Calvin Synod Herald, 1985 (85. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1985-08-01 / 4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 8 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Brief meditation Scripture reading: Matthew 4:18—25. Text: “Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. ” (Colossians 4:14) Introduction: As we continue our sermon series on the various professions we wish to learn something from the physicians. Most of us have some experience about hospital, surgery, medical treatment and physical therapy so let this experience help us to understand better this message. It is good to be wealthy but to be wealthy and healthy is even better. The medical profession has a long history. In Egypt they were the embalmers: “And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm hisfather. "(Genesis 50:2). After Moses led the Jews out of Egypt God had made clear to them that they should depend on Him in every respect: “If you will diligently hearken to the voice of th Lord your God,... 1 will put none of the diseases upon you which I put upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord, your healer. "This was supposed to be taken very seriously: “...Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe; yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from the physicians." (2 Chronicles 16:12) Jesus as healer In our scripture reading we read: “And He (Jesus) went about alj Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel ... and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. "(Matthew 4:23) Jesus was concerned about the whole person; physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. He used His divine power to help but this did not mean necessarily an easier life for the people, rather a purer and happier one. “I have come in order that you may have life — life in all its fullness. "(John 10:10) Good News Bible. In Jesus’ time the medical science was not so advanced as today and they were “confused” in certain cases by assuming that evil spirits made people ill. However, psychology “rediscovered” the strong connection among one’s physical, mental, and spiritual conditions. “...Jesus... said... those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) One of the fundamental questions, is; what is normal and what is exceptional? That is; it is normal to be healthy and exceptional to be sick or vice versa? You shall see a doctor only when you are ill or have a checkup regularly so you will not get sick? From spiritual viewpointd the second one is correct. No doctor can heal the patient without the patient’s involvement. Every patient must do the followings; be patient, bear the pain, follow the doctor’s order, and pay the bill. How do you pray to God? As a patient i.e. tolerant sick person or as an impatient healthy man? The ways doctors encourage us; you can live with it, or, you can live without it. a.) How many of us have to live with the pain of arthritis? Did you read the book: "Joni’? b) Also how many people walk on the streets without gall bladder or tonsils? But there are amputees who use crutches or artificial arms. We start to experiment with man-made-heart. From spiritual viewpoint this is the question; can we live without our bad habits, luxuries, and favorite pleasures? And how can we live with our conscience? As there are very few people perfectly healthy; no corrective lenses, no tooth pulled, etc. likewise there are very few “saints”. Let us admit most of us are at least “weak” spiritually and help is needed. We do not like to suffer and do not want to die so we see a doctor but many do not care if they are spiritually ill and will not be saved after they die. Sin may not bother you now but when a serious crime is committed it is too late and a wonderful funeral is neither medicine nor reconciliation. We should respect the doctors for their knowledge, skill, and hard work but also let us be The life and future of the church — humanly speaking — depends, in no small measure, upon the spiritual quality and training of the pastors who preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, direct the service of the congregations and represent the church in the forum of the world and general society. Hence great importance is to be attached to all events related to the training of the future ministry of the church. Changes of this nature are now taking place in the Ráday College of Budapest. A new wing has been added to the compound and the old buildings are renovated and reconstructed. The progress of this work has recently been discussed in public statements by Principal József Adóiján, Architect István Szabó, and Pastor Gyula Papp, economic manager. The training of pastors in a many-faceted work. It calls for conditions which today are simply indispensable in any work of instilling new knowledge and of the shaping of characters. The college compound, its new part and its old sections, are now to offer such conditions. The most important changes are the relocation of the renowned Ráday Collections (library, archives and Bible Museum) in its most modem, new, premises, lecture rooms, the new dormitory section, assembly rooms and last but not least, the great Assembly Hall with a seating capacity of 500 where the now so popular “Ráday Evenings” are arranged. When we, therefore, report on the progress of the work, it is not simply writing about the modernization of the building bearing No. 28 in the Ráday Street of Budapest, but we actually point to a major venture aimed at the shaping of the future of the church and the many-sided work of the training of pastors to serve the great cause committed aware of the limitations of the medical science. Death is eventually inevitable. 1 mentioned this before but it will not hurt to be reminded; nobody wants to close a hospital because he or she does not like a doctor, in other words; medical science, hospital, physicians, nurses, technicians shall cooperate to help the patients, yet when it comes to spiritual life the churches and clergy receive much more criticism than cooperation. Conclusion: I wish to share with you a prayer what a wonderful fellow pastor sent me who also has to live with the weakness of his body: “May daily prayer, Dear Lord, if it will be to Your glory, heal me suddenly. If it will glorify You more, heal me gradually; if it glorifies You even more, may Your servant remain sick awhile; and if it will glorify Your name still more, take him to Yourself in heaven to be with Jesus forever. ^ men' Rev. Alexander Jalso to the church, that is, in the final analysis, an undertaking related to the life of our whole church. As all major construction projects, the renovation of the Ráday Street compound also proceeds by successive phases. Now the new wing is completed. But the renovation of the old part is still a major job. The building was acquired by the church in 1911. It has since been repeatedly remodeled. It was hit by bombs during World War II, and, as it turned out, the subsequent repairs had but a makeshift nature which prepare surprises to the builders. But inspite of the difficulties, the work is making good progress. Both the architects and those translating his blueprints into steel and concrete realize that a complex task is entrusted to them: they are constructing a building in which the future pastors of the church, the candidates for the preaching ministry, may feel at home and may also be reminded of the supreme importance of their future work, in an edifice built out of funds given by the members of the church. Loading the Wagon (Cumberland Presbyterian) “It is said that aminister dreamed that he was hitched to a covered wagon, and was laboriously, but slowly, pulling it along, until he reached a place in the road where the mud seemed to get deeper, and it was with much difficulty that he moved the wagon a few inches at a time. He thought it rather peculiar, as the last time he looked back he thought he saw the entire congregation pushing. But the longer and harder he pulled, the more difficult it became to move the wagon. Finally, almost exhausted, he went to the rear to examine the source of the trouble. Half of the church members had quit pushing. Not only had they quit pushing, but they were sitting in the wagon, and were criticizing the pastor for not pulling the church along faster. Was it really a dream?” The Ráday College of Budapest
