Reading the parables of how there is joy in Heaven for one sinner that repents, I thought to myself, wouldn't it be wonderful, if a church, a fellowship, or even a family celebrate with a special feast over a new convert.
True, the Baptists always rejoice during baptism ceremony with hymns and praises. But then that is hardly what the Reformers define as convert. And today's ministry has allowed others to take repentant conversions for granted, for thanks to some crackpot ministers there are too many non-christians who consider themselves Christians, and churches try to avoid issues of repentance because they do not know how to deal with awkward moments of truth.
Jesus' reputation as the righteous is not unheard of in those days. Or the learned ones would not be so fervently against the Lord. The publicans and sinners were like that of Zacchaeus, wanting to HEAR the words of our Lord, which is nothing short of upright. Unlike today's compromised gospel, in order to show how they have the same spirit of Christ with them, these ministers sugar-coated the blessings of the gospel and suppress the first commandment of God. This is even worse than making "Love thy neighbor" as first commandment and "Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength" as second.
In Jesus' version, the prodigal son was truly ready to become a mere hired servant of his father, showing an upright education of right and wrong he still has in his mind and heart which no doubt his father has something to do with while raising the two sons up. Today's ministers' version however, exposes the grace of God as a whore, teaching everyone including the sinners that there is no need to become a mere hired servant according to their crackpot logic in concluding the meaning of this passage, and they sing Amazing Grace in tears as if they are in a cinema playing some touching romantic movie instead of having a sober and repentant heart.
Therefore, it is crucial that we see non-christians as non-christians. So that there may be joy when they are converted.
To many, such feast celebration may be too much, or laughed by mockers, but I believe it to be a worthy cause. For this is a great miracle and it keeps us honest to our confession and with the promotion of content, it also teaches us the seriousness of repentance.
May there be true joy on Earth as it is in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10.