Okay. There are a lot of movies that take off on the Prodigal Son theme which, no offense, is not one my favorite parables, at least not the way that it is usually presented. At least the older brother is prominent; many ministers leave him out.
My problem with the Prodigal Son has always been this dismissal of the older son as simply selfish. I have always felt that his issues were valid and that the father should acknowledge that and actually tell him he is proud of him instead of putting the burden on the son to be forgiving. True, the two boys were different, and everybody seemed to like the younger one even though he was a a complete malingerer. One wonders what the oldest boy's childhood was like? Was the mother alive? Did he have to help raise his brother too, thus shutting out his own childhood even more?
Additionally, and this is not a spoiler since the story is from the Bible, it seems the younger son was only sad he lost everything. In other words, did he have any responsibility to apologize to his older brother? Did the father encourage him to?
The older son gave his inheritance back to the business while the younger one did not even care when he knew his family was in trouble. As in the Bible, the father says to the older son that he will get everything the father has - except what? The younger son seems to me to be the type who after the father's death would split off from his brother and run a competing business since the older would inherit the whole business.
My point is, even in the Bible I think misinterpretation has occurred. My belief is that God wants us to love ALL of our children and to tell them ALL they have value. Throw a party for the oldest son too!!!
My problem with the Prodigal Son has always been this dismissal of the older son as simply selfish. I have always felt that his issues were valid and that the father should acknowledge that and actually tell him he is proud of him instead of putting the burden on the son to be forgiving. True, the two boys were different, and everybody seemed to like the younger one even though he was a a complete malingerer. One wonders what the oldest boy's childhood was like? Was the mother alive? Did he have to help raise his brother too, thus shutting out his own childhood even more?
Additionally, and this is not a spoiler since the story is from the Bible, it seems the younger son was only sad he lost everything. In other words, did he have any responsibility to apologize to his older brother? Did the father encourage him to?
The older son gave his inheritance back to the business while the younger one did not even care when he knew his family was in trouble. As in the Bible, the father says to the older son that he will get everything the father has - except what? The younger son seems to me to be the type who after the father's death would split off from his brother and run a competing business since the older would inherit the whole business.
My point is, even in the Bible I think misinterpretation has occurred. My belief is that God wants us to love ALL of our children and to tell them ALL they have value. Throw a party for the oldest son too!!!
