Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)
1968-06-01 / 2. szám
HOP Vol XX Special Number 1968 No 2- 53 (07695) We have made the experience that the time of making proposals and experiments to transform the society according to "Christian principles" may pass and, in our country, has already passed^ Up to the aid of World War II we may have had certain opportunities to do this, yet the much-vaunted Christian programme was unable to ward off the national catastrophe; it in fact helped to induce it© After World War II, the reconstruction of society was begun on a completely secularised basis, in terms of a wholly secular ideology. We have also learned that; at a time of the revolutionary transformation of society, the essence of the diakonia form of the church's life, in relation to the prophetic ministry, is not a negative stance or a passively critical attitude to the emerging new order but, precisely in keeping with the clear prophetic vision, our identification with all those ebjectives of the revolution which, according to the will of God, point toward a more humane state of affairs. Tie have also made the experience that, at a time of revolutionary changes, the Church might be assailed by the great temptation either to sulk or to be impatient0 Sulkiness is often caused by the criticism directed against the church, by prejudices and suspicion» Yet one who sulks cannot serve» Another obstacle to service is impatiencec The medicine of both is patience (hypomone) which is not apathic resignation but steadfastness in hope, readiness to make new experiments, and so one of the manifestations of love» This is the cross which the Church has to take on herself every day, and the Church that bears her cross will find her life, according to the promise of Jesus a Patience is self-denial for it makes us fight against our own sulkiness and lack of discipline.. e) Ecumenical Contacts and the Diakonia Pattern In the context; of our thane, we may sum up the lessons of our ecumenical relations as followss if cur visiting brothers and sisters cctne from churches which are dissatisfied with themselves in view of the conservatism of their churches and so look on the revolutionary changes with expectations .then they fixd that the Church in Hungary is less revolutionary than they wished: they would like to see more now methods of work and a style of life in the church with a radical liquidation of the old forms® We have understanding fir this view and ponder on it, hut our reply is this: it also pertains to the servant form of the church that we appreciate the existing things and try to develop and build them up according to our given taskso Others, however, take us to task by asking why is not the church living according to the diakonia pattern exerting a greater farming influence upon the social environment. They urge ideological dialogues, wide-ranging talks on the topical problems. The tune for these may indeed come0 Our dialogues up to
