INTERVENTION

I Was Just Thinking About – INTERVENTION.

In the current political climate of animosity, one spokesperson of a political party  stated words to the effect that a man’s family should conduct an intervention with their father. A strict definition would suggest there should be an “interposition or interference of one state in the affairs of another.” Politically, the intent is to bring one into compliance with the wishes and agenda of the opposition. A lot depends on the motivation, narrative and objective of the one(s) offering that means to their particular end.

Earlier today, I read a devotional on the subject of Intrusion. The writer defines his subject: “An intrusion is someone or something that thrusts itself into our world without permission, without an invitation, and refuses to be ignored.” The writer has Depravity in mind as he wrote and how pervasive sin is and how quickly it can gain entry and domination in one’s life.

Earlier this week I listened to a You Tube Sermon by a very gifted servant of the Lord. His sermon/lecture was based on Luke 15:11-32 and addressed Prodigals and Pigpens. As I listened, some thoughts entered my mind on this subject. First, an important Biblical phrase “But God” and how significant it is – especially when one’s wheels are coming off the wagon. It conveyed to me that one can jettison human restraints and disrespect personal relationships – but – he cannot escape God - His control and plan. Second, even though the Prodigal’s father complied with the request of his son, he did not block his son’s determination to head toward that which he knew would be a slippery slope into great depravity. Third, the Father did not assemble a search group to go to the far country to determine the status of his Prodigal son. The Father knew he had to let go and let God be in control of the lost and wandering son. Fourth, the Father never stopped looking down the road each day to see if his Prodigal son was returning home.

A factor not discussed often enough or for which there is too much silence is a focus on professing Christians and ordained Ministers and their choice(s) to head to the far country to pursue their pleasures. The Church may act to ex-communicate such a member and a denominational structure may defrock the minister and feel as though they have done all that needs to be done. In some church situations, when a person has tried to repent and return, some demanding authority figure (like the Pharisee Jesus condemned) adds stipulations and conditions by which one would be received and reinstated. There seems to be little or no rejoicing about the returning Prodigal who has come to his senses.

Others gather their robes of self-righteousness and criticize the wanderer or fallen while doing little or nothing to reclaim and restore the Prodigal. The self-righteous choose to ignore a Biblical principle and ministry-role – Jude 1:22-23 – “Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

Biblical intervention requires one to spend much time in earnest and non-judgmental prayer. God does not need our thoughts and recommendations regarding how He should seek the wandering sheep – the Prodigal. The Biblical Christian must resist gossip about the one who has chosen a Prodigal lifestyle. The attitude and genuine conviction must ever be – “There but for the grace of God go I.”  The statement is first ascribed to John Bradford (1555) but also restated by George Whitefield, John Newton, D.L. Moody, Richard Baxter, John Bunyan and John Wesley).

Prayerfully – Consider these things with me.