Could It Be God Flunked?

Luke 15:1-2, 11-24

It used to be that when we did something stupid, such as walking into an apparently invisible plate-glass door or fall down the stairs, or back the car out of the garage while the door was still down, we would try and keep that to ourselves. No sense letting the neighbors know we are dopes, after all. But, with the advent of the Internet and the popularity of shows such America’s Funniest Home Videos people are now beginning to look at their gaffes as things to share with the whole world. We have bought into Andy Warhol’s “15 minutes of fame” idea, even if that fame comes from a 15 second clip on a video and shows us just before we head to the emergency room.

But, while most video-posting sites, such as You-Tube, carry a wide variety of content, there is one site that is totally devoted to the imperfect people in the world. It is called the “Fail Blog.” Think of it as a cross between AFV, Jay Leno’s “headlines” andCandid Camera all rolled into one. People post their own pictures and videos or upload goofy signs or sights they have seen for everyone else to view and comment on. You will see everything from a guy getting de-panted by a bull to sports mascots with big furry heads brawling on a football field. Over each picture or video, the site stamps the word “fail” in big bold letters. Kinda gives a new meaning to the concept of the “boob tube.”

Now to think that we humans are likely to wind up on the “Fail Blog” is not a surprise. I don’t understand why people would put some of the stuff out there that they do, but they do. It would be a surprise to think that God would show up on the “Fail Blog.” But, could it be that God indeed did flunk? Did he fail as our heavenly father? Let us take a look and see.

I. The Pharisees and scribes surely would have called the father in this familiar parable a failure. He really screwed up in several key areas.

His first failure is that he gives the inheritance to the son. What an upstart this son is. How dare he make such a demand? A good father honestly would have squashed such rebellion. The son was indeed rebelling within the family structure. A good father in the minds of the Jewish leaders would have crushed him quickly.

The father had been worse than insulted. The son was saying more than just “You are a lousy dad, and I want out.” He was telling his father that he considered him as good as dead. He was saying “I don’t care if your body is breathing, you are dead to me.” How often we do this to other people? We cut them off and treat them as if they are dead, even though their bodies are breathing.

What this son needed was a trip to the woodshed. He needed to be taken down a notch or two. My dad would have said, “He needed to be knocked off his high horse.”  He did not need the money but discipline. But the father gave him the money. That was his first failure.

His second failure was to run to this disgrace of a son. The Pharisees would be thinking, “How dare this boy even show his face at home again?”

He had dishonored the name of the family. He had disgraced the father. And then for the father to run to him. It was considered the height of indignity for a man to run anywhere, for anything, especially for a family

patriarch. And here this father is running out to the one who had disgraced him. He should have just ignored him, or at least made him walk all the way. But, the father ran to the son.

The third failure and maybe the biggest failure of the father was to forgive this bum of a son. He restores this disgraceful, pig smelling son to full status as a son. He gave him no rebuke, no lecture. He did not give his son justice. He gave him grace. That indeed was a real failure by the father. He should have punished that rebellious son. Yeah this father belongs on “Fail Blog.”

II. Well, if all that is true, then the Pharisees would say that God has failed. He indeed belongs on “Fail Blog.”

He too has provided for rebellious children. Every person on earth has sunshine and rain. His blessings fall on the just and the unjust. He is giving to everyone. He doesn’t discriminate. He loves all of his creation. Those who most vehemently oppose him are loved and given blessings by God. Those who are most rebellious are provided for along with the faithful. I know it doesn’t make sense. These people need a trip to the woodshed spiritually speaking. But God loves and provides for them. Yeah that is real failure.

His second failure is that he took the first step to restore relationship with all the rebellious people. He didn’t wait until we came looking for him. He didn’t wait until we begged him for salvation. He didn’t make us struggle to find him. Through Jesus God took the first step to open the door to relationship. He did not wait for us to beg him, for us to find him in a spiritual game of hide and seek. He game to us to provide eternal life. He took the first step to restore relationships

The final failure is that God offers forgiveness. We deserve punishment. We deserve hell along with Satan and his demons. But, to those who return to him, he offers love, not rebuke, grace not justice. Indeed the Pharisees would see God as belonging on “Fail Blog.”

But, if that is failure by God, I for one am glad he failed. I’m glad he has given me grace and not justice. I am glad that he has loved me and not taken me to the woodshed. I deserve the woodshed. I deserve hell, but God has forgiven me and given me promise of heaven. I am glad that he did so, even if it means he failed.

Philip Yancey in his book, What’s So Amazing about Grace? tells the story about a conference on comparative religions held in Britain several decades ago. A group of theologians and other religious intellectuals were discussing whether any single belief was totally unique to Christianity. Different possibilities were put forth. Perhaps the Incarnation? No, other religions had stories of gods becoming human in form. Resurrection? No, other religions had stories of people returning for the dead. The debate continued for sometime time, when C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. When he learned what the discussion was about, he said, “Oh that’s easy. It’s grace.” And indeed that is the truth. The concept that God’s love comes to us free of charge, with no strings attached, opposes every bit of human logic. The Buddhists have the eightfold path to enlightenment, the Hindus have the concept of Karma, the Jews seek to adhere to the Torah and the Muslims have their code of law from the Koran. Each religion has its own way for people to earn divine approval. Only Christianity dares to declare God’s love unconditional-grace.

Did God Flunk? I would say unequivocally NO! But, only as we understand the message of grace can we see that. And only as we accept his grace can we have eternal life.