You’re Invited To A Party

Ben and I were having an interesting conversation earlier about Church. I started thinking about a message I heard last week based on the Prodigal Son and the kind of party we are throwing and who it is really for.

So here is what I am thinking. If the party is supposed to be for the lost son (people far from God), and the Father is looking for them when they are still far off, why do we focus on us (the older brother)? Beyond that…

If I were inviting you to a party at my house…Would you rather have a steak dinner with the perfect atmosphere, everything perfect, all the fixings, and a formal crowd who recognizes that you are there but basically ignores you…OR…Hamburgers and hotdogs with generic potato chips, store bought sides and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere? To top it off, my invitation is not a "come by if you want" kind of thing but a whole hearted desire to spend time with you.

I think maybe the church needs to be more backyard BBQ and less fancy steakhouse.