ORIGINAL SIN
WHY THINGS AREN'T THE WAY
THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE
ApriL 25-26, 1996
TuLsa, OKLAHOMA
JOHN M. BUCHANAN
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO

SCRIPTURE
GENESIS 3:1-7
Luke 15:25-32

"I KNOW MY TRANSGRESSIONS, AND MY SIN IS
EVER BEFORE ME."

-PsaALM 51:3 (NRSV)

,

Ftezamo.0 wicnganl ONE“OFFHE-GREA Ta

AMERICAN THEOLOG S$ OF T ENTURY, A
DISTINGUISHED ELLEC JAL AND SCHOLAR,
OW ee olpserved, wut. lis

pepsi cas rg pea wee

“THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN IS
eee

THE ONE EMPIRICALLY VERIFIABLE

DOCTRINE OF CHRISTIAN = CTHE

ew gL
1;

ESSENTIAL REINHOLD NIEBUHR, ED. BY

ROBERT McAEE Brown, XII]

DANNY GLOVER, IN SUPPORT OF THE

[eae

NIEBUHRIAN HYPOTHESIS PUT IT:

| "MAN, THE WORLD_AIN’T SUPPOSED TO
pep ee

WORK LIKE_THIS."

IT WAS IN THE MOTION TURE /"GRAND

ae
Canyon." \ AN ATTORNEY, IN HIS EXPENSIVE

SPORTS CAR, TRIES TO TAKE A SHORT CUT TO

AVOID TRAFFIC AFTER AN NBA GAME. \ THE
STREETS BECOME MORE OMINOUS, MENACING,
Same ae Sow

DARKER. \ THEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS.
‘minal ans

HIS CAR STALLS AND WON'T START AGAIN.
(EERE onm i

HE CALLS A_TOW TRUCK BUT BEFORE IT AR-
—— ae aa

RIVES FIVE YOUNG TOUGHS arpear,| suRROUND

oy

THE car, \\anp THREATEN SERIOUS HARM.
en |

JUST AT THAT MOMENT THE TOW TRUCK

Cece

angzves.| THE DRIVER, PAYS NO ATTENTION

TO THE TOUGH YOUNG MEN,\BUT INSTEAD

——

Da

STARTS TO HOOK UP THE SPORTS CAR TO HIS
—_

TOW raucx \ THE_GANG BANGERS PROTEST...
ee ee

THIS INTERRUPTION IS ABOUT TO DEPRIVE
ee *

THEM OF MONEY AND THEIR EVENING’S
yaaa

a lt

ENTERTAINMENT. AND IT Is THEN THAT THE

DRIVER, DANNY GLOVER, |raxes THE GANG
a oa GEE og

LEADER ASIDE AND SAYS,
SRT

"MAN, THE WORLD AIN'T SUPPOSED TO

WORK LIKE THIS.\ MAYBE YOU DON'T

ta sah ee aa

KNOW THAT, BUT THIS AIN'T THE WAY

eee ee

IT'S SUPPOSED TO ee. | Tm SUPPOSED

TO BE ABLE TO DO MY JOB WITHOUT
7 ee
ASKIN’ IF I can. | AND THAT DUDE IS
SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO WAIT WITH
HIS CAR WITHOUT YOU RIPPIN’ HIM
Dna ==.

orr. | Evenvrurne IS SUPPOSED TO BE

DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT IS HERE." \

[See CoRNELIUS PLANTINGA, "NOT THE

Way It's SuPPOSED Be, A BREVIARY

OF SIN," THEOLOGY Topay, JuLy 1993,

P. 179]

PROFESSOR Nzesuun,\ Jon catvay,\sr

Aueuszine,\ or St. PAUL COULD NOT HAVE
es |

SAID IT BETTER. | THINGS AREN'T SUPPOSED
ee oe Snr

TO BE THIS WAY.
eeu ore

NA Andes

a 4

WAR He”

A PROFESSOR AT CALVIN COLLEGE,

CORNELIUS PLANTINGA, WROTE A ESSAY FOR

eee ee

THEOLOGY TODAY WHICH BECAME A FULL

IN

~
LENGTH BOO THE TOPIC OF SIN IN WHICH
HE SAYS GOD INTENDS HARMONY -\ WHAT IS

SUPPOSED TO BE XS "PEACE, SHALOM.
eS Ss

WHAT WOULD THE WORLD AS GOD

Ea

INTENDED IT TO BE LOOK LIKE?

