Reaching the Prodigals

So when we think about reaching out on campus, who are we reaching out to? It seems like so many students at W&M have some kind of church or religious background, but once they get to college, well it seems like it moves to the back burner. It's not important anymore.

Don't get me wrong. There is a strong Christian community at W&M for that I am very very happy. It gives me something to do everyday. There are a lot of active Christians on campus. For the most part there is a good sense of comraderie, unity, as it were, between the groups. Christian students, eventhough they choose the fellowship they are most comfortable with (or most challenged by) they respect the other Christian fellowships. There is even a healthy curiosity between fellowships. But it is very easy for the Christians to be dependant on each other for all their social and spiritual needs. This is partly because there are so many of them and partly because hanging out with other segments might involve behavioral compromise.

But as a pastor friend says: "Yea, look at those W&M students - they are staying away from Church by the thousands." So as easy as it is to be smug about the size of the Christian community at W&M the reality is there many who have pushed it aside. But, quite possibly many of these could be seen as the Prodigal son in the Luke 15 passage. He squandered his inheritance on wine, women & song!

If you remember the story:

The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[b]'

22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

The prodigal received the inheritance, but did not have the benefits of the palace. He left convinced that he could find something bigger & better. Well that seems to be the state of many students at W&M. They have a taste of Kingdom living but for whatever reason, they have chosen to walk away from it.

We are beginning to think about what can we do to invite the prodigals back home. One of our objections might be dealing with the elder brothers who may be less likely to want the prodigal t ocome home.