Hungarian Church Press, 1949 (1. évfolyam, 4-13. szám)

1949-10-16 / 13. szám

Ko 13- 3 -this principle, and we must even say it is its logical consequence to draw>every child, at least every baptised child, % means of the State within the sphere of its religious teaching. /Many Reformed Christians holding that view fail to carry that thought to the end. Well, if the State has the right to make religious teaching compulsory, it has also the right to make the teaching of certain religions compulsory."/

I cannot get over my sorrow why it is that so many come to see that really obvious point but now? In the spring of this year in Geneva, while speaking with some Swiss pastors about our situation at home, the work of our Church, I also mentioned among others that the teaching of religion is compulsory in our country. A general consternation followed, and one of the pastors asked: How can you, Reformed Christians, tolerate a situation like that? I did not conceal the fact that, with a very few beside myself, I approved of the abolition of compulsory religious teaching. Of course, in 1949 there are already many who understand this point, explained in my pamphlet published by the Conventus in 1948. Nobody may misunderstand it:"now when I should like to point back at it, nothing is farther from me than the desire of boasting with foresight and wisdom. Áll I want is to be seriously listened to, and that is why I an: backing my statements with references to the past.

I would like to warn our Church, and first of all its responsible servants, congregational pastors and teachers of religion, from an attitude that would turn the new order of religious instruction into political agitation. I deeply deplore the undeniable fact that, in connection with the new order of religious teaching, there were many, who did not merely avail themselves of the freedom of church-work, but who also abused it. At several occasions and also most solemnly, our Reform, cl Church acknowledged the peaceful benevolent attitude of the Hung-rian Government in cor., e ion with the work of the Churches. I should 1 ake to warn every concerned Church official to offer a strange fire before the Lomi on the altar, where there must never be any other fire but that of the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, the hard snd gracious hand of the Lord v/eighs heavily upon us forcing us to do things differently from what we got used to in our former Church life so sluggish with, a great leal of lazy self-confidence. The time of a Church life equipped with_State supports, we^may even calllit a Church life on crutches, -to which we have no longing to go back to- is on its last leg. Are we preparing in faith, in obedience and in service for this new Church life, the commandment of which will of course keep on being a continual revival, but it will also cease to call a cancer a mere freckle? Did we and do'we recognize always more and more the service, which just we, the reviving Hungarian ^ Re formed Church, has to perform in the life of our Hungarian people in this our new epoch so rich in great efforts, great sacrifices and therefore also so rich in great hopes? Are we really Reformed Christians ?

Hungarian Church Press