Reformátusok Lapja, 1970 (70. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1970-12-01 / 12. szám

Hungarian Reformed Religious Paper

Founded in 1900

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE CALVIN SYNOD — UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

CHRIST

CH ALL

m is?®

Once more we celebrate Christ’s coming into this world. But if this is only a memorial service, not sustained by the power of personal experience, “we are of all men most to be pitied” (I. Cor. 15:19). As the poet expressed it:

“Though Christ a thousand times In Bethlehem be born,

If He is not born in thee

Thy soul is still forlorn.”

In this light we must admit that the problem today is not only with the world, but with the church as well. No use of bewailing the ills of our world, if we ourselves lack the glow of authentic Christianity. Too many of us in the church are accustomed to an uncommitted, apathetic, secondhand religion which is concerned more with the things of men, than with the things of God. Even our Christmas expectations are based on human hopes and not on the promises öf God, and thus Christ is just as unexpected in 1970 as He was in the time of Herod the Great. Therefore, as humble, sensible church people, let us pray in this Christmas season: “O God, end our dull, tedious misrepresenting of the faith, and set us on fire for Christ!”

How can the Christ of history become the Christ of experience? There is no formula for this. It is always the gracious work of our sovereign God. But He is able to do that which, with men, is impossible. But in this expectation, evidently we have to be ready for the unexpected Christ who may not liberate us from outward authorities, but certainly delivers us from evil; who may not change our surroundings, but certainly changes us inwardly so that He may dwell in our hearts by faith; who may not lead us on the road of a smashing success, but certainly shares the royal road of the cross with us until we shall confess: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). This certainty, this joy, this transforming process is the authentic note of those who are experiencing the living challenge of the unexpected Christ.

Let us not try to keep Christ back in history; He will not stay there! He comes out of history; He leaves Bethlehem behind Him and take the roads of our streets! He is not simply Jesus of history, but the Christ of experience as well, who wants to be born in us by His Word and Spirit. To reproduce His life in ourselves, our families, our churches, our nations, and our world: this is the challenge of Christmas in 1970.

On behalf of our Conference Council, I wish you a blessed Christmas in this sense of the word.

Dr. John Butosi Synod President