THERE BE HARD ROCK wuszc? \

EA,

THE PROFESSOR, | "THERE WOULD BE HARD

ROCK, BUT IT WOULD BE AUDIBLE ONLY TO
ieee, Ep

ITS FANS."
? \ —_— selec
swe
THE WORLD THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO awe”
—- oe,

BE WOULD INCLUDE, HE SAID, STRONG
—

MARRIAGES AND SECURE CHILDREN,} NATIONS
Svein oat
AND RACES WOULD TREASURE THEIR
prrrenences.| MEN WOULD DEFER TO WOMEN
—, ~ ie

AND WOMEN TO MEN. | GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
ay

WOULD TELL THE raury.\ PUBLIC TELEPHONE
—_—ee

BOOKS WOULD BE LEFT INTACT.) HIGHWAY
7 Daina dane

See,

OVERPASSES WOULD BE GRAFFITI FREE.

ered
FORMER GANG MEMBERS WOULD BE IN LAW
ne —— to

SCHOOL.) NO MOTORIST WOULD EVER CUT OFF
meee Ol eee iameiidibiimniadl

ANOTHER ON THE FREEWAY AND IF IT
aH zr!
HAPPENED, EACH WOULD WAVE A FRIENDLY
RES ree
GREETING RATHER THAN GIVING EACH THE
MERE, Ee
INTERNATIONAL GESTURE GF CONTEMPT.

fs

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES WOULD REJOICE IN ONE

ANOTHER'S PROMOTIONS.
fetes reece

"NEWSPAPERS WOULD BE FILLED WITH
pd He is paiiitidictaatieens
WELL-WRITTEN ACCOUNTS OF ACTS OF GREAT
Bae Se
MORAL BEAUTY AND, AT THE END OF THE DAY,
ae Seaten—qe
PEOPLE_ON THEIR PORCHES WOULD READ THESE

AND CALL TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THEM AND

SAVOR THEM WITH THEIR SINGLE MARTINI,"
se a a

WHICH THE PROFESSOR SUGGESTS, ("IN A
Bier oT ee
PERFECT WORLD, WOULD BE CALLED A
EAE

MARTINUS." ) [IBID, P. 182/183]
aca

WELL - THAT MAY BE THE WAY THINGS
fe Sheree)

= ——.

ARE SUPPOSED TO se, (sur THAT IS=NOT_THE
ko

WAY THINGS _ARE,\ EXCEPT IN BRIEF,

FLEETIN ENTS WHICH OCCUR JUST

FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO MAKE US WISTFUL.
Ee

WE KNOW IN OUR_HEARTS wHag COULD BE BUT
Bey

ISN'T, NOT HERE, NOT ANYWHERE, THE
ea

=

UTOPIAN DREAMERS ULTIMATELY TEACH US.
eel

AND THAT HARD Fact, \rHat UNDENIABLE GAP

BETWEEN WHAT SHQULD BE, CQULD,. AND WHAT

IS, \IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR RELIGION,

AND ONE OF THE GREAT PUZZLES OF HUMAN

HISTORY.

OUR RELIGION ATTRIBUTES THE GAP TO

A SINGLE THREE GETTER Hee WORD - Ewe. sin? \ Our

FOREBEARS, THE CALVINISTS, BECAME
—_——

= eo

specie THE TOPIC OF SIN, CALLING

IT Corzcznat," ra

a

ipo “TOTAL DEPRA “pepravrty, "\ FOR_INSFANCE,

AND LITURGICAL PHRASES THAT SOMETIMES

\ iiiiiinn
CATCH IN 20TH_CENTURY THROATS.

THE OLD GENERAL_CONFESSION SAID (we

HAVE LEFT UNDONE THOSE THINGS WHICH WE

ae

OUGHT TO HAVE DONE; | AND WE HAVE DONE
naa

THOSE THINGS WHICH WE OUGHT NOT TO HAVE

a

pone." } WHICH IS PROBABLY UNZIMERSALLY

rave, \pur THE OLD CALVINISTS COULDN'T
=

RESIST ONE CONCLUDING FLOURISH -

ee

"AND THERE IS NO HEALTH IN US."

none? \ No HEALTH? \ None. | NoT EVEN

A LITTLE BIT? | NOT EVEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE
oan

GENEROUS AND KIND AND CREATIVE AND
Or MARR Se

44 a
SELF-SACRIFICING? \" E, SAID THE OLD
ACRIFICING? \ NONE,

CALVINISTS - WHO WERE FAR RE SURE OF
az

THEMSELVES THAN CALVIN HIMSE. EVEN IN
Fete amt:

Le eee |

THE MIDDLE OF DOING HEALTHY AND GOOD

THINGS PEOPLE ARE INEVITABLY HARBORING
we,
nee ener

FEELINGS OF PRIDE AND..SUPERIORITY AT
"=o

THEIR GOODNESS, (MAYBE EVEN PLANNING TO

WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THEIR GENEROSITY AND
eee oe

EA co

EARN A DOLLAR OR TWO.

