I would like to draw your attention to a special group of people who might fall into the category of Prodigals. You may find the full story from Luke 15: 11-31 where a younger son took his share from his father and went out to squander his wealth but returned to his father when he came to his senses to find himself longing to fill his stomach with pods that pigs were eating. Now days, we may not experience or hear similar stories like this one but there have been many similar stories out there which are comparable to this graphic parable. The actors in this story are three: a father, an elderly brother, and a younger brother who are sons of the same father. For the purpose of aligning this story to our today's context, let's take that these characters are God the Father and two categories of His sons and daughters. The main actor represents, those people who have known who they were and once enjoying the truth self. They have been experiencing the advantages of their inheritance and over used the benefits it offers but went away from that 'comfort and luxurious zone' and wandered around to abuse it till they came to their senses. In short, these are people who need a come back! On the other hand, the elderly brother represents those groups of people who assume that they are righteous, committed, and more loyal to God and His principles.

Of course, the former ones are amazing and great people who are gifted and risk takers (That was why they fallen into prey). These are hijacked heroes, entrapped princes, and princesses. We have come to know many great fallen politicians, artists, celebrities, and football stars who fallen short of glory and needed come back to find their cases fanned by media to the point it was tough to restore again. Great politicians in most part of the world have been languishing in jail for minor mistakes. Yes, there have been many committed and great religious leaders who made a slightest mistake and needed excuses and compassion before they were culled. These great people are victims of the world system and media. To be honest, the world we live in is hostile to those who need come backs. If systems and media are interested in establishing standards, they could have worked proactively and at the grass root level to bring up multitudes of righteous and up right stars into various industries. Even then, the attitude of making stars Skippy-goats whenever they are found of doing mistakes discourages many who aspire to rise. More than my sermon of compassion to fallen stars who needed restoration, it should be taken seriously as the world shouldn't use and throw its stars. There should always be second chance!

We know how the Media excessively fans Britney's stories, who really needs a come back. Recently, we have seen how the Media disgraced the Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, who was once appreciated for his anti-corruption effort and served his State with great commitment. Please note that, I am not saying that rules and procedures should not be respected when someone commits any wrong doing. I am just showing how the News Media takes unbalanced stand against fallen great personalities. I believe in giving second chance! I was so happy when former President Bill Clinton was given the second chance to lead the nation following the scandal related to White House intern Monica Lewinsky. I even read his full speech while I was in Ethiopia and I did like the way he finally confessed his wrong doing. Knowing that the world is filled with leaders who kill in thousands and hundreds and still fail to say sorry, Clinton's apology is a river found in the midst of a desert.

However, we have millions up on millions hidden Prodigals sons that haven't attracted media yet. They are not celebrities or hold critical leadership positions that attract public attention whenever they depart from what is expected of them. In most cases, the majority of Prodigals may not immediately recognize who they were and how they were lost and disgraced until they try all their best and every thing evaporates in their very eyes. They may throw every stone at their hand though they keep missing the target. They try to shatter all glasses and cross all bridges to reach their dream home. I believe that this behavior is part of a coping mechanism and an effort to satisfy their vast and demanding but unguided desires within. They don't return back where they deserve right now until they reach a deadlock scenario. They exploit their desert for which they were not made for until the last cent, chance, and opportunity to survive are exhausted.

I know what it is to be a Prodigal son since I was there and I believe that the chances are high for most of us to taste this experience in one way or another, if we haven't been there. I sympathize for Prodigals not because of their departure from home, but for other factors that hinder such persons. Such reason us, to restore back right away before it is too late and away from the shore. Feeling guilt, thinking that it is too late for a come back and restoration, the feeling of being destroyed to the point of no recovery, undying sense of pride to admit that I was on the wrong bus, boat, plane, party, club, company, or I was driving in the wrong direction and too late for a U-Turn, and many more factors are involving. It would have been great if such people make their own bold choice to restore back where they belong regardless of their contemporary location and situation. But it is not a popular trend. In the case of the guy on the parable, he finished his coin and the country he was living was inflicted with famine and faced the end of the road sign. However, this is may not be the case in our civilized and diversified world. Someone might have left their call, career, relationship with people, and God. In such and many similar scenarios, it is not an issue of being void of coin that provoke Prodigals to rethink where they are or the scene might not be an open famine that could provoke a longing spirit to go back home.

