Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)
1968-06-01 / 2. szám
HOP Yol XX Special Number 1968 No 2- 18 -(07660) notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath, not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:1317). "The Bible has no ethical messages that could be separated from end made independent of its theological message, neither social teachings separable from salvation history"*21) Among other witnesses, the preaching of John the Baptist proves that sooial justice is one of the components of the righteousness cf the Kingdom of God: "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire, And the people asked him, saying. What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them. He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath ©one; and he that hath meat, xet him do likewise" (Luke 3: -9-14). w So those listening to the preaching of John were not only told to give up their individual'sins , but they were also told to share their material possessions with those in need. Hence repentance proclaimed by him has a profound sooial significancej, The Kingdom of God brings fraternity, but this cannot be realized unless justice is done in the material realm of life also« It is to this equalization that the Word of God refers: "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low"' (Luke 3:5)* d) Man and His Religion # It is of qpecial interest for us to see in the Bible the conflict of *aan>s need with the requirements of religion,- The story of the disciples plucking ears of oorn on Sabbath day has an important lesson for us« The Law had given permission to the wayfarers to eat as muoh as their hinds would hold of the fruits of* the fields they passed through» But it was not permitted on 'Sabbath day, Jesus, however, set aside this religious ruling for the sake of man who was in need. This act of hin has the lesson: whenever religion gets into conflict with man,s welfare and needs then it is religion that must yield and give way» Jesus* struggle against religious inhumanity is also of profound importance. One may sum up the central message of the Parable cf the Good Samaritan as follows: religiosity without - seeking righteousness, cf the Kingdom becomes, inhumanity. It is to -the most religious of all men that Jesus addressed this word; "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye, devour widows* houses, and for a pretence make long prayer" (Matthew 23: 14), Piety separated from the doing cf God*s will makes a man selfish and loveless. The homo religioaus lives for himself and not for his neighbour. He does not accept the righteousness of God but replaces it by his own righteousness, He observes the feasts, but he does not béliére and does not obey»
