A Beloved Community

I will get up and go to my father's house.....(Luke 15:18).

Recently, the power of a loving community was revealed to me. The prolific preacher, Dr James Forbes, said in essence that a beloved community can help with behavior- the way a person acts. This is evevident in the prodigal son parable in Luke 15:11-32. In this narrative, the younger son engaged in the inappropriate behavior of spending a portion of his inheritance on riotous living. Clearly, he was out of the will of God and living antithetically to the wishes of his father. Nonetheless, the father granted him this undesirable opportunity to do what he wanted: to practice his independence and pursue his ungodly interests.

"And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need" (Luke 15:11).

Living opposite of God's way, word and will only ends in destruction, defeat or death. "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:15). The prodigal son's behavior resulted in public humiliation, disconnect from family and a familiar foundation, and departure from his spiritual roots and beliefs. However, after a period of time, he was awakened in his consciousness and spirit, and he realized that he could go home. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger"(Luke 15:17). Hence, it was his father's house that would become his place of restoration. The father's house would also be the place that would alter his reckless behavior. So, the beloved community becomes the place that welcomes him home after his bad choices, but, it is also the place where his behavior improves.

The community of love should be a place where people can have their behaviors challenged, corrected and changed. There was a time that the elders in our communities demanded such respect that children were reluctant to be common or familiar with them; a time when the church was such a pillar of integrity that the neighborhood drunk wouldn't dare to drink while passing those hallow grounds; a time when the neighbors could discipline and develop all the children of the neighborhood.

I still remember the names of the elders and neighbors who helped shape my behavior- Ms. Mabel, Mr. Phil, Ms. Lil, Mr. and Mrs. Ester and many others. I'm sure even some of you remember those who loved you and cultivated your behavior. I wonder if we can return to creating beloved communities in our homes, on our blocks, and in our churches. I certainly hope that we can. This may be a solution that helps our prodigal children (and adults) with their problem behaviors and actions. Maybe, if they knew we cared enough to speak the truth in love and hold them to a standard, it would stimulate accountability and responsibility. It will not solve all of the ills of culture or time, but it can be a start.

Prayer: Lord thank you for creating for us a place in you where we can go and be loved and corrected (Heb 12:1-10). Now, Lord use us to be loving peolple where the wayward, lost and despondent can come after their poor choices, and find help for their behavior. Make us a refuge for the broken, barren and battered. In Jesus Name. Amen

God's Peace and Good Journey!
+t. anthony bronner