This song (imo) is saying that he thought he was a Christian and living his life that way (the grateful bastard son eventually came back and begged for forgiveness), but in reality he's "played" the Christian all his life and now he realizes he hasn't lived life the way he should or lead others to Christ ("If you raise them up. . ."), so he's the rich and spoiled son.
This song (imo) is saying that he thought he was a Christian and living his life that way (the grateful bastard son eventually came back and begged for forgiveness), but in reality he's "played" the Christian all his life and now he realizes he hasn't lived life the way he should or lead others to Christ ("If you raise them up. . ."), so he's the rich and spoiled son.