THE inscription of Psalm 51 says "A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet had come to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba." The truth is that we don’t really know what sin David is referring to - he never tells us. He asks God to have mercy on him, because of God’s steadfast love. He talks about how sin permeates all life, but he asks God to heal him, hide His face from his sin, create in him a clean heart and not withdraw His presence from David’s life.

Then he prays this: "Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You" - a very emphatic statement. David will teach, and sinners will repent. Not ‘may,’ but ‘will.’

I see here a very clear correlation between effective and ineffective ministry in the church. That is the difference between saints being honest about their sin - and saints who act as though they’ve got no problem with sin. The former can teach others how to fight temptation, to repent and to know forgiveness. The latter will feel uncomfortable discussing anything that shows them up as not being morally virtuous.

In Paul’s letters, there is a saint who sleeps with his stepmother; there are saints who steal, who gossip, who have anger issues, who sleep with prostitutes; there are husbands who don’t love their wives properly - yet, they all feel welcome and loved in the church.

Perhaps the church needs to be more honest, loving and accepting of those people who face the same temptations that we do.

David Hendrickse, Pastor at Sedbergh Christian Centre