The ABCs of Jesus

by Matt Laney | published on May 4, 2025

When the younger son was a long way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I am unworthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring the best robe; put a ring on his hand, shoes on his feet. Kill the fatted calf and let’s celebrate!” – Luke 15:20-23 (adapted)  

As a teenager in an evangelical youth group, I heard about the “ABCs of faith” over and over again. I wondered when we would get to D, E and F, which never happened. Only this: 

  • Admit you are a sinner; 
  • Believe Jesus Christ suffered and died (instead of you) for your sins; 
  • Confess Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. 

The fact that Jesus never asked anyone to do any of that was not mentioned. 

If those ABCs are correct, we’d have to rewrite the Parable of the Prodigal Son as follows: 

While the younger son was a long way off, the Father saw him and was filled with righteous anger.  

“What will I do?” the Father asked himself. “I can’t allow his sinful presence to stain my Holiness and my justice won’t allow his sin to go unpunished. I know! I will sacrifice my righteous son in his place!” 

The older brother was brutally killed. Appeased by the blood sacrifice of the righteous brother, the father could welcome the sinful younger son back into his presence.  

Of course, Jesus would never advocate something so barbaric and twisted. 

In the original version of the parable, the Jesus version, the father barely hears his son’s apology. He’s too busy lavishing love upon him. Forgiveness is free and immediate. No violence or blood required. 

The ABCs of Jesus are as follows: 

  • About Face 
  • Be Embraced 
  • Celebrate 

That’s it. Anything else is not worthy of God or your attention.

Prayer
Heavenly Parent, thank you for a gospel which liberates us, and you, from harmful theologies.

Matt LaneyAbout the Author
Matt Laney is co-Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.