One might still have something profitable and might be enjoying superficial relationships, and might be busy with routine rituals. These pseudo possessions and relations in turn hinder them to face the end of the road sign and make a U-Turn. Rather, they need someone to unfold their blindfolded life style to see the virtual dead-end. Otherwise, these friends wait until a knock out scenario. However, the former is the best scenario where we show them compassion and render hands. These people shouldn't need to hit the road till the end or shouldn't climb up to the tip of a cliff to get restored. In short, they need your and my compassion to get restored.

I would like to remind you that your restoration effort won't be in vain. Think about this, most of these are people who discovered themselves but failed to maintain where they were; these were once a light on a mountain top for many; they were once a shining stars who inspired many; these are gifted individuals who served multitudes one or many times in their past life. Most importantly, they are invaluable members of our human family with attached great potential within them.

I have a great compassion to people who are lost and needed a come back regardless of who they are and what they messed up with. I don't also want to judge members of other religions who don't worship and believe as I do. When I put myself on the foot of the Father of all nations and creations, I am obliged to sympathize like God who has the same attitude as the father of the Prodigal son. Whenever I find myself critical, I feel that I am acting like the elder son who was very critical and self righteous. I learned that God is not after who is senior, right, and loyal, it is all about reclaiming the family members back to the ever loving Father. Knowing that He is not in the business of who is loyal and closer, but rather in the business of redemption of remnants set me free from acting like a prosecutor to the Most High and a residing judge over Prodigals. His Son, a perfect image of God, who purposely brought the above parable to build His case, added another parable. This time, He was giving a parable of the shepherd who left 99 of his sheep to find that one lost and rejoiced when he found it (Luke 15: 4-6 ). On verse 7 of the same chapter, Christ showed the rejoicing experience in heaven over one sinner who repents and gets restored than 99 who don't need restoration. That was why, He used to forgive and associate with sinners to give them a chance of restoration. Who do you want to copy: the Son of God or the elderly brother?

As I have indicated above, the world is hostile to those who needed a come back. However, places like the Church, where these parables should have been taken seriously as the one speaking is the Head of the Church and the King, shouldn't be critical of fallen Prodigals. There is no compromise in the Word of a King, just obey if someone wishes to remain in His Kingdom. However, the mentality of some Christians and the approach of some Churches are totally misaligned from this heartfelt attitude of the Christ, whom they worship and hope will come to reign over the Church. I may give you some examples to build my case.

I some times find Christian friends who are extremely critical like the elderly son against Israelites by positioning themselves as more loyal to Jesus than Jewish, dedicated to God's Temple more than the Patriarchs and loving servants who seek peace. They forget the most important point which Paul made in Chapter 11 of Romans starting from verse 11. He made it clear that because of Israelites transgression, salivation has come to the gentiles to make Israel envious. He even admonishes by sayings that don't boast and if you do consider this, "you don't support the root but the root supports you". Paul made it clear on verse 25 - 26, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved". If they have this promise of restoration, why not Christians open their hands to receive them and show more compassion to be friend with them than criticizing and abandoning them. This is a nation of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Jesus, the Apostles who introduced humanity to God and gave us a wonderful gift, Christ and his Gospel. We are indebted of Israel! I wonder sometimes how some Christians are trying to think like they are the natural branches and even the root. If we believe the Bible and read Chapter 11 of Romans, we come to know that we ourselves were grafted because the original branches, Israelites, were cut off for our sake where we got a chance of restoration. Paul assures us that "if you cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!" There is a restoration for Israel and let's pray and extend our hands of compassion!

I also find some who try to use all chances to enumerate how their doctrines are the most perfect by undermining others. How their ministry or religion is the most loyal in comparison with other ministries and religions without knowing that they are acting like the elderly son and behaving self righteous, which is not the very interest of the Father. If we ignore, for the time being, how some Christians are so critical against other religions, they are repulsive and judgmental against other Christian denominations. I knew Jesus and have fellowship with Him since 1992-93 while I was in the Orthodox Church. It took compassionate and non-judgmental Evangelical friends before I was introduced to the Holy Spirit and the full knowledge of the Word of God. If that was not the case, I don't see myself get saved and maturing in my Christian Faith.

