The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1957-05-17

and Gomorrah. - - -
Yet this good man DR.. Foreman
prayed for those wicked cities
There have always been puzzlers in
this story. but they are not the
main point. That point has nothing
to do with such questions as How
can God eat hot bread and veal
roast?" or How could Abraham
see God if it is true (see John |. 18)
that no man has seen God at any
time? The point Of the story. for
US. is the kind of prayer a good
man can offer. in and for an evil
world.
Realistic
First OF all Abrahams prayer
shows that he had no illusions about
Sodom and Gomorrah They we're
cities which he preferred to stay
away from. cities notorious for
wickedness unashamed. We do not
know how many thousand persons
there may have been in Sodom. but
Abraham ventures to think that in
the whole city there may perhaps
be so righteous persons. Abraham s
series OF prayers in which he begs
the Lord to spare the city for the
sake Of fifty-then 45-40-30-20-
10 good people. is often taken as a
sign Of Abraham's growing faith in
God. But it can just as well stand
for Abraham decreasing faith in
Sodom AT the end, he would not
dare ask God to spare the city for
'tWenty's sake. 1t is plain that
he was very doubtful that there
might be even that number Of good
citizens. Children may pray as II
there were no evil in the world, but
grown men even in their prayers
must realize what kind Of world
they live in. Our Lords Prayer
mentions temptation and evil as
real and dangerous. even for good
men.
Generous
Abraham's prayer is not only
realistic, it is generous Readers Of
the Bible will remember Jesus
story Of the Pharisee who in his
prayer recalled the publican-no
model citizen. But to the Pharisee
the publican was not a man to be
prayed for, only man to be de-
spised. Now Abraham was far bet
ter than the citizens Of Sodom, if
they were good at ALL which seems
doubtful and he was better too
than his relative, Lot for whose
sake he was chiefly praying But he
prays for them all the same. His
prayer is Of the highest sort-not
for himself at all, but for others.
The reader can test his religion by
the kind Of prayer he offers. One
can ask oneself: How often do l
pray for myself and how often for
others? When l do pray for others,
is it for good people only? Are my
prayers an expression of selfish
ness, or can offer generous pray
ers? How long has it been since l
prayed for any one didn't really
like
Daring
Abraham's prayer is humble; but
it is also daring. Most Of our pray
ers are safe; Abraham realizes
that his is risky 1t almost involves
throwing a challenge TO God: Shall
not the judge OF all the earth do
right? This man realizes that he
may actually be praying against
Gods will. He may be praying for
the wrong thing entirely. But that
does not stop him. He dares to be-
lieve that God was interested in
very small minority of good people
He dares to pray beyond his hopes,
beyond his knowledge :. but not
beyond God. The God in whom Alb
raham believed. the God Abraham
AsiGNy was lfOt INT liINii- AAC I'LL ilot
and he does. not-share mans
prejudices. mans pride. A man.
even a good man, prides himself on
not helping the unworthy; but.
Gods mercy is untainted by con-
ceit.- Do we dare believe that God
is just? Do we dare believe he will
do the fair thing. or do we try to
argue him into doing what we want
even if it is not quite fair? Do we
dare believe that God is merciful2
or to pray for those who will not
pray for themselves? Do we pray
only for sure things. or do We dare
90 so far as to pray even when we
lear that we may be asking too
much, Can we stand and take Gods
No cas- Abraham had too and still
hold our faith in Him?
BASED on outlines copyrighted by the
Division Of Christian Education, Ma
ional Council Of the Churches Of Christ
the U. S. A. Released B, Com m unity
G-YsieA