Calvin Synod Herald, 1997 (97. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1997-09-01 / 5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 6 -AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Mystery of mountain-moving faith explore a by Rev. Alexander Jalso Scripture reading: Matthew 17:14- 20. Text: “Fori (Jesus) say to you, if you have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, ’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you". Matthew 17:20. How much from this divine promise shall be taken literally or figuratively? Is what our Lord said totally correct or was it only a campaign speech? (Please forgive me for the allusion.) The literal interpretation and the meaning behind the words. How wonderful would it be if we could move a big slate dump with the power of faith. Not coal miners would be employed by the coal companies but spiritual workers. Let us see what is in the background. Even before Jesus’ time if something big was described, it was said to be like moving a mountain. Apostle Paul wrote, “But if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2. See also Job 9:5, 28:9, Psalm 20:7, 46:2, 97:5, Zechariah 4:7. But, on the other hand, our Lord mentioned many things which have to be taken figuratively like, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3 or “Your blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel”. Matthew 23:24. The issue is not the mustard seed versus the mountain but the great difference between them. Faith overcomes the difference between the small and big, the tangible and invisible, the physical and spiritual, the imagination and reality, our freedom in Christ and surrender to God’s will. Faith works like a bridge, connecting interrupted and disrupted realities. Some mysteries of that faith which can move mountains? The surgeon should use the right instrument, the mechanic the right tool, the cook the right ingredients, the student the right textbook. What is faith and what is it good for? We wish to have a faith which would work like a magic want or formula, and with which we can achieve our goals without any effort on our part and forgetting how will it affect others and neglecting will it please God or not? We wish to have a faith which is an easy escape, miraculous drug, guaranteed success, obliges only God and requires little from us. Such a faith described above is only a wishful thinking. As there is pure gold (a precious metal) but in its purest form it would be too soft. Therefore the gold is mixed with other metals. Your ring on your finger is not made of pure gold so it can withstand the wear and tear of many years. What are the allies of faith so it would be a good strong alloy?- Principles and convictions versus (mis)fortune and (bad) luck. A faith depending on success and trouble-free life is not the pure faith.- Intelligence - that is to know that there are many questions which we have no perfect answers. We cannot explain in every case, why.- Trust - namely even in the case of my unfortunate situation God is still almighty. Do we credit all the good to ourselves and all the bad to God?- Courage - we have to face a cruel world, unfriendly people, devastating elements (hurricane, earthquake), tragedies and eventually our own death.- Resourcefulness - if a patient consumes only medication, that is insufficient, the patient must have the right diet, too. How did Jesus and eventually his disciples use the power of faith? Reading the Bible we can distinguish these criteria which are still valid today:- Never for their own advantage and benefit but for the glory of God.- Always under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, according to the will of God.- Knowing that faith is on one hand a divine gift but on the other hand our will.- Keeping in mind that not the spiritual serves the physical but the physical is subject to the spiritual. How close was George A. Butrick to the truth when he wrote: “Modern man has tried the suspense of believing nothing, and because suspense is seen unbearable, he has ended by believing almost anything” and also St. Augustine: “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.” The Rev. Alexander Jalso is retired pastor of Calvin United Presbyterian Church in Brownsville. The Christian Observer: Transylvanian Bishop Kalman Csiha’s The Light Through the Bars recounts the incredible story of six-anda-half years in prison for the cause of Jesus. The Calvin Synod Herald most highly recommends this English-version of the 166-page long book with 30 immortal poems, written behind prison bars in the aftermath of the Debrecen World Alliance Meeting with the motto: "BREAK DOWN THE CHAINS OF INJUSTICE!" The price of the book, including mailing, is only $11.24. Please make your check payable and maii to: “THE LIGHT” PUBLICATION PROJECT 415 Steven Boulevard Richmond Heights, Ohio 44143 The Hungarian-version, “Fény a rácsokon”, may be ordered through: KÁLVIN KIADÓ Abonyi u. 21.1395 Hungary A German-version is under preparation from our English-version. □□□
