son leaves and is gone for years. He is worried all the time, having no idea if his son is dead or alive. He prays to God to bring his son back to him. There are no phones, no post office, no way of communicating. And then one day, he looks outside and he sees his lost son coming up the house, bedraggled, beaten down, humbled. And he is just so GLAD. So happy is son is alive and home. He runs to him, embraces him, doesn't even THINK of anything but how happy he is to see his child. He hollers out to the servants to prepare a feast, his lost son has returned!

Yeah -that's a horrible thing. He should definitely have held himself back and said, "Before I can welcome you, I need to wait for your brother to come back who is off working somewhere in the fields I gave him. " evileye

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

The celebration was not about the older son.

It was about the younger son.

huskerbb · Guru

WYSIWYG wrote:
I understand that moral of the story of the Prodigal Son, I just don't like the celebration of his return. Welcome him back, by all means. Do so with forgiveness and open arms, by all means. But, I think the message gets messy when the return is celebrated more joyously than reasonable or sensible.

The reason I don't like the celebratory nature is that I feel it could lead to people leaving so they can get the celebration upon their return.

Others may feel differently.

But apply it to us. Everyone has strayed at some point in their lives. Maybe they haven't left the church, but they've doubted, not put their trust in God fully, sinned even when they knew what they were doing was wrong.

NONE of us are the older son. We are ALL the prodigal son in some way.

But it take it even further. Let's say all pious church-goers can be compared to the older son. would it not be a reason for great rejoicing when an un-churched person comes to faith--no matter what their past?

Most pastors will tell you that performing adult baptisms is one of the most rewarding parts of their job.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
The celebration was not about the older son.

It was about the younger son.

I'll type slowly:

I understand that. I understand the parable.

flan

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
The celebration was not about the older son.

It was about the younger son.

I'll type slowly:
I understand that. I understand the parable.
flan

How do we know you didn't type that at 80wpm?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

huskerbb wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
The celebration was not about the older son.

It was about the younger son.

I'll type slowly:
I understand that. I understand the parable.
flan
How do we know you didn't type that at 80wpm?

LOL!

I was SO stubborn that I never took typing in high school. We had very few electives back then.

I use 2 fingers on my right hand, so it's highly doubtful that I'm doing 80 wpm!

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

huskerbb wrote:
WYSIWYG wrote:
I understand that moral of the story of the Prodigal Son, I just don't like the celebration of his return. Welcome him back, by all means. Do so with forgiveness and open arms, by all means. But, I think the message gets messy when the return is celebrated more joyously than reasonable or sensible.

The reason I don't like the celebratory nature is that I feel it could lead to people leaving so they can get the celebration upon their return.

Others may feel differently.
But apply it to us. Everyone has strayed at some point in their lives. Maybe they haven't left the church, but they've doubted, not put their trust in God fully, sinned even when they knew what they were doing was wrong.

NONE of us are the older son. We are ALL the prodigal son in some way.

But it take it even further. Let's say all pious church-goers can be compared to the older son. would it not be a reason for great rejoicing when an un-churched person comes to faith--no matter what their past?
Most pastors will tell you that performing adult baptisms is one of the most rewarding parts of their job.

husker,

THAT actually makes sense.

flan

Ohfour · Hooker

I think there is some projection going on here....jelousy maybe?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Jealousy?

flan

Ohfour · Hooker

Yes, jealousy. The older brother was jealous.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Ohfour wrote:
Yes, jealousy. The older brother was jealous.

Totally understandable, imho.

flan

Lindley · Guru

I agree with Huskers interpretation. We are all like the prodigal son.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
Yes, jealousy. The older brother was jealous.
Totally understandable, imho.
flan

It is understandable in human terms--but not in God's.

The point of the parable is that jealousy is actually a sin. We are not to covet what our brother has--whether we are talking earthly things or heavenly rewards.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

flan327 wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
Yes, jealousy. The older brother was jealous.
Totally understandable, imho.
flan

Does that make it right flan? We are also the other son. How often have we taken God's goodness for granted as well?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Jealousy and resentment are not good traits and not someone one should strive for.