"NO HEALTH IN US." \ THINGS ARE, NOT
—

THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BECAUSE
meee Ree

OF ORIGINAL SIN, THEY SAID. AND THEN,
@umemasummcss, eeu

ei

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, RELIGIONISTS

GRADUALLY STRIPPED AWAY ALL THE MYSTERY

Eee Sara ee eg

AND CLAIMED TO KNOW TOO MUCH: \ thar
ae a a

Sn eae

INFANTS, BORN IN SIN, ARE DAMNED UNLESS

THEY ARE BAPTIZED, FOR INSTANCE: {\) THAT
RSS SS SS ay

=
"BORN IN.SIN" MUST MEAN THE WAY WE GOT
Geer Mee

CONCEIVED ITSELF IS THE BASIC PROBLEM.
Se age Gabe oe

ae

SEX ITSELF MUST BE rut.\ PREACHERS

BECAME EXPERT AT DELINEATING THE

PARTICULARITIES. \ PROCLAMATION OF THE

ee if

10

GOSPEL BECAME DESCRIBING WRONG DOING.

GUILT, CONTRITION/ AND CONFESSION, pexnume

eS.

INSTEAD OF LEADING TO FORGIVENESS,
eee SSS ce

REDEMPTION AND FREEDOM keemen TO LEAD

INEVITABLY TO MORE GUILT. E DON'T GO

TO CHURCH BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO FEEL

= en

GUILTY." | I'VE HEARD IT SAID WITH SOME
eS

CONSISTENCY.

eres,

AND SO AT OUR MOMENT IN HISTORY,

= eae
CHRISTIAN RELIGION STRIVES TO BE
| nas aad
Gutit-FREEP AS MUCH AS rossza.e, |ano THE
es Baretta meh
BEST WAY TO DO THAT, OF COURSE, IS
= Saree

SIMPLY TO AVOID THE TOPIC OF SIN
eee sel oat aie

ALTOGETHER.

SS ar

11

Galay ot | a. fro ceed, te4

a ee

THERE*S~MORE- THAN: “ENOUGH—-GUILT TO

ao SrounE WHO NEEDS MORE? | war WHAT WE

NEED IS LESS GUILT, MORE_FREEDOM.

ee \erte
CHARACTER IN A TER DEV NOVEL SAYS: — anh
. Ld ho C4 yudet

tia WAS A TIME WHEN WE WERE
AFRAID OF BEING CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING
SINFUL IN FRONT OF OUR MINISTERS. { Now
FOUR M
WE ARE AFRAID OF BEING CAUGHT DOING
SOMETHING IMMATURE IN FRONT OF OUR
THERAPISTS."| CTHomas G. LonG, Gop BE

MERCIFUL TO ME, A MISCALCULATOR,

THEOLOGY TODAY, OP. CIT.]

POP PSYCHOLOGY - NOT THE_REAL

—

THING, RUT THE SELF-HELP THERAPY THAT

12

SELLS A LOT OF PAPERBACK, BOOKS.- POP
Cate

PSYCHOLOGY SAYS THAT WHAT WE REALLY NEED
teem

IS TO LEARN HOW TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT

eis

OURSELVES,| TO LEARN HOW TO
. eesmernineiee

BEST FRIEND, TO FEEL OKA

OUR OWN

ar

Or =,
RELIGION KNOWS THE secret. | SINUS A
—,
TOUGH seLL.\ PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL GOOD,
| se —_ =

NOT BAD.\ THE PASTOR OF A MEGA-CHURCH
aa |

WHOSE TARGET MARKET IS URBAN BABY
BOOMERS, SAID CANDIDLY,

ee

"AS A PASTOR TO BOOMERS, I’M

| el
CONVINCED THAT THEY NEED TO HEAR
EVEN NEGATIVE MESSAGES PRESENTED IN

POSITIVE TERMS. IT'S THE GRID

THROUGH WHICH WE FILTER THEM.” | o=——-
Csee Context, 7/15/93] em ?
Cy a os
13 Or Syn lh as

So, THE CALVINISTS OVER IT, GOT

CARRIED AWAY BY THEIR ELOQUENCE IN

DESCRIBING WHAT'S WRONG WITH US;

roa

FOCUSING ON petty
ee

THEM SEXYAL. AND A RECTION SET IN.
i

RALISMS, MOST OF

(LON...S IMPLY... DROPPED™THE“SUBJECT.
eon —~!

nd C WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SIN? KARL MENNINGER

Ho er

ASKED TWENTY YEARS neo. | AND THE ANSWER
— 2,

IS THAT FOR THE MOST PART, WE DROPPED

Pee

IT.