Like myself, most of the Evangelical Christians in Ethiopia were saved from the traditional Orthodox Church. The approach of these Evangelicals to their former brothers (the Prodigals) should have been non-judgmental and should go far to reach out and show compassion to restore and bring them to the fullness of Christ than using fear monger, pressing the red buttons, and using self righteous approach. The Orthodox Church drifted away from the right course long ago when it incorporated the eastern world spirituality (like in the case of building monasteries) and mixing pagans culture which in turn deprived the involvement of the Holy Spirit, whom Christ promised to send and remain with His Church as a counselor and leader until His return. I don't see the reason why we should point our fingers to the generation that inherited the wrong course. They cannot help it but rather victimized of wrong route followed and need a restoration. Our role is to simply sympathize and open our arms with the mentality of the father and the Shepherd in those two parables. Using all avenues to undermine, ridicule and judge those who need a come back and alignment with the Christ should be changed with a sense of compassion.

More surprising to me, on top of the above two scenarios, is the trouble many Prodigals who back slide from the Church have been receiving. I still wonder how, Christians who suppose to buy the parable and follow the example of Christ, demonize fallen leaders and their members. More than the condemnation in the world against fallen stars, sometimes Christians are more critical and bitter. Most of the fallen stars in the Christian journey exited from their walk with Christ and never been allowed to get restored except in a very few cases. There are many rules and regulations and excuses to deny them a second chance. They have been obstructed, blocked, mistreated for their ever taking step back to Churches, their home.

Time to time, I find some Church folks who are too judgmental like the elder son. As we have seen in the case of Christ, He left His glory and the companionship of those hosts in heaven that don't need restoration to follow the heartfelt of the Father. Those of us who are in the position of the elderly son and who feel loyal, in the house, and committed should have gone in search of the lost, if we are after the heartfelt desire of the Father, than finding excuses to avoid even when they make it back in the end and by themselves. I remain shocked when I see prayers and condemnations against those who left Churches and joined another one or opened a new one. This is another big topic I will cover another time but what I expect is that rather than praying for their demise or hurt, we should stretch our hands to restore them for a come back. If not, we can still pray for their well being and try to work together on those issues that are common, in which case, we remain partners and who knows, they may be back home when they see love and compassion.

My point is, Prodigals sons need the Church to act like what if Jesus is on earth right now. For Christ who is full of compassion and love for lost ones that need a come back, His reaction was go and be free but don't do it again. What compassion from a sinless and righteous personality. What a worrisome situation to find ourselves critical while we still are sinners in the sight of the Father, who only gave one testimony among humans when He said "this is My Son in whom I am well pleased" (Matthews 17: 5). If committing sin or not following principles in the Church are the ones that prevent the Church Prodigals to return home without facing the madness of the elder sons who presume self righteous position, they better know that there is no one without sin. Concerning all men, the Bible is clear when it says "all men are liars" (Psalms 116:11) and it also says there is no one righteous (Romans 3: 10).

Thus, who made us judges over our brothers and what moral ground do we have at all? Rather, we have an obligation to restore them regardless of their failure and wrong doing, if we love Jesus! As we have seen on the parable, the heart of the father and the elder son is far apart. The Prodigal son on the parable was lucky because his father was on earth to embrace and welcome him while today's Prodigals have been victimized by the only physical presence of the elderly sons (The Father is in Heaven and of course the Holy Spirit is present but it takes to listen to Him to judge like Him). Today's Prodigals are unlucky compared to those who were in the era of Jesus Christ where they were enjoying their hay days of second chances. Can you imagine about what could have happened if the father let the elder son decide the lot of his Prodigal son?

