I live in a very Elder Brother kind of city.<\/p>\n
Sure, there are ever-growing pockets of Younger Brother elements here, though.<\/p>\n
But for the moment, my focus is this Elder Brother element.<\/p>\n
I am, of course, reflecting on the parable of the two sons in Luke 15.<\/p>\n
Much of the focus people have on this passage is on the Younger Brother. Rightly so, mind you, but it’s not the whole of the focus we should have.<\/p>\n
It should be obvious the Younger Brother was only after the Father’s stuff. He wasn’t interested in the Father himself (v.12). The Younger Brother threw off all of the Father’s rules in order to gain the Father’s stuff. But notice the Father was gracious, merciful, and loving to the Younger Brother, in that, the Father came out to meet the Younger Brother (v. 20). The Father loved the Younger Brother and entreated him to come.<\/p>\n
What might be less obvious: the Elder Brother did the same thing only in the opposite way. The Elder Brother kept all of the Father’s rules in order that he might get his Father’s stuff (v. 29). However, the Father came out to the Elder Brother to entreat him to come (v. 28).<\/p>\n
The Father is Good to His sons.<\/p>\n
The point I want to bring out: Rule keeping does not necessarily equal true spirituality or true Christ-likeness.<\/p>\n
Forcing others to keep rules for the sake of rule-keeping does not discipleship make.<\/p>\n
Forcing others to keep rules does not heal those who are hurting. Forcing others to keep rules does not settle a trouble heart. It does not remove fear.<\/p>\n
In fact, since rule-keeping is performance-based, fear of man will be heightened. It does not produce the fear of God.<\/p>\n
The song, Start Over says,<\/p>\n
“To the broken hearted that wished that they\u2019d never been born, never been torn, never sinned, never disobeyed, I know you think there\u2019s no hope, but that ain\u2019t true, I know you feelin\u2019 regret
\n(Like I) brought this all on myself
\n(Like I) messed it up big time, and this time I don\u2019t deserve God\u2019s help
\n(Thinking) how can God forgive me after knowin\u2019 what I did (can He?)
\nAfter knowin\u2019 that I hid from Him, and I stayed away and backslid
\nJesus came for the sick (so true)
\nJesus came for the weak (amen)
\nJesus came to give good news and have set the captives free (amen)
\nJesus came for the poor (amen)
\nJesus came with the keys
\nJesus came to remove the chains so the prisoners are released.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nRule keeping does not do this. It binds prisoners to what other people expect them to do. And when the rules are broken or not lived up to, shame and guilt rule.<\/p>\n
Hurting people do not need rules. They need the Savior. They need Jesus.<\/p>\n
What do I mean by all of this?<\/p>\n
South Carolina, but more specifically, Greenville is supposedly the buckle of the Bible Belt. But Greenville has become a city of Elder Brothers.<\/p>\n
Don’t get me wrong, there are loving, kind, generous, gracious, Christ-like people here who reach out to those in need.<\/p>\n
These Christ-like individuals are the exception, not the rule.<\/p>\n
As a result of this Christian bubble, or better stated, Moralist Bubble, aka Elder Brother Bubble, we have failed to transform our culture.<\/p>\n