The strength of Bringing Home the Prodigals creates a practical approach to dealing with, and defining, prodigals. Parsons calls his readers from paralyzing feelings of false guilt and judgment into the freedom of forgiveness and acceptance. He points out we still can love the prodigal while not condoning bad behavior. We can forgive even when there is no evidence they may change. Most of all, it’s about heart-felt hope, about never giving up on our prodigals.
In Creating a Prodigal-Friendly Church, Lucas spends far less time than Parsons in Bringing Home explaining why or how the prodigals have drifted out of church—it’s simply a presumed fact they have—and deftly moves into how to love them back. Lucas weaves biblical stories of how Jesus welcomed the prodigals from all walks of life.
Christ’s teachings are radical, challenging and messy. Grace is infuriatingly unfair. Lucas challenges us to say, “Yes,” to the mess if we seriously desire to become a redemptive, compassionate, prodigal-friendly, life-changing church.
