Modern Day Prodigals

Father Bill, a recovering alcoholic working for the Caron Foundation, demonstrates the love of God to modern day prodigals. Father Bill speaks about how addictions ROBS THE SOUL. And he sees this first hand with teenagers caught in addiction. Like the father in the prodigal son, Father Bill reaches out will love to these kids.

This tranformational power is witnessed in the testimonies of these teenagers. At graduation, parents hear for the first time their child's testimony about the love and the joy they have exprienced. It's moving to see parents run down to the podium and embrace their child—sometimes for the first time.

As I hold the Twelve Steps in my hand, here are the first three:

(1) Admitted we were powerless over alcohol/drugs—that our lives had become unmanageable.

(2) Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

(3) Made a decision to turn over our lives to the care of God as we understood Him. 

The Greek word metanoia describes this change of mind.  A common line of thinking is that we need a “change of heart” or to repent before we approach God—and then, and only then, will God accept us. However, as in the case of the Prodigal, the son returned home only wanting to get something to eat so that he wouldn’t starve. Also, in the case of the teenagers at Caron, they didn’t seek to restore their relationship with God, but could only admit that they are powerless over their addiction. Then in the company of fellow alcoholics/addicts, they discovered this truth together. Metanoia points to the realization that we are powerless to restore ourselves.

The sinner’s prayer reads like a dry formula—rather than a personal encounter. As an alternative to this prayer, it seems to me that God would be pleased with a prayer like this:

“Father, I am not worthy to be called your son/daughter. Your sacrifice, your outpouring of love for me makes me whole.  May I live in you and reflect your love. May I keep my eyes on you always, not on my sin. Your mercy sustains me—rules are death to me, you are my life.  I am overwhelmed that you restored me to be your son/daughter.”

Here is the sinner’s prayer:

 “Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”