March 2005
This issue of Abundant Life is also available in Adobe's PDF format.When the Prodigal Comes Home
by Ed Whittlesey
How do you react when a brother or sister in your physical or spiritual family confesses sin in their life and repents of it? While the world around us often seeks revenge and can be very good at holding a grudge, the Lord teaches us something very different – in fact, quite the opposite. Jesus teaches forgiveness of one who repents without placing a limitation on the number of times we should forgive (Luke 17:4). Also, we know that upon repentance, our sins are no longer held against us by God (Acts 3:19, Heb. 8:12). What then are we to do and how should we act toward a loved one who repents? One of Jesus’ parables beautifully portrays the actions of a loving father who warmly forgives and welcomes back his sinful son. Let’s observe some of the characteristics of the father in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15).
When the Prodigal Won’t Come Home
by Allen Dvorak
We love happy endings! Perhaps that is why the parable of the prodigal son is so appealing to us. The younger son followed a destructive road, but he “came to himself” (Luke 15:7). His repentance and his humble confession to his father are intensely moving. What if, however, the prodigal son (family member) doesn’t come home? What if he stubbornly persists in his wayward course, refusing to repent? Experience reveals that often the story of unfaithfulness takes this path and, unfortunately, Christians sometimes commit two grave mistakes in their response to sin in the life of a family member.
Let us Reason Together: Irrelevant Attacks
by Mark Roberts
“Can you see from 1 Peter 3:21 the necessity to be baptized?” “You’re just spreading lies from the devil!” In almost any kind of religious discussion or exchange people will employ some kind of defense against the truth. The truth discomforts us, and it is hard to admit we are wrong, so quickly we run out something that says “No, I’m not in error and here is why I’m not in error.” Of course, if I can show from the Bible that my conduct, action or belief is scriptural than all is well and good. However, when people are violating the Scriptures (in practice or belief) nothing can be said except “God is right, and I am wrong. I must change.” Not many want to say that! Instead, various matters that are irrelevant to the issue of truth are often pushed into the discussion. Let’s learn how this works so that we will not use such false tactics, nor be distracted by them as we reason with people from the Bible.