Calvin Synod Herald, 1998 (98. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1998-05-01 / 3. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 4 -AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

THE FATE OF HUNGARY IN THE EVER-CHAINGING MIRROR OF EUROPEAN HISTORY

The changes in Hungary, during the bygone years of unbelievable turnarounds in Europe, give us the shiver of uncertainty.

We, American Hungarians, always hoped for the better at all times but the worse came about each time!

In the fall of 1956, a new Freedom Fight materialized in Hungary. Glorious, but short-lived much to our sorrow. History repeated itself a second time after a century and-a-half!

The year of 1990, with a quick turn,

brought about a free election in Hungary. Four years later, the second election brought about a kind of reverse. This is not what we wanted! The color turned from red to pink! That’s not what we wanted.

Then 1997 brought about what we never expected: On November 16, 1997, in a nationwide plebiscite the people of Hungary voted to join NATO with an 85% majority vote. And they did that with the knowledge of having to pay an 8-and-a-half million dollar entrance fee to the North Atlantic Alliance annually payable from the treasury of the little Nation.

Seeing with the naked eye what the ungrateful West has done to that little Nation during this most terrible century of our History, we do now tremble! What will come now? What does History hold for that small Nation of East-Central Europe in the forthcoming years in the life of a long-suffering nation?

This year is again election year in Hungary. In the aftermath of the 1100th Anniversary came this 150th Anniversary of the 1848-48 Independence War. We are earnestly and prayerfully waiting for a great change for the better.!

ÜJU

The Heidelberg Catechism, 1563

Question 104:

What does God require in the fifth commandment?

Answer:

That I show all honor, love and faithfulness to my father and mother, and to all in authority over me; submit myself with due obedience to all their good instruction and correction; and also bear patiently with their infirmities: since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.

SUNDAYS OF GREAT REMEMBRANCE

The months ofMay and June bring us some of the warmest occasions to remember.

May io is Mother’s Day, May 3/ is Pentecost, the birth of the Church.

May 24 is Memorial Sunday June 21 is Father’s Day.

These Sundays do demand

special thoughts and prayers

for the human trinity:

HOME-NATION-CHURCH v_______________________________/

The Second

Helvetic Confession, 1566 Chapter XXX. of the Magistracy

The Duty of the Magistrate. The chief duty of the magistrate is to secure and preserve peace and public tranquility. Doubtless he will never do this more successfully than when he is truly Godfearing and religious; that is to say, when, according to the example of the most holy kings and princes of the people of the Lord, he promotes the preaching of the truth and sincere faith, roots out lies and all superstition, together with all impiety and idolatry, and defends the Church of God. We certainly teach that the care of religion belongs especially to the holy magistrate.

The Duty of Subjects. For as God wants to effect the safety of His people by the magistrate, whom He has given to the world to be, as it were, a father, so all subjects are commanded to acknowledge this favor of God in the magistrate. Therefore, let them honor and revere the magistrate as the minister of God; let them love him, favor him and pray for him as their father; and let them obey all his just and fair commands. Finally, let them pay all customs and taxes, and all other such dues faithfully and willingly.

□□U

Question 49:

What benefit do we receive Christ’s ascension into heaven?

Answer:

First, that He is our Advocate in the presence of His father in heaven. Secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven, as a sure pledge, that He, as the Head, will also take us, His members, up to Himself. Thirdly, that He sends us His Spirit, as an earnest, by whose power we seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and not things on the earth. Question 54:

What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Universal Christian Church? Answer:

That, out of the whole human race, from the beginning to the end of the world, the Son of God, by His Spirit and word, gathers, defends and preserves for Himself, unto everlasting life, a chosen communion, in the unity of the true faith; and that I am, and forever shall remain, a living members of the same.

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