Who is a Prodigal Son?

by Thirdson 3 Replies latest jw friends

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  Thirdson

  On occasion I have commented on the difference between the compassion of Jesus and the lack of mercy shown by the WTS. I had reason to reread the story of the Prodigal Son recently and I thought I’d compare the WTS writing in the Greatest Man book to what I take the parable to mean.

  You know the story Jesus told. Boy leaves home with his inheritance, lives the good life, spends it all and hits rock-bottom. He goes home to dad with the idea of being a hired servant. To his surprise his dad is so happy to have his son back he barely listens to words of remorse and dresses his son in finery and orders up a feast to celebrate the return of his lost son. His other son, the faithful hard-working one is mightily miffed that the wayward son gets to enjoy such undeserved kindness (grace) and lets it be known.

  It’s not hard to discern what Jesus what getting at from the parable. His mercy and compassion is shown to the undeserving sinners. God is prepared to wipe the slate clean and happy to receive any that are repentant. The Pharisees on the other hand, the Greatest Man book explains, are like the older son who complain about the attention shown to the repentant but wasteful younger son. That is, perhaps, true to some extent.

  So far so good with the WTS. However, when it comes to our time the WTS can’t stick to the simple illustration of the magnitude of God’s grace, the seemingly unfair way God is prepared to extend mercy and compassion. No, the parable has do with disaffected anointed JW’s who become the “evil slave”. I missed this previously but the Greatest Man book makes this comment:

  The older son represents some members of the “little flock” or “congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens.” These adopted an attitude similar to that of the older son. They had no desire to welcome an earthly class, the “other sheep,” who they felt were stealing the limelight. Greatest Man – Chapter 86

  So according to the Watchtower some complaining “anointed” got upset because other people of lesser hope wanted to join Rutherford and co? And this is what Jesus was talking about? I think that is a bit contrived to say the least. How did I miss that before…I must have studied the book at least twice and a couple of chapters three times?

  So who is the Prodigal Son? You guessed it Jehovah’s Witnesses, but not the good the ones.

  The prodigal son, on the other hand, represents those of God’s people who leave to enjoy the pleasures that the world offers. In time, however, these repentantly return and again become active servants of God. (bold mine) Greatest Man – Chapter 86

  But Jesus didn’t say that. The Pharisees’ complaint was about Jesus’ association and ministry to the tax collectors and sinners. (Luke 15: 1,2) Immediately prior to the parable Jesus uses two illustrations to explain the joy in heaven about the repentance of one sinner. He gave the illustration of the lost sheep out of a flock of one hundred and the lost drachma coin out of ten. In both illustrations the finders rejoice with their friends, not about the fact that they have ninety-nine sheep or nine coins, but that the single lost ones are found. Just as the illustrations are perverse in ignoring the non-lost items so the parable of the prodigal son is seemingly unfair in the lavish attention shown to the returned but sinning son.

  My opinion is that Jesus through hyperbole is illustrating the magnitude of God’s grace. Actually, all of us are like the prodigal son but by our own standards of righteousness we are in danger of acting like the older son. Jesus doesn’t explain what happens to he older son according to the Greatest Man book. But I don’t think he has to. In my opinion this character is used to amplify the extent and generosity of God’s grace granted to all sinners.

  It has nothing to do with wayward and inactive JW’s, but then again it does. It applies to all of humankind you, me and the most self-righteous JW elder. We’re not any different in God’s eyes and what we receive in grace is totally unmerited.

  When simple illustrations get so twisted no wonder love, compassion and mercy go out the door. The writers of the Watchtower and the various WTS doctrinal books get so wrapped up in technicalities of doctrine, self history and rule making that they loose sight of the simple teachings of Jesus. They may call themselves Christians but I find it hard to find the spirit of the Christ in most of their writings.

  Thirdson

  'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
• 

  Quester

  Thirdson,

  Thanks for the good post.
  I'm going to save it and read it over
  more carefully when I go offline.

  Quester
• 

  ozziepost

  G'day Thirdson,

  You'd be interested in The Watchtower of October 1, 1998 which contains two study articles dealing with the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

  Again the Older brother is 'identified' as the Jewish religious leaders. It omits the reference to the 'evil slave' but instead warns the elders to beware of demonstrating the attitude of the Pharisees. Interesting, eh?

  I find it interesting in the parable to note that the father sees his prodigal son "while he was yet a long way off". The article comments on this: "we can just imagine the father of the prodigal gazing each day down the path in front of his house, anxiously hoping for his son's return". How different this is to the situation of DF ones attending meetings at the KH. Indeed, it's also much different to the position of DF ones applying for re-instatement. After some time has elapsed the elders may condescend to arrange a meeting with the returning bro/sis. That's when they can find the time, that is! And what does this returning one have to do? In the parable the father didn't want to hear words of repentance etc. He knew! Contrary to this, a returning DF person is required to go through a lengthy procedure.

  The hard-heartedness of the WTS and its local representatives, the elders, is nowhere more in evidence than in the expression used in paragraph 16 on page 17 "Like the prodigal's father, Jehovah treats with dignity those who do return, accepting them back as full-fledged members of the family". How can this be when a re-instated person is automatically placed on restrictions i.e. no commenting, no public prayers, no platform assignments, no pioneering etc. The above statement shows that the WTS is a liar.

  Elders supporting the WTS judicial arrangements stand condemned.

  Cheers,
  Ozzie

  "A lie which is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies"
  ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, The Grandmother
• 

  GinnyTosken

  Thirdson,

  The older son represents some members of the “little flock” or “congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens.” These adopted an attitude similar to that of the older son. They had no desire to welcome an earthly class, the “other sheep,” who they felt were stealing the limelight. Greatest Man – Chapter 86

  A contrived and twisted interpretation, indeed! How ridiculous to believe that Jesus' parable had such a limited application--not even to a whole class, but to a small portion of a class, and in a response that could only have lasted a few years after the "new light" in 1935. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This comes from the same folks who believe the trumpet blasts in Revelation refer to obscure pronouncements from a convention in Cedar Point, Ohio.

  It annoys me, too, that the explanation for the prodigal son doesn't even match their interpretation of the older son.

  Do they apply the parable in Luke 16 to themselves, too?

  There was this rich man whose manager had been accused of squandering his master's property. He called him in and said, "What's this I hear about you? Let's have an audit of your management, because your job is being terminated."

  The the manager said to himself, "What am I going to do? My master is firing me. I'm not strong enough to dig ditches and I'm ashamed to beg. I've got it! I know what I'll do so doors will open for me when I'm removed from management."

  Luke 16:1-4

  Ginny