Magyar Egyház, 1957 (36. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1957-11-01 / 11. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11 The Reformed Christian Cannot Äfford To Be Ignorant by ALBERT W. KOVÁCS At no time in the history of the Reformed churches has the Reformed churchman been as ignorant as he is today concerning what he believes. As fit as he feels to govern the Churches and to work out his salvation, he knows as much about these basic beliefs as he knows about the theory of atomic fission. And, as such, he is no more fit for leadership in the churches or finding salvation for his soul than he is fit to bring peace to his home and the world. Something is radically wrong here. The Reformation was built on the belief that the clergyman is no better a Christian than the layman, each being a necessary part of the body of Christ. The principle is still true, for scripture itself records, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,...” The wrong is that the Reformed churchman has all too often stopped here in his reading and understanding. He has failed to note that having been given this high office of priest this is not just a nice title, a position, but a real job. The sentence continues with the reason for the setting apart of Christians to the priesthood, “... that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Because they believed in people, as Christ did, the Reformers fought and died in revolt against a church that refused to grant equality to every Christian, but set up an order alien to Christ’s way, in which the clergy was given special status, and layman were regarded as “second-class Christians”. This fine heritage passed on to this generation is being forsaken by today’s Reformed people, whose forefathers would be ashamed at present day ignorance in knowledge of the contents of the Bible and basic Christian beliefs. Yet how can a Christian declare the wonderful deeds of the Father if he doesn’t know what God has done? He can know, because it is recorded in the Bible how God has, through Jesus Christ, freely given salvation to all mankind, truly offering peace on earth, good will to men. The trouble is, Reformed people are ignorant of the Bible. Members of other churches may be ignorant because they have been told by their own church not to read the Bible, but there is no such excuse for the Reformed. As Paul says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness.” The Reformed Christian cannot afford to be ignorant. Only qualified men ought to be leaders in any work. Who would sail to Europe on a ship captained by a man who had never studied navigation and trusted to his hunches that he could take his passengers there safely? If the churchman has never studied in the scriptures the way of Christ, his prophets and apostles, how can he be expected, as an Elder, teacher, or voting member to guide the destiny of the local church as it endeavors to take its members to the very gates of heaven? If members really knew what they were doing more pastors would have more confidence in their leadership ability to guide and govern the churches properly. But because the ignorance of the membership is so apparent, many a minister has been obliged to do what is best for his beloved people, like a father caring for his little children. Paul, who spoke of giving his immature listeners “milk and honey”, a baby’s formula, had this very same problem. When the members will show that they are mature Christians, as well as being mature physically, the pastor will be able to give them a greater voice in the church. In the Roman and Eastern churches, the clergy are called Fathers. They are considered to be kindly fathers looking out for the welfare of the babes. As in a family, where the little children are not consulted in matters of importance, the father making the decisions for them, these Fathers make the important decisions for their infant Christians. Is this what is wanted in the Reformed Churches? The Church must go forward in the work of Christ, and cannot afford to wait for people to grow up while so many others of God’s children who do not know Christ are dying in unforgiven sin. The Reformed congregations, by their action or inaction, will decide whether the Church of their choosing will, tomorrow, be one of equal privilege and shared responsibility, or one in which an informed father leads his little children according to what is best for them. The very principles of the Reformation are at stake. The testimony of the Bible to the priesthood of all believers and the equality of all Christians is in danger. And the great threat is not a frontal assualt by forces of totalitarianism or evil, but of laziness within the Churches. While the churchman ought to be sharpening his sword, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”, he has laid it aside to rust while he naps. Only as he is intelligently aware of what the Bible says, and confident of what Jesus would do, will the member be fit for his place in God’s army, and willing to give his whole life in the Lord’s service. To pick up the sword of the Spirit is to pick up the Bible. To sharpen the sword into a real cutting edge, always available and useful, is to read the scriptures daily. And to weild the sword as a hero of the faith is to testify in righteous living for what one has learned.
