The Prodigal God (Week 6): Redefining What it Means to be Lost Part I

Luke 15:28: But he was angry and would not go in.

What does it mean to be spiritually lost?

In the parable, the younger brothers lostness is clearly seen when he ends up in the pigsty. He has run
out of friends, money, and resources because of his self-indulgent, undisciplined, and foolish behavior. It
had led to a complete life collapse. At that point, the younger brother realizes that he has lost his way and
returns to try to rebuild his life.

However, in this parable Jesus wants us to discern another, more subtle, but no less devastating form of
lostness. We will call it elder-brother lostness. It brings as much misery and strife into the world as the
other kind. A closer look at the elder brother helps us discern its features.

Anger/Bitterness: All of his words were dripping with resentment. The first sign we have an elder
brother spirit is that when life doesnt go our way, we become deeply angry and bitter. Elder
brothers inability to handle road blocks arises from the fact that their moral observance is results
oriented. The good life is lived not for glorifying God, but as calculated ways to control Him.
Goodness= good life from God.
Superiority: the elder brother in the parable points out how much better his own moral record is
than the lover of prostitutes. He wont even acknowledge his brother as his brother. Elder brothers
base their self-images on being hardworking, or moral, or members of an elite clan, or extremely
smart and savvy. In fact, competitive comparison is the main way elder brothers achieve a sense of
their own significance.
If a group believes God favors them because of their particular doctrine(s), ways of
worship, and ethical behavior, their attitude toward those without these things can
be hostile. Their self-righteousness hides under the claim that they are only
opposing the enemies of God. When we look at the world through this lens, it
becomes easy to justify hate and oppression, all in the name of truth.
Unforgiving/Judgmental Spirit: The elder brother could not pardon his younger brother for the way
he has weakened the familys place in society, disgraced their name, and diminished their wealth.
Identity Crisis: It may be that the elder brother, to bolster his own image of himself, needed a
chronically wayward sibling to criticize, and the smug older brother only made it harder for the
younger to admit his problems and change his life. When the younger son comes out of his denial,
and the father welcomes him, the elder brother realizes the pattern is being broken.