From Saved to Renew: The Prodigal Son Theme Hidden in The Archives of BFF

I always will say that you do not have to be a Christian, or a Jesus lover to enjoy The Archives of BFF (TABs). Though I am notoriously known for not reading a ton of books in my lifetime, I have read books with Jewish, Atheist, and North American Indigenous spirituality themes. Not purposely, I just was the person who judged a book by the cover and realized I was reading a Jewish book by page 60. Anyways, yes TABs has some underlining Christian tones that hopefully don’t go too unnoticed for the average reader. 

I like to note that I am no teacher or pastor of the word, hence why I do not add full blown bible studies or sermons in the series. Like the members go to church but I’m not going to harp on what their pastor said during service. I do not want to lead someone astray with false teaching, or fuel any misunderstanding. Now I have gone through discipleship from a wise elder in my life, so I have some knowledge to help guide this post.

I John 1:5-10 NKJV

'This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.'

This foundation scripture helps shape the series in its whole totality. People say they are Christian but neglect growing in their faith. I got saved alongside my dad in Germany back in 2015. We even got baptized on the same day. Now I was also in the 7th grade and, at the time, my life was fine. I was living abroad, traveling to random villages untouched by foreigners in the countryside of Deutschland. Despite going to a tiny school, I had a diverse group of friends, even had a crush that I was hoping to turn into a future boyfriend/husband (what praise the Lord that fell apart). Life was fine. 

Yet I am glad I got saved back in 2015 because I had a lot of problems that I didn’t know existed until the day I got baptized and fully called Jesus my Lord and Savior. From failing to realize that YouTube was full of not only K-Pop music videos but perverted ungodly videos and tarot card reading, to falling into a continuous cycle of unequally yoked friendship and rejections from guys who I was never fully interested in, my life needed Jesus before I knew I needed Jesus. 

That’s how TABs is. I believe everyone in Switch was saved early on before really joining the group (minus a few like LeeSung). However, every member, in their own unique way, would become a prodigal son. Their sensitivity to hearing the Holy Spirit is low as each member falls down the path of his or her own sinful desires. Now I am not here to spill the whole “you can lose your salvation” rhetoric. You can’t lose your salvation. No one in Switch lost their salvation as they act buck wild crazy in the streets. The prodigal son didn’t lose his sonship role while being a prodigal son. Same goes for anyone who is saved. Something I learn from being a disciple. 

Now I bring up 1 John 1 because like Switch, my life after 2015 was not rainbow and sunshines at all. I mean, I thought Jesus' life and resurrection was in the first few pages of the bible. I fell into a trap, thinking you can mix Christ with zodiac signs and palm readings. Despite not being an avid reader, I sure was reading some lemon fanfics… Not my proudest moment. I even became a workaholic, bossy, mean, very bitter, defensive, lustful, deceitful, an overachiever and worst of them all… I had a slumdog millionaire mindset. Oh, I own the movie on DVD and just want to say that it is the guy who chases the girl, not the other way around. 

I read my verse of the day and went to Sunday service but I didn’t talk to God. I lived life thinking that if I said Jesus name out loud, someone would punch me. I may not drank alcohol or smoke weed but I was falling short to watch videos I wish I never knew off or giving my time to toxic friendships. 

Like the members of Switch, I eventually found myself walking in darkness. It got so bad that despite being surrounded by music industry elites from the crews that worked with Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Selena, etc, to exchanging phone numbers with Emmy winning filmmakers, I was clueless in my walk. Then God removed all my world possessions in a blink of an eye. I went from having five figures of play money to only having two pennies to rub together. 

It was after binging Wednesday (the TV series, pre-hype) during my 2022 thanksgiving break that the Lord encountered me and told me something that can apply to anyone going through life. I don’t recall the exact words but its like what J. Cole said (is a clean way), “The good news is that you came a long way. The bad news is that you went the wrong way.” 

The Lord acknowledged my efforts but God's plan will ultimately prevail no matter how buck wild crazy I may have acted. I had a lot of past due repenting but by God’s grace it was made possible through Jesus Christ and I rededicated my life to Christ on Christmas Eve of 2022. 

I know social media loves to portray an aesthetic of the “perfect Christian” but nobody is perfect except for Jesus Christ. Plus once you are saved or once you rededicate your life to Christ, your life doesn’t go on easy mode. It just means you can handle life on hard mode.  

I personally write from the undertone perspective of sanctification. It is where God heals you from your open or hidden wounds to make you whole again. Instead of running from the past, you heal from it. Its letting go of old vices, toxic habits, and unlearning behaviors picked up at a young age.

People just don’t get drunk for fun. People just don’t just become sex addicts for fun. People just don’t bully, fight, lie, overeat, cheat, gossip, gamble, do hard drugs, or date toxic people for fun. I am here to de-influence you because your struggles or past do not have to be your future. Writing TABs has even shown me that I can let go of my old habits and mindset to become a better person because the wages of sins is death. I don’t want to experience death but life and Jesus offers that. 

Its clearly shown that the members of Switch eventually reach a level in their walk where they no longer are bound to their infamous lifestyle but it took a long time to get to where they are in the interview. That’s because our walk with Christ is a marathon not a sprint. 

Check out the series here.