TROUBLE IS, THINGS STILL AREN'T THE

RUE

WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE, AND WE KNOW

—

al Oren ne GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES DOES
i Pm eee

fe enromes

/ NOT ELIMINATE OR EVEN HIDE THE

-

jf PERSISTENCE ssi | tr RELIGION LOSES

/ pee ——

o-oo Ogunlt *
\ Wan CYperiune.
14
bvelost | Dred atalees Nowe ~ 5
pF Um okt Youn Ol — wet oe
UA i> i. World Mm suck ce Wass |

ph

THEOLOGICAL TRADITION, MAY BE ONE OF ITS

MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCES: \ suas PERHAPS

=

ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

WE CAN MAKE IS OUR NOTION OF WHAT'S
o_o

WRONG.
———

WHAT Is IT? WHAT EXAGILY_IS SIN? ~

FoR ONE THING, TT's eee.
ei é o-
=

HERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THE

wr hyph?
i

CHRISTIAN TRADITION HAS DISCUSSED IT:
ES eee,

=a

WHATEVER sports,\ aDyLTERATES,\ FOULS, THE /

HARMONY OF CREATION.
eqns speed,

- GOD MADE US FOR wagon SIN Is /

a sx -

ITS NERVE, AND DROPS THE SUBJECT, IT
WON'T GO AWAY.

SEI oo

INTERESTINGLY, THE Néw YorK_ TIMES
e whale exo

Book REVIEW

SERIES OF ESSA BY AMERICAN AUTHORS ON

THE TOPIC OF SIN. ¥GORE VIDAL WROTE

ABOUT PRIDE; JOYCE ROL OATES -

DESPAIR; ANGER’ - MARY ‘GORDON; AND LUST -

WHO ELSE BUT/ JOHN UPDIKE?

WITHOUT SOME DOCTRINE OF SIN, WE
SS

SIMPLY HAVE NO VOCABULARY DIscuss, IN
eS ss

DEPTH, THE HUMAN SITU ONS My
=. os

Pe igen:

SUGGESTION IS THAT( WHAT THE CHRISTIAN

FAITH UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ABOUT THE
eer orgy

HUMAN CONDITION, FROM ITS SCRIPTURE AND
ey) )
5 Qu imperkantd dy Veovk 15 vlgmus — Whac ste out

ae tel Sous Go\anene Hitters wil feet = 2 cones ¢ out “out 4
~ ane ce papier Watton t ae — iat wes Lawes .
+ dae SS ‘eal: eg ie an oa en rane
Nez Lonsekes ‘ oo . Oa umd Waw BM, Welt

mg f A. welt WA ) Ls vhs WOM G sect Im swrdu—

CoN tees Ml Gcuseens yea e Cond A’ whe cytes
. be RY bys C

Wes

suck
WowWee

“cr

re \ tve
ce peices i; Sti ie

plmngs eh Girc\ \3 is
nen ag ren ae sek’ i s bes pate

Vurved, suck Wefuraeve ¢ 14

we allel Seat S\ 0 Px vie

( SIN, 1 MISSING THE TARGET,

STRAYING FROM THE PATH, GETTING LOST IN

THE WILDERNESS.

Se

- SIN IS WHATEVER SEPARATES US FROM
Pr,

THE LOVE OF PEOPLE WHOSE LOVE WE WANT

AND NEED +|our_paneus,| spouses,

FRIENDS, \GoD.

- SIN IS WHATEVER GETS.BRETWEEN US

—-

AND GOD, |WHICH ALWAYS, MEANS GETTING

BETWEEN US AND OUR OWN BETTER SELVES.
ee oe aap

SIN IS PERSONAL AND SOCIAL.

SSS io=EesmE Ey
- SIN IS prrpe: \ THE INHERENT
Oe ie
TENDENCY OF EVERY HUMAN BEING TO SEE

HIMSELF/HERSELF AT THE CENTER OF THE

ems, =m

17

WORLD. \ - SIN, A LUTHERAN THEOLOGIAN
SAID RECENTLY IS WHATEVER HURTS, CAUSES
a al

PAIN TO OTHER PEOPLE AND TO YOURSELF.

SIN IS NOT SIMPLY PERSONAL
SS

IMMORALITY, BREAKING THE RuLes.\|RATHER
— , ae

OUR BEST THINKERS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT
—=eEL = ss
THERE IS ABOUT SIN A MYSTERIOUS
INCLINATION TO BECOM ITHOUT
nS Te

ANYBODY'S REALIZING IT OR INTENDING IT.
?

WHO AFTER ALL, INTENDS SomaLra..\BOSNZA?

WHO SET OUT TO CREATE CABRINI-GREEN THE
ee = 0llC Se

WAY IT IS TODAY?

