Prodigal God

Introduction

Borrowed Prodigal God by Tim Keller from a friend and just finished it. It was such a good book, I decided to read it again and post notes. Prodigal means recklessly extravagant or spending without regard to cost. Luke 15 tells the story of the Prodigal Son and is one of the greatest short stories ever written. Read the parable if you haven't heard it recently.

Chapter 1

The story has three characters. The father, the elder brother, and the prodigal son. Keller focuses on the father who represents God who spent recklessly of himself on our behalf--thus the title of the book. It is easiest to focus on the younger son, since the majority of the text speaks of him. The real message of the story is that there are two approaches to life, one represented by each brother, and how both relate to the father.

Two groups of people are often singled out in the gospels (see verse 1), sinners and tax collectors, and the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus was telling this parable primarily to the second group. Keller makes the point that Jesus' message appealed more to the first group, but today churches are often filled with people who are trying to get God's approval by being good, and messages do not appeal to sinners and offend the religious.