Calvin Synod Herald, 2001 (102. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2001-09-01 / 9-10. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Niemueller reminds us, after the wicked wipe out the others, there will be no one to help when they finally come after us also. “From Greenland’s icy mountains” “Can we, whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high, Can we to men benighted the lamp of life deny?” R. Heber 1819 Although “crowns and thrones may perish”, tribes and cultures disappear, and great towers of trade fall, those who trust in God’s promises, like Jesus did, know that Hell cannot prevail. Now is the time to rebuild and, more important than centers of commerce, the towers and steeples of the Church of Jesus in every land. Now is the day of salvation, to bless every person with the Good News of God’s love that all may enjoy the true brotherhood of man. But difficult problems do not have easy answers solvable by couch potatoes. Wars are not won by the apathetic, but by great efforts, awesome sacrifices and even martyrdom. Not only Muslim terrorists, but oppression of Christians in Bhutan or China and other lands, must be overcome. Surely, too, the decline of faith in the so-called Christian nations must be reversed, especially in America. We have let our muscles atrophy and we must build new sinews, sending our young and our experienced into the ministry, or Christian Education, medical missions, and other avenues of outreach to open the eyes of the ignorant, uplift the poor and free the captive peoples. There mil be no victories without many more Christian soldiers marching to war? And the whole church must be an arsenal to arm them. We can only tell the Master: “We are able,” if we are willing to drink of His cup of suffering, servants of God’s will. Finally, we cannot fight this new kind of war with swords or bombs. It is the same old war the church has been fighting against the Prince of Darkness, our ancient foe, filled with devils to undo us. We cannot depend upon our own strength, but need “the whole armor of God” to contend against “the principalities... powers... world rulers... spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6.10-18) Who will volunteer: “Here am I, Lord, send me!” Rev. Albert W. Kovács 0 say, can you see O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation; Blest with viet’ry and peace, may the Geav'n-rescued land Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just; And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave. (Fourth verse - Oliver Wendell Holmes) 2001 Világszövetség Statement Calvin Synod Delegate July 4th America’s “Declaration of Independence” was written 225 years ago and proclaimed on this day. Like all events in history, it was preceded by a growing sentiment that finally erupted in one historic event, the American Revolution. But the groundwork was laid in the Judeo-Christian heritage proclaiming the worth of every individual. As the seed was sown, a growing sentiment evolved into humanism and burst forth with revolutionary fervor in the heroic Reformation, fathering the words: “All men are created equal.” The fall of the Bastile followed in France and somewhat later Hungary’s own war for indepence. The voices of human freedom burst forth and blossomed into new democracies all over the world. In nine days a new statue of a hero of freedom will be dedicated in the open farmland of Iowa, much like this part of Europe. It will honor a statesman of freedom, who’s voice was heard in the halls of the American Congress, and numerous cities and towns across the United States. It led to the naming after him of a new county in a new state. It will be a statue of the hero it is named for by Kossuth County, in Algona, Iowa. We from America have come to you, over the miles and hours that separate us, because this connection is important to us, as it has been for 110 or more years. When the winds of change echo voices not of God, we cling like you to the revered roots that sustain us, in Christ and His reformed church. Your long history reveals the blessings of this holy alliance of Christians, which has sustained the Hungarian Reformed Church, regardless of national boundaries or even great seas, against emperors and sultans, religious tyranny and atheism’s terrors. We in America have not faced atheistic Communism, but like you we today contend with the same forces of materialism that corrupt the soul and damn humanity itself. We urge you to remain strong in the Calvinistic expression of the Christian faith, because we are branches sustained by you - who send your sons and daughters to minister among us today, as you have for over a century. Surely, if the trunk rooted in Calvinism fails the branches will also wither and die. The world needs your voice of reasoned and sensible Calvinists, and we urge you to be strong and united, building up one another in the faith. We have come to laud your courageous history and your present efforts, and to share as we can in the task of this holy church to the glory of God! Rev. Albert W. Kovács Woodbridge, NJ Baile Felix, Romania