No ONE EVER SAID IT BETTER THAN ST.
ee

PAUL:

18

"I po NOT UNDERSTAND MY OWN ACTIONS. |

wee ET ot

For I po NOT DO wHAT I wan, | BuT I po
= 3 Sse

THE VERY THING I uate. [Romans 7:15]
aa Sa

ARE WE TOTALLY DEPRAVED? \1s THERE

ape

aie

"NO HEALTH IN us"? \ THese ARE NO LONGER

HELPFUL WAYS OF DESCRIBING OUR
aoe. a
SITUATION, | AND YET,ONLY CAN
.

IGNORE THE REALITY OF WHAT WE USED TO

CALL SIN INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY.

=

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC IS VERY

ann

SIMPLY THAT CHRISTIAN FAITH QFFERS NOT perscs
=e, \ .

GUILT - BUT RESOLUTION: NOT
ere mm,

SELF-INFLICTED REWORSE,,\BUT RESTORATION;
eecemee “SEs!

AND IN RESTORATION THE HOPE THAT THINGS

ae

WILL BECOME WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO

SoS.

BE.

E

19

FAITH SUGGESTS THAT THERE .2S HOPE
aaa ete

sttuatron. | FAITH SUGGESTS THAT

CONFESSION IS”GOOD FOR, THE SOUL sae

THE RES@LUTION TO GUILT |

SUGGESTS THAT THINGS START TO BECON

ae A

(ee

i WHAT THEY COULD BE WHEN WE LOOK ONE

| ANOTHER IN THE EYE AND ASK FOR
'

eee
1

FORGIVENESS AND WHEN, TOGETHER, SOMEHOW, “~~
EVEN WHEN WE CANNQL.AND SHOULD. NOT

CONFESS TO EACH OTHER, \we LIFT UP OUR
Se

PRAYERS TO THE GOD WHOSE _LOVE CAN ALWAYS

De ee

a

FORGIVE AND HEAL AND BRING ABOUT A NEW
= hel

Seal

20

ONE OF THE uapprest,| BEST MOMENTS OF THE
i

r j i “
WEEK IS WHEN WE SAY TOGETHER,

; i j ; 7

j if /
i "BELIEVE/ im gfe oe NEW :/ IN JESUS
cures WE ARE FORGEVEN."

ssemem ONE DAY THE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
SE,
GATHERED AROUND JESUS AND COMPLAINED he
— an
THAT HE WAS ASSOCIATING WITH SINNeRS. 7 — wise
Era
THEY KNEW WHAT SIN was. | IT WAS
ee ice
DISOBEYING THE LAW - THE TEN

See

CoMMANDMENTS \\ IT WAS IGNORING THE
caer een

runes, \LrvrNe OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURES OF

COMMON MORALITY. SO HE TOLD A WONDERFUL

ee

STORY ABOUT A FAMILY IN WHICH THERE WERE
are SSL

be

TWO SONS. \ 1 IS OFTEN CALLED THE
See =m,

PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON, BUT THERE

ol

&

iad

vane “CLEAR, AND APPALL |
e

ARE TWO sons,| eacs WITH A VERY SERIOUS
a aaa

PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT WE IDENTIFY
= Stee

mE Te

THE STORY BY THE YOUNGER SON _AND NOT HIS

=,

OLDER BROTHER se IS GLARING EVIDENCE

OF THE DIFFICULTY WE HAVE WITH THIS

-among ota
rorxc.| THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE
ee Ie

SUBTLETY OF | THERE ARE TWO SONS,
pana — |

ars

NOT ONE.

THE YOUNGER BROTHER IS EASY TO
EE eee

UNDERSTAND.\ HIS SIN IS DI BOLD,

"I CAN'T WAIT

TILL YOU ore,"] He TELLS HIS FATHER. ("1

WANT TO BE ME; \I WANT MINE NOW." | AND HE
erry eee oe

TAKES HIS SHARE OF THE FAMILY ASSETS AND
Fee

eal

GOES AS FAR AWAY AS HE CAN, \SPENDS IT
ee ed

ALL, \IS REDUCED TO NOTHING AND THEN
1 niaainll ideale

— EES

22

er things —

COMES TO HIMSELF; | WHICH Is TO SAY
| entice aaa | eee

REMEMBERS WHOSE SON HE IS. So HE GOES
etree

HOME,\ HIS FATHER WELCOMES HIM,\ WON'T

=a

H

EVEN ALLOW HIM TO COMPLETE HIS WELL ™
SE

REHEARSED CONFESSION, \ORDERS A PARTY TO
eer ee cal

CELEBRATE THE SON’S RETURN.

