Lost sheep: Backslidden or Unregenerate

In recent months, I preached through Luke 15 and the parable Jesus tells about the value of finding the lost. It is a single parable with several “movements” or sub-texts in the story. He deals with a lost sheep, a lost, coin, a lost son in the far-country and even a lost son in the field.

I am so grateful for students of the Word that ask questions about the text. One such question came up during the series and it speaks to an important consideration: Was the lost sheep really “lost” (in the sense that he represents an unbeliever) or was he “backslidden” (a genuine part of the flock that had wandered away?) This post provides, in part, my answer to the question, because I think it is important for all believers to consider…

Thanks for your question…regarding whether the sheep, coin, and son could have been saved and backslidden. While the text doesn’t use that term or even communicate the idea directly, it is not a stretch to draw the conclusion based on the analogies of the pictures in the Parable. Remember, of course, that parables, metaphors, and analogies can only go so far and actually fall apart if pressed too far. For instance, God is not a woman nor would He ever be careless to lose anything of value, particularly a soul. That would never fit with any other part of our theology. People are also not dumb, soulless animals either. While the Bible uses the sheep and shepherd imagery a good bit, the analogy breaks down if we push it too far…unless we hold that sheep can make a moral decision to be saved.

All that being said, I would not be offended if I heard someone preach on the text from the angle that the coin and sheep were backslidden. I don’t think that is the best understanding of course, but it is tenable. Here are a couple of things that I think would inform my thoughts on why it speaks of lostness rather than a backslidden state:

• The real issue in the text is the disapproval the religious elites showed toward Jesus for receiving tax collectors and sinners. I don’t know anyone who would argue that they (tax collectors and sinners) are saved and backslidden.
• Jesus is addressing the religious attitudes and saying that while they are offended at the sinners, heaven celebrates when a sinner repents. I think the clearest implication is that the sinner is becoming a believer, not being restored in fellowship.
• The work of the owner who is going out to find that which is lost is the same whether that lost one is saved and backslidden, or altogether lost. To demand that it mustbe the former creates a slippery theological slope (in my opinion), leading some to conclude that everyone (even those who bear no genuine marks of a converted life) is “right” with God, even those who live like unregenerate tax collectors and sinners…and will ultimately be in heaven even if they acted like lost people all of their lives. For me, this view would seem to blunt the edge of the evangelistic commission.
• The celebration of the person coming to faith or the celebration of a restored prodigal (or perhaps even a better picture viewed through the elder brother) would seem to be the same…at least to me.

So, if the work is the same, and the celebration/attitude is the same, AND if Jesus is addressing bad attitudes of the religious elite toward sinners and tax-collectors, I think the most logical conclusion is that the items lost represent the unregenerate, not just the backslidden; however, there is not enough meat in the analogy to be dogmatic for that position and certainly not for the position that they are definitely backslidden.

I find a great deal of comfort and peace in the fact that the responsibility to determine is someone is backslidden, unregenerate, or even if a person is saved…does not rest with me. God knows the conditions of a man’s heart. God alone is able to judge, so I must be cautious not to demand that a person is saved or lost based on their actions. I am called to be a fruit inspector though…to be discerning…and to act faithfully toward those with fruit (encouraging, sharpening and rejoicing with them), as well as toward those without fruit (calling them to come to Christ). The work is the same! As disciples and disciple-makers, our “job” is to focus on fruit…for it is in the bearing of fruit that God is glorified (John 15:5,8).

Considerations for the Day:

1. How is the “fruit” in your own life? Could someone make the case for your faith in Christ by pointing to your calendar…your wallet…your words…your work ethic…your attitude…your concern for others…your passion for God?
2. How sensitive are you to the fruit of others? When you see a fruitless fig tree…do you walk by or do you address it? Does it matter if that person has a Bible on their car seat or a Koran? Isn’t the grace of God sufficient for both? Isn’t our humble posture the same with both? Isn’t our emphatic and empathetic plea the same with both…draw near to Christ?