RECIPE FOR RESTORATION

  PSALM 51  ABBY FREE, JULY 8, 2001        'RECIPE FOR RESTORATION'

When a novel begins with the agonizing cry, "O God, have mercy on me," you know that the character is in trouble. This person is so lost or so sick or so worried or so afraid or so guilty, that he or she can't go on without relief. Life has been interrupted by the deepest anguish. And when you read further and learn that this person is wealthy and healthy you really become curious. What could have happened here? - That's how Psalm 51 begins.

A psalm is a song, and there are 150 songs gathered together into one book or scroll called the Book of the Psalms. Psalm songs were sung or recited by Jews and also in the early church and in some present day churches. Ps 51 has been dubbed the Psalm of Psalms. We are about to find out why. This not a poetic composition but a desperate cry. There is a story behind this psalm.  Psalms often have back-stories behind them and Ps.51 may have the largest back-story of all the psalms. In fact, if this were on TV, it might begin with a content warning.

SHOULD YOU BE INVOLVED IN RESTORING THE CHURCH?

What if God wants those who cannot help but be cynical about church right now, to actually help improve it? What if some of the observations that have fed the cynicism are actual? And now, what if you cynics are actually being called by God to reconstitute her, that is, the church? You can sit on your duffs and crab until you croak but that will serve no purpose. If you agree that the church is enduring, and by that I mean the church constituted of all whom Christ has emancipated, then you cannot in good faith give up on her. You are part of her. If you are correct to be cynical about the condition and the operations of church, are you not one of those many who should be active in restoring her credibility?