The Parable of the Lost Son, for me, encapsulates the gospel

My Bible: reasons to believe in the power of the Bible

‘The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15.11–32), for me, encapsulates the gospel. Regardless of where you're at in your faith, the message is difficult to accept because it talks about grace, which everyone struggles with a bit. For me that is the good news. The son deserves nothing, but the dad sees him from a distance and doesn't even let him speak, he just runs and embraces him. 

‘I became a Christian when I was about 14. Luke 15 has remained powerful for me from that day to this. I respect the views of atheists, but this is my comeback story – I tell them that this is why I believe. 

‘I didn't do well academically at school. I was apprenticed as a painter and decorator, but wasn't kept on at the end of my apprenticeship. I knew I wanted to work with people and spent time doing voluntary drug rehabilitation and youth work. I got a degree in social work – I was a late bloomer – and I've been a social worker for 20 years. I love what I do and I'm good at it. 

‘People don't change, and they're always interesting – I even like the ones who are a bit of a pain. I really feel for those who've been isolated because of Covid. There's cognitive decline – they aren't going out so much so they're declining physically; it's very difficult. 

‘As a social worker, I know that human contact is so important. I worry about mobile phones and the way TV and the internet dominate our lives – 90 per cent of it is pollution, it's just rubbish. 

‘Tony Blair used to talk about “education, education, education”. I talk about, “relationships, relationships, relationships”. You need people when you're at your lowest, and when you're at your highest. 

‘The story in Luke 15 is all about relationships, and the internet isn't teaching you about that. Working at relationships is almost alien today. I tell my kids, “I won't be replaced by technology.” If I'm ill, I don't want a laptop at my bedside, I want people.’

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