Magyar Egyház, 1962 (41. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1962-02-01 / 2. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9 CHURCH DISCIPLINE The Lord Jesus Christ, before his departure from the earth, said to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16) Also, He said to the disciples: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20.) But the very same Jesus Christ said this, too: “I have the keys of Death and Hell.” (Rev.l.) To what did these words of Jesus Christ empower Peter, the disciples and their successors, the ministers? Certainly the Lord did not want them to sit in his own place and to decide that “according to their own judgement” who could go to heaven and whose sins could be forgiven. Jesus, who never gave over his own divine judging power to any person, only wanted Peter, the disciples and the ministers today to tell the people under what conditions can any one go to heaven, and what a sinner should do to obtain the forgiveness of God for his sins, according to the Bible. And if someone would disregard the plain teachings of the Bible as to our going into heaven and forgiving our sins by God, and would indulge further in his sins, then heaven would be closed to him and his sins would not be forgiven as truly as the minister tells him. But if a sinner repents of his sins and lives a new life and accepts with faith the conditions of going into heaven, then the minister should assure him that heaven is open to him now and God forgave his sins most certainly. Church discipline must be exercised on this basis, by the ministers, in full harmony with the elders and the whole congregation. The purpose of church discipline is to hinder anyone from teaching “false doctrines” and disturbing and polluting the pure, peaceful life of the church with immoral, riotous behavior. If the disseminator of false doctrines and the immoral, troublemaker is not willing to change his behavior after several brotherly admonitions, it is the duty of the minister, the elders and the whole congregation to keep away such a person from the Lord’s Supper, even to excommunicate him from the church. The excommunicated person should be aware of the truth that if he is put out of the church according to the instruction of the Bible, God approves the action of the minister, the elders and the congregation, and God closes up heaven to the sinner as truly as the church is closed to him. However, as God forgives the repentent sinner and opens up heaven for him, the excommunicated person must be taken back into the church with a most sincere brotherly love if he clearly manifests his repentent, changed behavior. Stephen Kovács must be freely available for all men to exercise responsibly. It is the corresponding obligation of governments and of society to ensure the exercise of these civil rights without discrimination. It is for the churches in their own life and witness recognizing their own past failures in this regard to play their indispensable role in promoting the realization of religious liberty for all men. ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING The Annual Meeting of Church World Service was held from February 7 to 10 in Atlantic City, N. J. It would be difficult to enumerate the many important issues which were discussed during the 3 days conference concerning the aid given here and abroad through Church World Service which is one of the most important departments of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States. The reports of the various programs which were prepared by the many dedicated members of the staff, under the leadership of Hugh D. Farley, the new executive director, comprise more than 100 pages of documented materials, almost from every corner of the world. Our Hungarian Churches, regardless of their many denominational affiliations, are familiar with the blessed efforts and results of this work carried out through the department of Immigration Service, especially after the fatal 1956 Hungarian freedom fight when 35,000 homeless refugees were resettled in America. Who could tell the wonderful stories of millions of people on every continent who benefited by the aid of Church World Service? Many tears were wiped off from the faces in Asia, Africa, Austrailia and everywhere. Clothing was sent by shiploads to the naked, food was distributed to the hungry where strife and warfare tore nations apart, medicine was sent to people where earthquake, flood, fire, tornado or other disaster struck a country and where the sufferings and pains were unspeakable. Each year, one Sunday is set aside in most churches as “ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING” when members bring their offerings to the House of God for this great work! We ask our church members to join in sharing the burdens of the millions around the globe who are in need. Promotional materials, posters, leaflets, offering envelopes, film strips and 16 mm-sound motion pictures can be ordered directly from C.W.S., 475 Riverside Drive, N. Y. C. 27, N. Y. Dezső Abraham------------oOo-----------The Psalm of Comfort The Lord is my counselor, I shall not feel insecure. He leads me into quiet moments of meditation; I hear him bid me be still. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of service that I may glorify his name. Even though the darkness of selfishness, greed and hate would destroy me, I am not afraid. The promise of his word keeps me firm. In the presence of my sin and failure he proves his love. His forgiveness washes away all guilt, my joy knows no bounds. Surely as I serve him with love and humility He shall abide with me and I shall know his peace. ■—Margarette A. Wood -----------o----------An Islamic mission center will be established in Geneva, Switzerland, to spread Islam in Western Europe. Plans for the center were approved by the Islamic World Congress.