THERE IS SOMETHING UNIVERSALLY

ATTRACTIVE ABOUT THE LUSTY ROGUE WHO

eee...
(“coss FOR ALL THE GUSTO HE CAN cet," »
Yael

FALLS ON ROUGH TIMES ,\ SEES THE ERROR OF

HIS wavs, | (EPENTS, [rerunns REFORMS AND
eed am

LIVES HAPPILY EVER AFTER, DEVOTING HIS
rE... Giern:

LIFE TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE

EE
ERADICATION OF uuncer. || Hrg SIN IS
oe af” Sete ay

= —

SIMPLE, \HIS CONVERSION - IF NOT EASY -
Goo eemenatlll OSS TST

AT LEAST IS UNCOMPLICATED.

Saal

23

THAT'S THE FIRST HALF OF THE STORY.

ES LES a =

THERE IS ANOTHER son. \ He DIDN'T GO
——————————— ee

ANYWHERE. \HE IS DUTIFUL, |naro WORKING,
| ———t ee
RELIABLE;\ AND RESPONSIBLE. HE IS ALSO

a MATURE.\ HE IS WORKING IN

THE FIELD WHEN HIS YOUNGER BROTHER COMES

Home. | BuT WHEN HE HEARS THE MUSIC AND
=o SER ry

LAUGHTER OF THE PARTY, \ HE REFUSES TO
‘ Eee

JOIN IN. \ HIS ABSENCE IS AN rnsulr NOT

ONLY TO HIS BROTHER \bur ALSO HIS FATHER.
fee

Sire

se

HE’S THE OLDEST.\ HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE

GREETING GUESTS ! AND oF enieS THE FIRST

TOAST. ia Tg Bas tg be ST 4,

Bn, Foe, snes ane
hi e HL whole Comnnannty « i ee

So FOR A SECOND rane, |r FATHER asa

LEAVES THE HOUSE TO GO OUT AND FIND A

24

We

LOST @enm. AND WHEN HE FINDS HI

eee

"CHILD - YOU ARE WITH ME ALWAYS...
ear BP

ALL THAT IS MINE IS YOURS."
Mi ne aR
Ano| 1 THINK JESUS IS NOW LOOKING
‘ccmenteaiip we

DIRECTLY INTO THE FACES OF THE RELIGIOUS
_—————— annie cd

ee

TYPES WHO ARE COMPLAINING BECAUSE HE
eg,

ee errr

ASSOCIATES WITH SINNERS,\LOOKING THEM

tia aa
DIRECTLY IN THE EYE,\BECAUSE THEY LOVE

THE WAY THIS STORY STARTED WITH THE

CONSPICUOUS SIN OF THE YOUNGER SON WHOSE

BEHAVIOR WAS SO LIKE THE RIFF-RAFF JESUS
eee

WAS sernzenorne. \ Bur ,THEY STARTED TO
a eS

A
SQUIRM WHEN THE YOUNG SON IS NOT
eer iia A el

REPRIMANDED\ BUT WELCOMED HOME./ AND NOw,
7 ae eee

25

WITH JESUS LOOKING THEM DIRECTLY IN THE
onl , cccmeenaiimeeiaiieii al

a4yS
EYES,| BES MOVING FROM FACE TO FACE, |THEY
=v aa seer

KNOW WITH A TERRIBLE CLARITY THAT HE'S
ESS! ME

TALKING ABOUT THEM WHEN HE DESCRIBES

=o SS
ANOTHER CHILD OF GOD -\ THIS ONE
= See
ALIENATED BY HIS OWN PRIDE AND
mere eee
RESENTMENT AND LOVELESSNESS.
ees, i

REMBRANDT PAINTED THE SCENE LATE IN
eas

HIS OWN LiFe, \I SUSPECT, | AFTER HE HAD
EES

eel
KNOWN ABOUT BOTH KINDS ~ Th ¢..
gous d Peraaig

+o

P

MOMENT OF REUNION, brie YOUNG SON, THIN, WORM, WaCe ARD

PATHETIC, \ ON BOTH KNEES, SURROUNDED BY

26

THE SHELTERING EMBRACE OF HIS FATHER...
eee

etter

HES SWORD STILL AT HIS wazst, | THE SYMBOL

eine,

OF HIS FAMILY, (THE REMINDER OF THE LOVE

ee Soe

OF HIS panenrs. | REMBRANDT BRINGS THE

OLDER BROTHER TO THE SCENE...|HE’S THE
es

Da)

FIRST FIGURE ON THE nzGuT:\ REMBRANDT HAS
Rog wom | eereerrotcrcacone

HIM STANDING BY WATCHING IMPASSIVELY,
Fee i cdaiiaceabdlaeaal Ce etic

~

ENIGMATICALLY, |ALMOST AS IF HE DOESN'T

Baa SE ber pats

WANT TO BELIEVE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
edi a

THAT'S US IN THERE, OF COURSE.
Winco

, wo Glen
THAT'S THE SUBTLETY OF SIN WHICH INFECTS

SR <—_—rEcey

NOT ONLY THE LUSTY SINNERS, [BUT THE
=

DEPENDABLE, HARD WORKING, RESPONSIBLE

Seo

bah enceventek eae oo al

OLDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS. \s FRIEND OF

MINE WHO TAUGHT AT WABASH COLLEGE USED
Een

i.

