Calvin Synod Herald, 1985 (85. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1985-10-01 / 5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 4 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA lonely, they are lost. They are seeking answers to their problems, and our staid, solidly grounded churches must serve as havens for them; or else we will lose them to the sects (Nazarenes, Jehovah Witnesses, Adventists, etc.) Herein I insert the problem of these sects confronting us and luring our people into their folds, by offering and preaching “cheap grace” and offering cut-and-dried answers for their hungry and thirsty souls, peace for their troubled hearts. (Actually I should have made this another Priority, since this is quite a problem for some of our churches!) PRIORITY NO 4. Some churches point to the Sunday School, others to Youth, others to the Family Life. No question that these are vitally important, every one of them, and none can be neglected. The question is: what ties these complexes together? How can we synchronize these and do something which effects all of them? And besides, one could be more important in one church than the other, and vice-versa. Trying to find a common ground, 1 came to the conclusion that the local congregation should be an organic unity which is made up of several branches. Perhaps the educational program of the church would comprise all these branches. But, how can a local church conduct a vital educational program for all its groups, especially if they are small groups? The answer is that the entire church is an educational unit! The educational program of the church is not being conducted in groups, and by groups, but by the whole church. Our members must be aware that no one, but no one will raise and educate God-fearing and loving good Christians, if we fail to do so! But this is not only the responsibility of the pastor. or the Sunday School teachers, but of all of us. The church can educate (!) and must educate, if we are to survive. I feel that we are at the very threshold of a new interpretation of Christian Education when we say that every member of the congregation is a teacher! PRIORITY NO. 5. All of our churches suffer from fellowship anemia. In other words, they are living their own lives, and are not sharing with anybody else. We must again realize that sociability with another sister church is tremendously beneficial for all involved. Years ago, this was not the situation. Churches paid frequent visits to each other, attending banquets, fellowships, anniversaries of all kinds. There was communication amongst them, and we must realize the importance of this communication. What wholesome thing it would be for young people of marriageable age! We know that distances are discouraging, yet it is one of our life-lines. We only know of spiritual distances; the physical can be overcome easily in this modern age of automobiles and air travel. One of my beloved professors at the Budapest Reformed Theological Seminary taught us that every organization can only be renewed by those principles which have begotten it. The future of our churches, ultimately, does not rest upon the right understanding of priorities, or the skilful implication of them, but on those who are committed to wittness to His Gospel in our midst. Ultimately, the problem of the church is the problem of faith and love of those whom He had predestined, chosen and equipped to carry on His cause and the leading of His people. Brief meditation Text of meditation: “Do your best to speed Zenos the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. ” (Titus 3:13) Introduction: In our sermon series the next profession is that of the lawyers. Each profession can be matched with a subject; teachers and knowledge; physicians and health; lawyers and justice. It is impossible to decide which vocation is more important than the other but one thing is sure; we suffer immensely from unfairness, inequity, and injustice. Some of our most desired goals are honesty, decency, and truth. The roots of justice lead us back to God One of the most fundamental principles of every law is the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:2—17. In it we find what we should do and avoid. Slowly the interpreatation of the law became important and detailed instructions became codified, see the book of Leviticus. How to find out who is right and who is wrong, that is how to judge according to the truth has never been easy. There is a classic example for the right judgement as King Solomon solved a seemingly complicated argument when two mothers had claimed the same baby. Each mother insisted that the child belonged to her. King Solomon had ordered the child to be cut into two and each mother given a half. The mother who was willing to let the other one have the whole baby was declared to be the real one. 1 Kings 3:16—28. Truth and justice — law and court 1 doubt that there is one person who with sane mind and in normal conditions would not want the truth to prevail. Everbody says; I tell the truth, approach the issues objectively, and wish to see the rightjudgement. While we agree that truth is very important we must also accept the fact that there is no perfect judgement which would satisfy both; the plaintiff and the defendant. There are so many controversial issues which cannot be settled with unanimous decison, like capital punishment, abortion, and the custody of a child, f ruth is that principle that separates the right from the wrong and justice is doing it. If you like the truth and know what is right and what is wrong how would you settle this argument? After a heavy snowfall the snow got piled up on both sides of the street. The father expecting his son to come home soon cleared enough place, shoveling for a longer period, to make parking space for his son’s car. Unfortunately the neighbor arrived sooner and parked his car there. The father asked the neighbor to move his car since he cleared that space for his son. The neighbor refused to move his car and argued; the street is public property and there is no reservation for any car there, everybody parks wherever he or she finds a place. Who is right legally and who is right morally? The dilemma of a Christian lawyer What is right legally? No doubt the law must be observed and lawlessness will end up in tragedy sooner or later. However, we know that the law is not perfect, and it is almost impossible to enforce the law in every case. Christ said both: “Think not that 1 have come to abolish the law... 1 have come ... to fulfill them” Matthew 5:17, and “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath;” Mark 2:27. What is morally right? Lile is much more complicated and unique than all the paragraphs of a legislation. It is time again to fill out our income tax return and how are we with the deductions, exemptions, and tax shelters? Please read Matthew 18:23—35. What is right practically? Shall a divorce lawyer do his best to reconcile the feuding husband and wife or win the case for his client in the court and earn his fee? Which of these two Bible quotations is applicable here? "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 and “...the laborer deserves his wages.” Luke 10:7. Conclusion: When Jesus said about Himself: “1 am the way, and the truth, and the life;” John 14:6. He wanted to extend the meaning of truth beyond human interpretation and connect truth with martyrdom. The greatest champions of truth are not judges, lawyers, legislators but the martyrs. We always wish to have more freedom, but with more freedom more fiction is created and issues will become more controversial which in turn will make truth more elusive. U nless there are love, understanding, and sacrifice more legislation and more litigation will not solve our problems just rearrange them. Truth will be strengthened, justice will be served, and happiness will be increased if we are justified by faith and not vindicated by the law. Rev. Alexander Jalso
