Women of Welcome: Christ-Like Welcomeনমুনা

Reckless Welcome

A word from Bri Stensrud

Did you know that (according to the Oxford Dictionary) the word prodigal has two definitions?

1) Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant

2) Having or giving something on a lavish scale

Knowing this makes us wonder about Christ’s intended purpose here.

Is this story about a prodigal son, or a prodigal father?

While we might readily think the first meaning defines the son and the second his father, I’d like to suggest that both could very well represent the father in this parable.

Depending on your Bible’s translation, the heading above Luke 15:11 might read The Parable of the Prodigal Son, The Lost Son, or The Compassionate Father. Isn’t it interesting to think about this story from a different angle—the one of the reckless father?

His welcome toward his wayward son was so extravagant, so freely given that it angered his most loyal son. One son, careless yet repentant; the other, reliable yet angry. The father approaches both of them, offering the same invitation.

The Son of God was given authority to extend this same kind of reckless welcome to us. To the tax collectors and sinners, this welcome was lavish. To the Pharisees, it was wasteful. But this is the welcome Christ came to give. A reckless, lavish, seemingly wasteful, yet always free invitation.

This is life-changing welcome.

Thoughtful Questions:

1. The welcome Christ gave “tax collectors and sinners” appeared wasteful to the Pharisees. Their welcome was limited to those who lived up to the letter of the law. Is there anyone outside the bounds of your welcome? Is there a person or a group of people you feel your welcome would be wasted on?

2. When we think of the reliable (yet angry) son’s response to the return of his brother, sometimes we can feel the same way when we see grace extended to someone who we feel is undeserving. Yet Christ-like welcome extends to the undeserving. Romans 15:7 tells us to “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” What do you find most challenging about this command?

3. Take a moment to reflect on the welcome Christ gave you.

Close your eyes and think back to the first time when you finally realized Jesus was inviting you into a life-changing relationship with him. And when you decided to follow Jesus, was your acceptance of his invitation complicated? Was it joyful? What was it like?

Take a few moments to thank him; thank him for physically coming to earth to extend you a personal invitation of welcome.

4. Write down anything you want to remember from this time of reflection.