L U K E 15  v11-23

Sunday is Fathers’ Day. This was introduced to equal Mothers’ Day which was a traditional biblical story T.hey do not have the same reception as Mothers’ Day. There is a need to look at the situation in to-day’s culture. We have the appalling state of there being many homes in which there is no father, often because the father abandons the home he helped to create.  A child requires both parents, and has characteristics of both to support its life. I have chosen to take a famous story of a real loving father.

This  is the well-known story of the prodigal son, who went to his father and asked to claim the inheritance that would be his on the father’s death, which by Jewish law he was not entitled until his father died. His father pleads with him not to leave, but the son is determined to go and live in the big city with all its attractions. Forsaking his father and brother.  He gathered all belongings and turned them into cash, with his inheritance.  Greed so often turns to loss, and in the son’s case he could have had land and cattle, which he surrendered.
Life started well for him, he gained many friends, living the high life until he money ran out, and then his friends ran out just as quickly. Left bereft, he found a job feeding pigs, an animal which was an affront to a Jew, and was forced to eat their food. Eventually when he came to his senses, he gave up and decided to return to his father and beg forgiveness.
The father had never given up hope of his son returning, and each day would look up the road leading to his home,  constantly hoping to see his son walking back.  Then when the day came, and he saw his son a long way off, so he rushed out to greet the boy with loving arms and compassion, emphasizing his great love for the son.  He dismissed all the son’s apologies. He created a lavish feast, which upset the faithful son who had not been treated with such attention as his wayward brother. The father assures that son of the love he had for him who had always been appreciated.

The message we should see in this passage is,  that God is like the forgiving father in the story, who rejoices when a person falls away from Church, is found and welcomed back. The Bible tells that all heaven rejoices when one lost sinner repents and returns. God is always ready to welcome and forgive.

There are people with sensitive minds with reluctance to cone to worships lest they are rejected, and I have on several times found this among women, who are also made to fear by husbands.  All can be assured God will always welcome new people, and will receive sinners. God sent His Sn to seek and save the lost.

It must be ensured, that any new or returned person should be welcomed by friends and clergy

There are so many, who for college or employment living lonely lives away from their home.  Life to-day is full f temptations witch television encouraging them to go wrong. There are often Church midweek clubs for such people,
.Jesus came down to earth to give His life on a Cross, to pay the price for forgiveness for all who return to Him. He did so to be the ‘good shepherd’. Always searching for the lost. Jesus always showed concern, He never just wrote a person off.
But what are the Lord’s representatives on earth doing to search for the lost? How many Ministers when they notice a person missing from the Church seek to find out why? I would think not many, they just accept the loss. How many members do anything to seek lost friends from the fellowship? Jesus sent His Apostles to seek and heal, as He did Himself.
I know a Vicar who retired from full-time ministry, and helped out at his local parish Church by taking services when a vacancy occurred. He never took any fee or expenses as he was entitled to do, and when the pandemic came and he was forced by law not to attend, he did not return again, as a new Vicar was appointed. He has never been visited or even called by phone, to enquire his state of health at any time. I do know Churches where they have a telephone check on people are noticed missing.
I would be quite pleased if someone sought my help, and feel thrilled I was able to help, as when two American Christians wrote to me seeking an explanation of Scripture. I was always under the impression it was an essential part of Christian ministry to search and seek the lost..

The congregations are  noticeably smaller than previously. Age and illness obviously are a reason, but people also fall away out of boredom, frustration or just disappointment, and even disgust. There is a sense of spiritual hunger for the Bible, which has become for too many in the Church as just a handy accessory. The sermon is seen as a tedious necessity to fill in a few minutes. I have actually been told that by a Vicar, when it should be the central piece. This has been abandoned because some minority faction might be upset at the teaching, which comes from God. I know members of the Methodist Church were shocked to find their Church was allowing same sex partners to be allowed to have services of marriage, and have left for another Church.
The Church was once a voice of reason and carried an authority. Politicians took notice and acted accordingly. Now notice is not taken. We even have a Labour Member of Parliament wanting Parliament to intercede and force the Church to allow two people if the same sex marriage, irrespective of the fact that goes against Bible teaching.

The Church will suffer greatly in future unless there is a change of attitudes among the younger generations. There is too much a inclination to follow a social gospel rather than a spiritual one The Churches which are moving forward are those of independent evangelical nature, where there is no fear of teaching directly from the

There is a sense of spiritual hunger, for the Bible has become for too many in the Church as just a handy accessory. The sermon is seen as a tedious necessity to fill in a few minutes. I have actually been told that by a Vicar, when it should be the central piece.

Recently, a young working man has been preaching in London and no doubt elsewhere, and has had a massive following without any disorder.  This is evidence of what some of us have been saying that when people hear a proper preaching of the Gospel they will attend.  I wonder how many who were at such gatherings  would have filled Churches.

It does not help when clergy are seen on television speaking of climate change or political remarks which does not help, nor when calls are made for the Bible teaching on morality be abandoned because some minority faction might be upset at the teaching, which comes from God. The Church will suffer greatly in future unless there is a change of attitudes among the younger generations. There is too much a inclination to follow a social gospel rather than a spiritual one
The Churches which are moving forward are those of independent evangelical nature, where there is no fear of teaching directly from the Bible.( Without any amendments.)

Sunday was once Church day and families did attend, and homes were more than places just to eat, they were stable foundations of the country.  If greetng

 cards and celebrations held for father’s day, it is hypocritical to forget the

 heavenly Father.Jesus’ involment with sinners ,urging us to welcome all to

 our Churches and join us in a Christian community.

Praise God for His Holy Gospel and glorify His Name