Read a brief interview with Tim Keller about his upcoming book, The Prodigal God. They talked about the title (the subtitle has been changed). A commenter found the use of prodigal in reference to God to be blasphemous. Richard Pratt used the dictum that “meaning is use.” Words have a range of meaning, so you must ask which is being used. So, I looked up the various meanings of prodigal.
1. wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.
2. giving or yielding profusely; lavish (usually fol. by of or with): prodigal of smiles; prodigal with money.
3. lavishly abundant; profuse: nature’s prodigal resources.
4. a person who spends, or has spent, his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance; spendthrift.
Not all of the uses in the range of meaning imply impropriety. How Tim Keller is using it is determinative, not how a reader interprets it (unless we all want to become literary deconstructionists, which the aforementioned critic would quickly disavow).
God is lavish in his love and grace, far more than we his people can be. This is the point of the parable, that God is lavish in love and mercy while we self-righteous religious folks are anything but. We’d rather hammer a brother over our misgivings about the title of a book. I can be the Pharisee too … I need to repeatedly hear of God’s lavishly abundant love for me, the richness of his mercy and outpouring of his grace. So, I’m looking forward to reading about the God who left home to bring people like me home to him.
Update: Tullian Tchividjian asked Tim about it, and got a great response.
Update #2: Between 2 Worlds (Justin Taylor) reminds us of Spurgeon’s sermon on this text- Many Kisses for Returning Sinners, or Prodigal Love for the Prodigal Son. Love the way he uses 2 different meaning for the same word in the same sentence. Love Spurgeon!
Cavman Considers 
I hadn’t heard of this book, but I look forward to finding out more about it! To your last two sentences in this post, I could just say, “ditto”!
“meaning is use”
Barack Obama a few days ago said that abortion is a deep “moral” issue. And seeing it is a deep moral issue he believed everyone has the right themselves
regarding this issue [paraphrase].
It appears the word “moral” is now being given differing ranges of meaning than previously accepted.
And if so, in this case can they simply say “meaning is use”?
I feel like replying:
Hey Barack, do you believe slavery is a deep moral issue as well so everyone has the right themselves to decide on this issue? Or how about incest? hanging? Rape? Racism?
of course he does not…
his use of the word “moral” really troubled me.
I defer to you, honorable exegete, have you previously noticed this use of the word “moral”?
It is one thing to create your own meaning. That is not what Richard Pratt meant, nor what I advocate.
The point is, which of the readily accepted meanings of this work is being used. This is not a post-modern attempt to control the meaning of words by redefining them. Keller is using a readily accepted meaning of the word, just not the one his critic wants to accept.
Hey, Cav:
It meant alot that you told me you were praying (one of the few of my new internet “best friends” to do so). It helped. I’ll be posting more on my moving past panic attacks later.
You know, I need to taste some of that extravagant love, not in experience (a gift or feeling from above), but just to focus on and worship the lover.
Oh, how self focused we humans are!
PS Can’t wait to read the book: I loved those prodigal son sermons of Tim’s. The longer he has preached, the more the focus on the cross and the awe at God’s love.
sounds like you’re doing a bit better. glad to hear it.
i’m finding myself challenged to trust in his character regardless of my circumstances.
just read a chapter by Ferguson on the knowledge of God … it hit home.
Cav:
Let me take back that comment about best friends online. Feeling a bit of self-pity at the time (and WHO questions original sin??). Several friends have stopped by the blog the last few days to say they have prayed. Humbled, I am.
Ferguson taught me Doctrine of God and one of his books had a great impact on me (of course, it was 17 years ago, so I forget which one…!). No one prays like he does. My husband downloaded his sermons to our iPods and I mean to listen (one of these days).