TO SAY THAT THE OLDER BROTHER MUST BE A

peernmseinasine ——e

27

PRESBYTERIAN. | HE IS ANYONE WHO CAN'T
fees

a=,
BELIEVE GOD LOVES UNCONDITIONALLY, | AND
See, Tey,
$O WORKS VERY_HARD TO BE ACCEPTED,

| alii
LOVABLE, worrHy,| wHo IS NEVER QUITE ABLE

—_ See

TO DO IT ALONE, \ever QUITE SURE HE/SHE

SE

IS WORTHY, ACCEPTABLE, LoveD, \ AND WHO IS
ln Se

THEN DEVASTATED TO WITNESS AN
Se

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WHICH EXTENDS TO THE
== ee

UNACCEPTABLE, YUNLOVABLE, UNWORTHY.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE OLDER

Ss:
BROTHER IN THE PARABLE? | IT’S ONE OF THE
eo a Heo

Saute horney

GREAT PUZZLES OF THE Breve. \ Jesus LEFT
= - . ee

a

THE MATTER OPEN, UNSOLVED,| HENRINOUWEN
enemies

wrote, | preczseLy To(“LEAVE US FACE TO
ee qatar. t

~*~

FACE WITH ONE OF LIFE’S HARDEST
— EERSTE OR

SPIRITUAL CHOICES: | TO TRUST OR NOT TO
enorme! |

28

TRUST GOD'S ALL FORGIVING LOVE." | [THE

RETURN OF THE PrRopIGAL Son, P. 69/70]

I AM AN OLDER snotuer.| NoT ONLY
—————

BECAUSE I AM A HARD WORKING

Ser

PRESBYTERIAN, \BUT IN FACT I AM AN OLDER

od

prorHeR. \ WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER ONE OF
Sa Sree

PR
THE MOST UNPLEASANT THINGS I HAD TO DO
ee
WAS GO FIND MY LITTLE BROTHER AT DINNER

TIME. | HE WAS . Th
e. | We was(Goue, | 2 was (HELIA

MEAL WOULD BE READY TO BE SERVED.

= a str
HUNGRY AND WITH OTHER PLACES TO BE AND
eee ew eee ars, —

PEOPLE TO SEE} MY CHORES DONE, HANDS

CLEAN AND SHIRT TUCKED IN,\ I WAS READY
SSS, a ,

aE

TO eat. ||My LITTLE BROTHER, I RECALL,

LIVED AT THAT TIME IN A LAND WITHOUT
=F

sei Cd

CLOCKS, \A BLISSFUL PLACE WITH NO CONCEPT

29

OF H PERSISTENT INFRACTION OF THIS
ee — — ————

OF TIME.{ SO HE WOULDN’T BE Here. | AND
22]
I WAS SENT TO FIND umm. \ I DIDN'T LIKE
eh —— Siew ooo

TO DO x7, \anp I PERFORMED MY DUTY DEVOID
ce =

OF gracrousness:\ FOUND umm, \pur HIM

ow

PRECARIOUSLY ON THE BAR OF MY BICYCLE or “~
AND PEDALED HOME, lassurine HIM ALL THE un pass
WAY THAT HE WAS IN DEEP TROUBLE, \THAT HE ~~ for y woe

ee Ee reecoc een AE, Ww Sita is .

Ween
WAS GOING TO GET a ND THEN your A oe
SR en ig . —e
sic. Paws

DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN WE ARRIVED AND
——

| ery

MOTHER HELPED HIM WASH HIS HANDS \AND WE

fanny

SAT DOWN TO DINNER, \vrTHourT ANY MENTION
Sac eerry

Ee er =a

BASIC FAMILY pure. \ He DIDN'T GET

PUNISHED. \\ I DIDN'T GET PRAISED. It
aay ee on

WASN'T FAIR!
ne

30

THERE ARE FEW EXPERIENCES IN THIS
fcc ree Ta

LIFE THAT ARE AS “ULh AS REDEMPTIVE
=a. Cee ae

AND HEALING AND PREGNANT WITH
EEE gee i

POSSIBILITY AS UNMERITED PATIENCE, |
gees a

UNDESERVED FORGIVENESS, UNEXPECTED LOVE.