WYSIWYG · Guru

But apply it to us. Everyone has strayed at some point in their lives. Maybe they haven't left the church, but they've doubted, not put their trust in God fully, sinned even when they knew what they were doing was wrong.

NONE of us are the older son. We are ALL the prodigal son in some way.

But it take it even further. Let's say all pious church-goers can be compared to the older son. would it not be a reason for great rejoicing when an un-churched person comes to faith--no matter what their past?

Most pastors will tell you that performing adult baptisms is one of the most rewarding parts of their job.
- huskerbb

_________________________________

I actually was applying it to us. If people thought they could get a celebration upon their return, many in this modern day and age of "gimme, gimme, gimme" would leave and then maybe return, but they also might never return. Is it worth it to dangle that celebration in front of them?

huskerbb · Guru

WYSIWYG wrote:
But apply it to us. Everyone has strayed at some point in their lives. Maybe they haven't left the church, but they've doubted, not put their trust in God fully, sinned even when they knew what they were doing was wrong.

NONE of us are the older son. We are ALL the prodigal son in some way.

But it take it even further. Let's say all pious church-goers can be compared to the older son. would it not be a reason for great rejoicing when an un-churched person comes to faith--no matter what their past?

Most pastors will tell you that performing adult baptisms is one of the most rewarding parts of their job.
- huskerbb

_________________________________

I actually was applying it to us. If people thought they could get a celebration upon their return, many in this modern day and age of "gimme, gimme, gimme" would leave and then maybe return, but they also might never return. Is it worth it to dangle that celebration in front of them?

If someone I knew strayed from their faith and some years later same back--I would celebrate that.

From Luke 15

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

WYSIWYG · Guru

A wandering sheep doesn't understand things the way a person does. I understand that parable though.

huskerbb · Guru

WYSIWYG wrote:
A wandering sheep doesn't understand things the way a person does. I understand that parable though.

But we are sheep. We do not understand the ways of God.

WYSIWYG · Guru

While I agree that we do not understand God, we do have the ability to reason. A sheep does not. That's why this parable fails, in my opinion.

huskerbb · Guru

WYSIWYG wrote:
While I agree that we do not understand God, we do have the ability to reason. A sheep does not. That's why this parable fails, in my opinion.

Christs words do not "fail".

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

WYSIWYG wrote:
While I agree that we do not understand God, we do have the ability to reason. A sheep does not. That's why this parable fails, in my opinion.

But this parable is not about the sheep.

It's about the Shepard loving his sheep so much He will leave the group to find the one.

WYSIWYG · Guru

But this parable is not about the sheep.

It's about the Shepard loving his sheep so much He will leave the group to find the one.
- lilyofcourse

________________________

I understand that it is not about the sheep. I just believe that sheep were a poor comparison to man. It would be like comparing the reasoning skills of huskerbb to the reasoning skills of a turnip. I would hope that the turnip would not be huskerbb's equal.

huskerbb · Guru

WYSIWYG wrote:
But this parable is not about the sheep.

It's about the Shepard loving his sheep so much He will leave the group to find the one.
- lilyofcourse

________________________

I understand that it is not about the sheep. I just believe that sheep were a poor comparison to man. It would be like comparing the reasoning skills of huskerbb to the reasoning skills of a turnip. I would hope that the turnip would not be huskerbb's equal.

That is the comparison CHRIST makes. If you are a Christian, I can't believe you are saying that Christ, himself, is wrong. If you aren't a Christian, I don't see why it matters.

However, compared to God, humans are turnips--or, rather, sheep.

WYSIWYG · Guru

That is the comparison CHRIST makes. If you are a Christian, I can't believe you are saying that Christ, himself, is wrong. If you aren't a Christian, I don't see why it matters.

However, compared to God, humans are turnips--or, rather, sheep.
- huskerbb

____________________________

I'm not saying Christ is wrong. I'm saying he was misquoted or the parable was misattributed. On the "Do You Believe in the Devil?" thread, I posted the following, which may be able to explain how I come to this finding:

Unlike some people, I don't subscribe to the "The Bible is the perfect word of God" belief. I fall more in line with "The Bible is inspired by God but written by men with their biases and human failings and frailties influencing the outcome of the final work".