Bethlen Évkönyv, 1993-1996 (Ligonier)
Dr. Laslo M. Medyesy: Diakonia for the 90's, Revisited
DIAKONIA FOR THE 90’S, REVISITED There is a particularly challenging passage in the Gospel of Matthew (25:31-46) where in vivid colors the great and final Judgment is presented. It describes the return of Christ in His glory and after occupying His glorious throne all nations will be gathered for evaluation. The criteria of separating the goats (bad people) from the sheep (good people) is clearly defined. The earthly acts of each individual will be measured, namely, did or didn’t he or she serve others in Christ: “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. ” What is striking in this examination is that not one word is asked about a person’s faith system, theological formulational identity. Jesus will not ask anyone to repeat the Apostles’ Creed or pose questions from the Heidelberg Catechism. Not the theoretical part of our religion but the concrete, the practical aspects of our faith journey will be scrutinized. Such a realistic and surprisingly detailed description of the final evaluation should warn us that the main purpose of a Christian life and fellowship is service! Diakonia! This lesson has a relevant message especially for us Reformed Christians. We need to remember that at the time of the Reformation our forefathers, in order to balance the Roman Catholic emphasis on the redeeming value of good work, placed the role of faith in Christ above all (sola fidei). Yet the inseparability of faith and the resulting good work, diakonia, is well illustrated by Apostle James: “What does it profit, my brethen if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, ifit has no works, is dead. But some one will say, You have faith and I have works. Show 67