=

WHEN THEY HAPPEN TO US WE ARE SOMETIMES

Scaled se
SHATTERED AND FREQUENTLY CHANGED FOR THE
eves a= ea
BETTER, CONVERTED.

THEY ARE EXPERIENCES OF grace.\ AND

WHETHER THEY HAPPEN IN CHURCH OR IN THE
=»

WORLD, |WE CHRISTIANS. BELIEVE THEY HAVE
— —,
SOMEIHING IN THEM OF THAT DIVINE GRACE,

THAT "AMAZING GRACE" OF A MOTHER OR

=_

FATHER WHO GOES TO BOTH LOST CHILDREN:

ae =—

WHOSE LOVE, KNOWS NO AONDITION: \ WHOSE

a
ahwr

+

pe

cr

we”

Sgt

Dr you Se tt. hia tr fe Gud fr

feed

IN THE SHORT STORY AND MOVIE, A

=r een

eer

( RIveR RUNS THROUGH Ir, \THERE IS A FAMILY

WITH TWO sous, |nor UNLIKE THE TWO IN THE
ee

panasie. | THE YOUNGER OF THE TWO IS FULL.

meee

OF LIFE, rereverent, | Lusty, \Lrves MOSTLY

en

IN A FAR COUNTRY, GAMBLES,\| ASSOCIATES

ne

WITH LOOSE WOMENS THE OLDER IS STEADY,

INDUSTRIOUS , HAS GONE TO coutece.\ THE
enemys rea ati ll

: '
STORY IS BUILT AROUND THE FATHER’ $_AND

HIS SONS’ LOVE OF FLY FISHING.

THE YOUNGER SON'S SKILLS AT CASTING

ARE ARTISTIC. | THE FATHER AND OLDER
fee fens tenia

BROTHER,| NEAR THE END, WHEN YOU KNOW
San Bae

SOMETHING HEARTBREAKING AND TRAGIC IS
RSA ARRESTED
ABOUT TO HAPPEN, [ARE WATCHING THE

YOUNGER BROTHER IN THE RIVER CASTING AND
sper

32

PULLING IN A GORGEOUS TROUT. j] IT'S A
ier

WORK OF ART.

Ere.

THE OLDER SON, THE auruon ( NoRMAN
ene

Mii.

MACLEAN, IS THE NARRATOR.
‘Sager

"THAT'S HIS LIMIT,” |I SAID TO MY

beets ett

FATHER.

"HE IS BEAUTIFUL,’ MY FATHER SAID.

[vs WAS THE LAST FISH WE WER

\ EVER TO WATCH PAUL CATCH.

pnd thtw, of ypu remeber Phar reoseckeble Jucnsau soem. J:

"WHILE MY FATHER WAS WATCHING MY

eee.

BROTHER, HE REACHED OVER TO PAT ME,

BUT HE MISSED, \SQ HE HAD TO TURN
Ce ini me nel

eee

33

HIS EYES AND LOOK FOR MY KNEE AND
TRY acarn.| HE MUST HAVE THOUGHT I
GEM
FELT NEGLECTED AND THAT. HE SHOULD
Raters hi, Meee a

TELL ME HE WAS PROUD OF ME ALSO BUT
ern.

imal

FOR OTHER REASONS." | [A_RIverR RUNS

=
THROUGH IT, NoRMAN MacLean, P. 108]

THE GOOD NEWS=IS THAT GOD LOVES US

ea as
sins
ALL + PROBEGAtS WHO LEAVE HOME_AND LIVE
i TS en
Siumer
IN DISTANT COUNTRIES,\AND PEO@@@ALS WHO

STAY HOME AND ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD BY

——

RESENTMENT AND PRIDE.

me ssa
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD READY
| mnie

TO FORGIVE 1, AND TO WELCOME BACK EACH

DAUGHTER,/ EACH SON.

i =
=,

/ 34

Dyer COMA our sm tlt,

SAY,

/ 1 ONCE WAS

ff é
Am 7 f

—

| Wri Cha bes

Le 6 fede ule rus by Wulenmn WL
pndeyel_lwm
Gide \s fink pt !\
| es

ULU

Brolin 4 sister -| age. War peer Weplized.
\raun ween gourd. sored. shes!
Witaleer words were soit -| wusr_hy wean 1S Fp

be

) oe A Gi | you ae sealed Yu x Spin You\ ws

Yelwa, SAC: Gyr own is

G ar AL Bice Sint —comelates

a leeks 1% ety hme »placs
a reiovce td wet ee Th’ ur Sect

mmm Mok evn Owisn > Car Ssepuat 6s hr ls