Calvin Synod Herald, 1974 (74. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1974-01-01 / 1. szám

4

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

formed Federation and Bethlen Home. A thousand thanks to the founders, leaders and donors but besides these institutions we were unable to organize a school for our children, to buy a camp-ground with utilities for our young generations, to build a Theological Seminary for those faithful young men of our Churches who wish to offer their lives for the service of God’s Kingdom. . .

Though in the present circumstances the life of the Hungarian Reformed Churches in America is depressive, discouraging and tragic, their responsibility is still immeasurable. Our Hungarian Reformed brethren from everywhere, even from the smallest and most hidden corners of the world direct their eyes and stretch their hands toward us for help. I would not like to be misunderstood. I do not think of help as meaning material goods. Letters, circulars, periodicals, pamphlets are the speaking documents of their spiritual needs. From us, they are waiting for understanding, encouragement of living faith, brotherly love which binds together every Hungarian reformed soul above the borders of countries in one union. They wish to establish a spiritual unity, the army of Jesus Christ in which they may fight the great fight for their future. They do know that on that post where God placed them they cannot lean on any outside power. They themselves have to stand there undauntedly, otherwise they will be ruined and annihilated by the raging storms. Therefore, they are firm in their faith and unswering in their conviction. Woe to us if in our division our weakness will weaken their resisting ability, willpower and resolution. To our brethren we must be the encouraging word, the living hope and embracing love. This is the very cause why the union between our Churches is an existential problem. We have to make it as soon as possible because the 24th hour of the day of expectation is drawing on its end.

There are some arguments and questions which disagree with the statements said before.

a. One ardent question is what will happen to the pensions of our pastors? In a new union we can lose heavy sums paid for the pension-fund, causing irreparable losses to the ministers in their old age.

b. Some members of our churches can ask: how will we get a minister for our church in the case of pulpit-vacancy, if our connection will be broken with our present church body?

c. There are church members whose opinion is this: our children already are the members of an English Protestant Church, we must stay with them.

d. The members of all those Hungarian Churches which were deeply embedded in different denominations (Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed) do not want to be ungrateful to those Christian friends who for so long-time supported and helped them.

These (outside) exterior causes can be easily solved. But not so the inner causes that are concealed in the depth of hearts and motivate our feelings, thoughts, attitudes and decisions. The basic conditions of a fruitful and prosperous church life are: faithfulness, unselfish service for God’s Kingdom, and implicit confidence in one another. With mistrust and suspicion, jealousy and ill-will, sensitive selfrespect and vain ambition we cannot sit down at the roundtable, because our discussions and endeavours will never bring forth blessed results.

With penitential soul and contrite heart we must confess that up to this day, more times than less, our inner man, filled with errors and false ideas, disturbed our endeavours

and hindered us in the restoration of the unity of our Churches. Our imagination, born in our inner being, directed our will towards finite goals. Therefore, the earthly things were highly esteemed, the heavenly goods lost their values in our sight. We were afraid to undertake sacrifices for the future of our Reformed Churches. In our busy life we did not hear the calling voice of God, the cry of our brothers. We ran into a blind alley. No other thing or people, we ourselves are the real obstacles of the union of our Churches. By recounting the outside causes WE, including myself, wish to white wash ourselves.

From this situation we have to turn to God. Repentance in Greek is expressed by metanoia. It’s original meaning is to pierce afterwards; after-thought, change of mind or opinion. This is the only way to solve our problems.

I will finish with God’s Word: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28.)

Dr. Joseph Arvai-Zsiros --------------------------------------------WUJ,

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,

Uttered or unexpressed;

The motion of a hidden fire,

That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,

The falling of a tear;

The upward glancing of an eye,

When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try;

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,

Returning from his ways;

While angels in their songs rejoice,

And cry, “Behold! He prays!”

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,

The Christian’s native air;

His watchword at the gate of death----He enters heaven with prayer.

The saints in prayer appear as one In word and deed and mind;

Where with the Father and the Son Sweet fellowship they find.

Nor prayer is made by man alone:

The Holy Spirit pleads;

And Jesus, on the eternal Throne,

For sinners intercedes.

O Thou by whom we come to God----The Life, the Truth, the Way!

The path of prayer Thyself hast trod;

Lord, teach us how to pray!

James Montgomery