Reformátusok Lapja, 1963 (64. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)
1963-11-01 / 9. szám
14 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA WE MUST SUPPLEMENT VIRTUE, ACCORDING TO APOSTOLIC WARNING, WITH KNOWLEDGE In our congregation we understand this knowledge in the practical sense of orientation, “know-how” in local, Synod and denominational affairs. I do not think you should be afraid of this requirement. The Church does not expect you to talk the language of professional church leaders. We do not expect you to quote Scriptures right and left. But it would be fitting not to imitate your elder’s understandable weakness in the attitude: “oh, a Tiszte- letes Ur úgyis tudja” — “oh, the ‘Reverend’ (what a title!), he knows it anyhow.” Growth in knowledge starts in the Sunday School — and you know we have a lot of work there — continues in the Confirmation Classes. We learn, I hope, during the worship services. All these and the individual study of the Bible, church publications, year books and Hirados, would definitely be profitable for instruuction and “edification”. What joy I have, when occasionally I meet a few of you who do that. More than that: you would feet at home. You, kind of, would have a feeling of belonging, ability to stand up to any preacher, including your own, your confidence would be growing and eventually you could stand on your own feet . . . leaving the childish, dependent religious faith behind. Muddled thinking usually leads to muddled religious practices and of that we have enough in our land and community. Then supplement knowledge with “self- control, steadfastness and godliness”. How we miss in our congregational life “steadfastness”, the stick-to-it loyalty of faithful workers! How we miss loyal leaders . . . teachers . . . pupils, singers. The “magic wand”?! of the minister’s exhortation is needed too much. I am not that good. We should all share in this mutual exhortation . . . hopeful encouragement which strengthens loyalty. And then “brotherly affection and love”. I am not going to try to explain “brotherly affection”, because I might explain it away. We all partly feel it . . . this is still a family church. It should be that . . . Somewhere in a New York suburb, Harvard or Yale scientists made a survey of about 1,000 young families. And the survey conclusively shows that all the “uprooted” young people (Did you listen to Gov. Scranton about the mental and emotional problems of Pennsylvania?) who drifted away, or consciously separated themselves from the family religious tradition and childhood culture, sooner or later found the going too tough and had either vocational, job or family problems or both. This congregation is still “MotherChurch” to most of you. (You know I visited my own “Mother-Church” in Hungary in three villages. Could I or would I ever leave those churches, if I would live there?!) And the Mother-Church waits for her wayward children. Yes, we do expect them back and we do wait for them. Can we help them to come back?! (Would it be right to try to lure them back by the minister’s call?!) Do we have enough drawing power of brotherly affection, sense of security and order to call them back?! Let ut try . . . THIS IS A WELL CHURCH at a good location. In 10 or 15 years this could be THE CHURCH OF THE REFORMATION in the steel city. Of course all brethren of similar background will be and are already welcome here. But we do want to cherish our heritage as a source of strength and we still have a special call to our own kind. DO YOU WANT TO BE LOST ... or do you want to be counted?! We feel at home again and secure in our denomination, the United Church of Christ . . . Our future, during the transitional years, is secure for about 15-20 years. Magyar Synod knows that its business is to run out of business. We, however, want to live out our life, our way of life freely, according to our faith-trust and gratitude, and we want to leave to our children a worthy legacy. JULIUS PAÁL HHSHEiiiiisEiiafSBiisiiaaKiiaisigigiiiBisiiaiEiiiiaBiiaisiiaiiiaisisiisiiiiBiiaH a a ELŐFIZETÉS A REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJÁRA «■ SUBSCRIPTION Dr. Stephen Szabó, Editor 2889 East Blvd., Cleveland 4, Ohio □ Két évre $5.00 Two years Név_ Name □ Egy évre $2.50 One year Cim Address
