Magyar Egyház, 1965 (44. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1965-12-01 / 12. szám
12 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ After a few days we got new visitors. As I remember, it really was like a dream. The innkeeper ran into the stable, out of breath. ‘Come, move quickly, come over to my inn, I have a room for you. No, I shall give you my best room. Hurry!’ Joseph just asked him: ‘Well, what’s this all about?’ Oh, Joseph was wonderful. You should have seen them,” Mary was smiling as she told the story. “The gasping innkeeper and the calm Joseph. ‘You were in no hurry a few days back when we needed the room so badly. We’re all right here. We don’t need your fine room. I couldn’t pay you anyway.’ ‘No, no,’ the innkeeper said, ‘you don’t have to pay, you’re my guests, my dear guests ...’ He couldn’t finish, for a tall man entered the stable, pushed him aside, and in a deep-toned voice he asked: ‘Where is the newborn King?’ So this was why the innkeeper has become so friendly; suddenly. “They were three kings from the Orient. Imagine, they came 1,000 miles, just to see my baby...” And so Mary’s story went on and on. About the gifts the three kings brought, about the star over the stable. How they took the frankincense to the Temple when they brought up the child to be presented as prescribed in the law; for Jesus was a firstborn son. And how Joseph was warned by this angel of the Lord again, to take the child to Egypt from the hatred of jealous King Herod. How wonderful the royal gift of gold was — it lasted well until they got back to Nazareth. “So, this is the story, how my Jesus was born,” Mary concluded. All were still. Awe and joy in their eyes. A wonderful story —• the Book couldn’t be written without it, they all knew that. Luke broke the silence: “And what happened to the third gift? To the flask of myrrh? That was a precious gift indeed. Did you ever use it?” “The myrrh,” Mary asked, “The myrrh?” Her voice became quivering. “I kept the flask, Luke. I don’t know why, but I kept it. And on that terrible day, after the crucifixion, I gave it to Salome to use it to anoint his broken body. . .” Mary’s voice broke down, her body stiffened, tears rolled from her eyes. The memory of her son’s death overtook her. The men in the room looked horrified at Mary. They, too, were overwhelmed by the memory of the cross. It was Luke again who regained his voice: “Mary, please, don’t cry. You know Salome never used that myrrh. The Lord rose. He is risen!” Mary’s stiffened body suddenly relaxed. “You are right, Luke. I musn’t cry. No reason to cry. He is alive forever.” Holy smile shone around her lips. She began to sing: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior .. .” And the men answered: “Glory to God in highest heaven ...” ON THE COVER Reproduced on the cover of this issue is — by permission of the artist — the painting “And Mary Pondered” by Eva de Nagy. Eva de Nagy (Mrs. Paul Stuart of Elizabeth, New Jersey), a prominent Hungarian born artist, uses her talent to interpret Biblical themes, in a creative approach toward communicating the basic values which support our life in Jesus Christ. Her paintings have been widely exhibited and won many distinguished awards. John Szabó: THE ELDER AND HIS CHURCH IN A CHANGING WORLD (Excerpts from a paper given at the Elders’ Conference in Perth Amboy, N. J„ October 30, 1965) At first I felt inadequate to discuss this theme for I felt I didn’t have the qualifications. But then it dawned upon me that this wasn’t just for the clergy and it didn’t require a Ph.D. in ecclesiastical policy either. It required objectivity, common sense, and the open mind of an interested churchman. I decided on four subjects which are definitely related to the Elder and his church in this changing world. 1. Christian Education. Here are some questions on this subject: are we doing enough? What do we mean by it? We go to church, we have a Sunday School, we preach Christ and teach the Heidelberg Catechism. Wonderful. But is it enough? Do we send our children to Sunday School or do we take them? How do we keep our newly confirmed youth interested in church life? Why do so many churches end Sunday School with confirmation? We as Elders must deal with these problems and we will find answers if interested people will care to get involved, if we get disturbed enough from all the gollessness about us. 2. Church Administration and Church Government. The Elder must be vitally interested in this phase of church life. We should encourage our leaders to think positively and let them know that we care about the government of our church both on the local and on the synod level. Poor or indifferent administration threatens the very existence of the church. Therefore we must initiate efficiency in our church government. As a church we have similar problems to that of industry or a small business concern. A church has employees — Pastor, organist, janitor, maybe secretary. We have real estate and liquid assets as well which must be looked after. This all requires administration. True, in our churches many interested people will volunteer their services — but it is becoming more and more difficult to get this type of help. Therefore, the Elders must lend a hand. Elders should be interested in the life of the Church beyond the limits of the local congregation, or even those of their own denomination. They should participate in conferences on all levels, promote programs which will help to better understanding the life of other churches, and keep their own people informed. 3. The Elders’ responsibility vs. the Pastor’s responsibility. Here we may tread on dangerous grounds. But here is the problem: in most churches in the person of the Pastor we have an administrator, a psychologist, a preacher, a good will ambassador, a missionary, a secretary, a choir director — a Houdini; you name it and he’s all that! Now, I think it’s about time the minister be permitted to devote his time and energy to the ministry. He should abstain from all tasks which do not add to the ministry and teaching of his people. He should be cognizant why the Elders are there and he should encourage them to do their job. No minister can go it alone. He needs the help, support and counsel of his elected officials. The Elder must also be fully aware of one more responsibility: he must recognize the needs of the Pastor and his family. Many years ago I sat in on a congregational meeting. I was very much moved, ashamed and embarrassed when I heard the minister with tears in his
