Calvin Synod Herald, 2017 (118. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2017-01-01 / 1-2. szám
2 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Official Organ of The Calvin Synod - United Church of Christ Founded in 1900 AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Volume 118 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 NO. 1-2 Official Organ of the Calvin Synod United Church of Christ - Founded in 1900 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD (ISSN 0161-6900) is published bi-monthly $15.00/year for individual subscriptions; $10.00/year for groups, 50 or more copies Please make checks payable to the Calvin Synod Herald Editor in Chief: Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai, Bishop 14530 Alexander Road • Walton Hills, OH 44146 Tel.: 440-221-5334 • Email: revkrasznai@gmail.com Co-Editor: Rt. Rev. Stefan M. Torok, Auxiliary Bishop 68 Cherrywood Drive • Somerset, NJ 08873 Tel.: 732-917-4566 • Email: sctorok@comcast.net Interim Hungarian Editor: Rt. Rev. Stefan M. Torok Business Manager: Wilburn A. Roby, Jr. 264 Old Plank Road • Butler, PA 16002 Email: warajr@embarqmail.com Newsletters prepared by: Cathy Paksi 419-733-5829 • cathy.paksi@gmail.com Newsletters printed by: Gazette Printers 724-349-3434 Periodicals postage paid at Butler, PA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 264 Old Plank Rd„ Butler, PA 16002-3810 Manuscripts and photographs are not preserved or returned Send all correspondence to the Editor The views and opinions of the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the magazine or Calvin Synod. CALVIN SYNOD HEADQUARTERS: Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai 14530 Alexander Road • Walton Hills, OH44146 Tel.: 440-221-5334 Email: revkrasznai@gmail.com OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS • Beaver Falls, PA • United Church of Christ of Bridgeport, CT • Cleveland, OH - West Side Hungarian Reformed Church • Columbus, OH • Dayton The proper procedure is for all interested ministers to send their completed PROFILE (as provided by the United Church of Christ) to the Bishop’s office: Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai 14530 Alexander Road Walton Hills, OH 44146 Tel.: 440-221-5354 • revkrasznai@gmail.com THE NARROW GATE "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Mt 7:13-14) Dear Calvin Synod Congregations, Dear Brothers and Sisters, We will make many decisions during the year of 2017, too. There will be decisions that are important and there will be less important decisions. When we face a decision it is crucial what we choose, how we decide in that certain situation. It has a great effect on our lives regarding what path we will take. Our Bible text also talks about decisions and different roads. Jesus says that we have to make every effort, to get through the narrow gate. What does Jesus want to teach with this text? What kind of narrow gate is He talking about? Christ talks here about the relationship with Him, the faith journey with Him, and ultimately about getting into heaven. How can I have a relationship with Jesus andfinally get to heaven? you may ask. We know it from Jesus’ teachings that entry into the Kingdom of God has a serious prerequisite. Entry into heaven requires repentance, in other words, conversion. Jesus talked about it when He met with Nicodemus the great teacher of God’s Law. Jesus said this to him, “/ tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ” It means that those who want to get into heaven have to be bom again by the mysterious and miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, accepting Christ into their lives. Many, many people want this goal, the inheritance of heaven, so long as it costs them nothing, especially their allegiance and obedience. They try to enter but do not succeed when they leam the cost. The cost is very, very high. First, it is high because one person had to sacrifice Himself for this cause. Christ had to die for our sins. Second, the cost is high because we also have to sacrifice our lives on the altar of God. It means that we literally need to give up our old life which is full of selfishness, anger, hate, uncleanness, adultery, lying, cheating, stealing, and begin a totally new life with Christ. We, however, cannot and are unable to give up these wicked deeds through our own efforts. Jesus helps us by the power of the Holy Spirit to change our lives. It is like our lives turn 180 degrees. It means that when we accept
