Overview
The Prodigal God seems to me to be an important book written in an era where clarity on what the Gospel really meant was desperately needed (and that era continues on today). Tim Keller, alongside individuals such as Francis Chan, RC Sproul, John Piper, and many more were all producing literature that endeavors to steer people back to the real message of the Gospel. Many groups of people needed to be reached, both the wayward man lost in the world and the religious man lost in his own religiosity. Neither were in the place they ought to be: security in the grace of Jesus Christ.
The Prodigal God is essentially a commentary on the parable of the Lost Son(s) found in Luke 15. Keller walks the reader through this parable, comparing the characters in the parable with their real-life counterparts. The reader of this book will find that Keller focused much more not on the wayward, younger son, but on the older son whom Keller argues to also be lost and has yet to be found. The older son in this case is the religious man who worships nothing more than his own religiosity rather than his creator.
Keller makes a case for both the wayward son and the prideful son's need for redemption. Of course, redemption only comes from the father, AKA God. Most everyone misses the point, and this book is an attempt to help you find it. What is the point? The true Gospel.
That is just a gross overview, I don't want to preach out of Keller's mouth because I reckon that he is an amazingly gifted Christian writer. So read it for yourself.
Why Read This?
As mentioned before, the parable of the Lost Son deals with two kinds of people: The ones who are lost in the world and sin, soon to find themselves hopeless and destitute. The other kind is those who are religious but for very wrong reasons. Both are in desperate trouble, both will be miserable. To be quite honest with you, to some degree, I can relate to both kinds of people.
However, I would recommend this book more to the second kind of people. Many times in my life, I have found myself frustrated and angry at God because He has not done what I wanted Him to do even though I thought I obeyed His commands. I was trading my own goodness for His favor and love. Which, mind you, is literally legalism in disguise. Those of us who grew up in Christian circles are very vulnerable to this pitfall. Reading this book, that mindset is exposed. Look, if we claim to be Christians for the wrong reasons, we are quite literally living contrary to God's plans, which will bring nothing but disappointment and turmoil.
If you think you struggle with what I have described above, I highly recommend that you read this book and get a fresh perspective on what loving God should really look like. Keller does an excellent job of calling everyone out (lovingly) and advising them to rely solely on the love of God.
Keller also does an excellent job at drawing out cultural themes and implications from the parable of the lost son that was otherwise unknown to me. He is quite knowledgeable and has a gift of discernment and teaching.
Potential Pitfalls
There is a kind of mindset that should be dealt with before going into this book. This is a litmus test: Think back on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee took much pride in his religiosity and reckoned that his own good works have put him on God's good side. He looks down on the lowly tax collector, who didn't even dare look up to the sky while he prayed for he knew that he was a sinner fallen terribly short of the glory of God. Jesus concludes that the tax collector, who was humble, contrite, and repentant, went home justified rather than the prideful Pharisee.
Okay, now let me ask you a question. When you read that paragraph, did you think "surely I am better than that Pharisee"? If so, you have the same problem as that Pharisee. You see, in today's culture, there is a group of people who takes much pride in not being "legalistic". They pride themselves in believing in that simple, liberating, and faith-based gospel while they bash those who glorify good works and call them "judgemental" and "legalistic". Do you see the irony here? They have made themselves to be the same as that Pharisee!
Reading through this book, it is easy to say "Ha! Take that you conservative Christians! Tim Keller is scolding YOU!" While in reality, what will benefit you the most when reading this book is an attitude of self-examination. It doesn't matter who Tim Keller is scolding, if you somehow find it ok to become prideful all of a sudden, you are just desperately in need of the Gospel as these others are. I say this both to the wayward sons and the prideful sons. I also say this to myself.
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