That was why people like Mohandas Gandhi said "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." What a heart breaking statement was that from a great personality I respect and honor! The question why the world is not getting the loving and caring Jesus Christ is because we Christians are too judgmental, fear mongers, self righteous, and more. These totally confuse the image of Christ people know in the Bible, who was compassionate and humble, with those of us who claim we are His Ambassadors but devoid of His fullness. All Christians should have been Restorers of all their Prodigal brothers and sisters with the heart of the father and the Shepherd on the parables. That is when, I believe, the Kingdom of God expands and people enters into it. That is when the image of Christ unmasked to the world through us! That is when if Mohandas Gandhi gets a second chance to comment, he may say "I like your Christ and Christians. They are like Christ!". That is the testimony we should look from Prodigals in every religion and life style.

I remain questioning, when should we all Christians be like Christ who always gives a second chance? When should we all Christians be like Christ who is always in the business of going out for restoration? Jesus was restoring the lady who was caught in an active adultery and was almost to be stoned to death. He was there hungry but restoring a Samaritan lady, who messed up badly, to His Kingdom. If it was up to the then Jewish scholars, she was not supposed to be restored at all. Jesus was there to raise the guy who stayed 38 years near to a healing pool and never got any visitation from any Restorer until Jesus showed up and made him stand, walk, and get a second chance. There are many examples in the Bible where we see Christ was full of compassion and in the business of restoration where I don't have space to enumerate. He was not there to judge and He does not want His followers too judge. For that matter, He said that don't judge, or you too will be judged (Matthews 7:1). Surprisingly, many appear to be judges of their brothers while there is no one found righteous before the perfect and just God. The scripture says, all are sinned and deprived of His glory. Everyone has some issues that might not been public or uncovered yet. For God, all are sins whether someone lusts or commits active adultery; whether one is worshiping an idol or filled with pride by putting something bigger than Him; whether a sinner uses hand gun or knife to kill a stranger or a good brother uses words to backbit or speak of evil against his brother.

Even if someone still feel he doesn't commit sin, this does not authorize any one to boost that he has a special command and moral authority before God, let alone to be a residing judge over his brothers. If that is the case, Paul shouldn't need to talk about grace where he said "there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus". We all need that grace since no one will ever make him-self righteous based on following rules, laws, and regulations. The only one who was found righteous will judge in His own time. This is the time before the final judgment where Prodigals should be restored back. If the end is delayed, it is because the restorers haven't done their assignment yet and the compassionate and loving Christ is looking His people reach out the lost. However, this is not about encouraging anyone to rebel, sin, or be reluctant to observe in doing the right thing, it is about love and compassion to those who fail to meet your standards. As for God, His standards are high and no one passed it and that was why He found us all under condemnation and sent His Son. Thus, none of us are judges over the other, we all are fallen!

If you are feeling that you are a Prodigal son, let me encourage you to start your way back today regardless of what it takes and/or no matter how long it takes to reach there. If you are feeling you are at home and in your rightful position, I want to encourage you to find Prodigals and help them to start the first step towards home, where they deserve to get restored. I don't recommend judging them or pressing their hot buttons or even using fear monger to restore them. In most cases, they just need our tolerance and compassion while they restore themselves. Let's stop blaming or complaining their coming back as we have seen in the case of the elder brother of the Prodigal son who was unhappy about the restoration of his notorious younger brother and the feast that followed. We have seen how the Prodigal son in the Gospel of Luke 15 made his way back to his rightful place by repentance (that is why we don't need to judge such people to restore, they know it). This guy already taxed himself heavily; he started eating with pigs while his father's servants were enjoying all kinds of foods and drinks.

This is the way one lives when he disarrayed from his purpose. However, there could be a more damaging chance in the case of the Prodigal son if he remained stubborn. If he did, he could have paid more gravely prices. Therefore, there is a responsibility from Prodigals side too. There is a detailed part where we will discuss prices for failing to restore, thus, I am afraid that I may not go in depth right now. However, just for the sake of showing you an example, look how Samson, a great and powerful warrior whose great success stories you may find from Judges 15. He knew himself and well aware of his power but he was not restraining himself from maintaining his purpose in its rightful position. He was trapped because he failed to restore himself back on time though there were many warning signs.

Whenever you are wandering out of your rightful place, you are trapped for any disguise and shame. You know what happened on Samson. They took out his eyes and played on him. My prayer for all of us is to restore back before it is too late. If we are still breathing and 'our eyes' are still in their place, it is not too late.