Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

HCP Vol XX Special Nrnber - 117 - (07898)

1968 No 2

prob Ion, causing all the suffering tragedies, sorrows which attend this problem, What the epos tie Paul says about sin in his Epistle to the Romans (3:22-23) illumines the widest perspectives of our problem: there is

no difference: far all have sinned, and came short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus", This is not a scientific statement but a confession of faith. But as such it is to be held in high esteem for it gives us light to have a deeper understanding of the racia_ problem. Sin turns blessing into curse. Even the colour of one's skin can be viewed from this angle, /It becomes an illustration of what man can do in obstructing the creative will of God, The connection between one's physical environment and the colour of his skin has been known since antiquity. People in the torrid zones are dark-skinned, while the skin of those living in the moderate and cold regions is white. This is how human organism protects itself against the dangers which are in the sun's radiation. This is a matter of intensity; sunshine in moderate doses is beneficial, in large doses harmful to life. The pigmentation of the skin serves the purpose of filtering radiation, thus keep* ing off its harmful effects. So, for a Christian believer, the colour cf one's skin is also a sign of God's providence, his protective love with which He embraces all his children, "How awful it is that what could shine as a glorious sign of God's providence has new become a target cf hatred and contempt in sinful human life",92) We, in the final analysis, discover

the effects and paver of sin in all the manifestations of separation, subjugation and disrimination in race relations. We believe that racial pride, conceitedness, prejudice and hatred are egressions of sin, the manifestations of man's ,rNoy" to the love cf the Creator. The experience is that the raoial problem is a very complex one; it raises not only büogical questions but also points to the role of economic and social factors, the questions of power and self-assertion, to fear, envy, ignorance, passions, etc,, and, in the depth of all these, we mast note the destructive power of sin. Hence mere enlightenment, mere wards, will not suffice. We need povror to surmount the obstacles; we need the power of Him Who alone was able to deliver those, by the might of his divine Word, who were possessed by demons; Who could silence the impure words of hatred and could inspire love in the hearts af people with the most varied backgrounds of national traditions, uniting them in the communion of his Church, This is hew we understand the work of redemption which is not sinply teaching or a system of ideas but an inexhaustible source of power. Being aware of the depth and width of sin, ’we cry to Him in whom all things are made new* We believe that the saving love of Christ is offered to all men and that He is the Saviour of the whole world. Therein is established, from the soteriological point of view, the unity of the human race.

The Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, carries on his work of sanctification among all nations. He con give new life to all men, whether the colour of their skin is white or yellow,brown or black, And what God cleanses we cannot call unclean. We, too, believe with the apostle that "God is no respecter of persons", neither is He respecter of races (Acts 1CY15, 33),